Transcription
of obituary by Eileen Callahan Werth
Source of article – Family scrapbook
Newspaper – Unknown but Mary McCloskey’s last address
was on 273-1/2 Skillman Street which is in Brooklyn
Date: Unknown but Mary McKeon McCloskey – died June 30,
1889, so probably in early July 1889
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The below is an admirable likeness (click
here) of Mrs. Mary McCloskey who was buried last week at
Calvary Cemetery. Mrs. McCloskey was a most remarkable woman
and deserves something more than a mere passing notice of her
death. Remarkable in more senses than one, first for her extreme
old age, coupled with her vivid recollections of events that
transpired more than 85 years ago. She was born in the last
year of the last century in the town of Ballymena, County Antrim,
where her father, a well-to-do farmer, raised a family of five
sons and six daughters, every one of whom had passed the 85
milestone in life's journey and a few had reached the 100th.
She was also remarkable for her Catholicity, for religion with
her was an epitome of everything that was good. Faith, hope,
and charity, in their broadest, fullest meaning, found an abiding
place in her old heart. Next to her love of God, Ireland, the
home of her childhood, the thought of her young womanhood, the
dream of her entire life, was her idol, its green hills never
found a truer lover than this gentle soul, for daily and hourly
would she pray for her deliverance and when the concessions
that were wrung from the invader by the disestablishment of
the Church and other kindred oppressions were told her her eyes
would fill with tears of joy and a silent prayer would be uttered
for the happy ending. She pinned her faith on Parnell and often
remarked: "I'll live to see it yet; God grant I may."
She will we hope, but it will be from a high seat in heaven
where her many charitable deeds have earned her that privilege.
The
worshippers in St. Joseph's Church, 6th avenue and Washington
Place, would scarcely believe that one of the founders of that
old edifice lived up to so late a date. For she was the last
of the original pew-holders of St. Joseph's and she fought for
the faith, too, in those bigoted days. A stranger in passing
up Christopher Street and the junction of Waverly Place will
notice a small green space with a railing around it. That triangle
was the site of the first Catholic Church, nearly 60 years ago,
in what was called the village. There were no parochial schools
in those days, and the public school was only a society school,
whose members were made up of the Plymouth Rock anti-Jesuitical
class of men; therefore a Catholic found little or no welcome
with them. The fight commenced some years after by the Rev.
John Hughes but the lady whose name heads this article anticipated
him by opening up one in her basement under the auspices of
the pastor Father Cummisky. It was the mustard seed of that
parish which now boasts one of the finest in the City of New
York. Another remarkable feature in her character was her youth
in old age, if I may call it. She was a friend of children and
strove to make their young lives pass pleasantly, the hungry
never left her door unsatisfied, nor the despairing man or woman
a consoler. And although the morning of her life was often darkened
by clouds of sorrow, yet the evening of it was bright and sunshiny
as her own sweet nature. It was like reading a page of history
listening to the recollections of her youth and the conversation
would not please the Englishman of the Balfour stripe should
he hear it. No wonder, for her father and four brothers were
victims to “England’s cruel laws.”
She
remembered her brothers stealing like a thief in the night,
to obtain a little knowledge from the hedge school master; she
remembered, too, the tithes proctor selecting one from every
tenth stalk of corn to feed the minister, with his congregation
of half a dozen; she remembered Craig Billy fair, when the Orangemen
announced their intention of scattering and sending the Catholics
howling to their homes; she remembered, too, the injunctions
of Father Fitzsimmons to drive them back if they attempted it,
and then come and get his blessing. And they did, too. The heel
of the tyrant was on her country’s neck. That her deliverance
was close at hand she hoped because she believed in a just God
who might for reasons of His own permit her to suffer for purification’s
sake, but in His own good time laughter should take the place
of tears. Such was her faith; God grant it may be realized.
Mrs. McCloskey left two of ten children, James J. and Felix,
two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her ---------ARTICLE
TORN WORDS MISSING --------SO WELL KNOW IN St. Patrick’s
parish, ---------ARTICLE TORN WORDS MISSING ---------more. May
she rest in peace!