Obituary: Mary Daly lived into her 102nd year

In her 102nd year, Mary Daly, née Hussey, formerly of Turningstown, Gaybrook, Mullingar, died peacefully on July 28, with her family at her side, at the St Camillus Nursing Centre, Killucan.

Mary was the oldest of four children and the only daughter born to her parents Peter and Elizabeth Hussey in Sraneeg, Castletown Geoghegan on January 10, 1924.

In her youth, after finishing national school, she worked for Mrs Boyd Rochfort at Middleton Park House in Castletown Geoghegan and even travelled to London with the Boyd Rochforts to their ‘summer’ house in the city. She returned home when World War II broke out and her mother sent for her to return.

Mary went to America twice on her own. The first time she emigrated to relations in Massachusetts, but after only nine months, her mother sent for her to come home.

She returned to England in 1948, aged 24, to pursue a nursing career, and qualified in 1951. It was there that Mary developed a lifelong interest in the royal family, especially in Queen Elizabeth, who was just two years younger than her.

Mary then worked as a nurse in St Mary’s Hospital, among other locations in and around Mullingar, for some years, but had to go to America once again to bring her paternal aunt back to Castletown Geoghegan. She wished to live out the rest of her life in Ireland, following the death of her husband.

Mary resumed her nursing career in St Mary’s and met her husband Jimmy Daly there. Jimmy was a patient in the hospital for a short while. They married on June 19, 1963 and she moved to Turningstown, Gaybrook to live with Jimmy.

Mary’s life revolved around her nursing career and her work on the farm with Jimmy. They lived a simple life and they worked hard together. Sadly, they had no family of their own but Mary enjoyed time spent with her nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.

Following Jimmy’s death in 2012, Mary continued to live in the family home until age and health issues arose and she moved to St Camillus Nursing Centre in February 2017.

She was happy living there and especially enjoyed time spent after daily Mass with a cup of tea and listening to Fr Monks read from the daily papers as she kept up to date with the news.

Mary was an independent lady who spoke her mind, as anyone who met her could attest to!

Her greatest love in life, besides her husband Jimmy, were the animals and creatures around her. She could not bear to see any animal suffer and was generous all her life to the cause of animal welfare and shelters. Their farm always included cats and dogs, as well as the cattle they reared.

In later years, Mary had a special cat called Puss in Boots, whom she visited weekly and thought about constantly. It broke her heart when he was killed on the road in latter years. However, another cat appeared at her windowsill in her nursing home and Mary ‘adopted’ her and always squirrelled away a few sausages or bacon from the breakfast or meat from her dinner to feed to her. The cat was a constant sight at her window, and gave Mary much joy throughout the last few years.

Mary enjoyed good physical and mental health most of her long life and she regularly regaled family with stories from her time spent as a child, her trips to America and her time in England.

She was an amazing woman who went abroad during times when travelling to those countries often meant never returning home due to the distance and the expense, but Mary always returned home to her family.

Throughout her life, Mary loved clothes, and especially shoes, and relished a trip to shop for both.

She was a great neighbour to all and a beloved aunt. One of her proudest recent memories was her 100th birthday party at the St Camillus Nursing Centre, surrounded by residents, staff and family. The highlight was the congratulatory letter she received from President Michael D Higgins with the “big cheque”. It was a really proud moment for her.

Mary passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025 and will be missed greatly by her family and friends, whose lives have been enriched by having her in them for all these years. She was one of a kind.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Obituary by Breda Hussey, niece of Mary.