Sr Mary Kean was MMM forerunner

January 1966

WIDESPREAD regret has been occasioned by the death, which occurred suddenly last week, of Sister Mary St. John Kean, M.M.M., Drogheda.

Aged 64, deceased had Joined Mother Mary Martin in her religious work in 1936, before the M.M.M. Congregation was formed.

Her death occurred on the 21st anniversary of her entry to the convent. Sister St. John trained in general nursing in the Richmond Hospital, Dublin, and, in January, 1938, she went to the first M.M.M. foundation in Africa—St. Luke’s, Anua.

She returned to this country, in convoy during the War (in 1943), and, after doing her Spiritual Year in Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda, was professed on 6th January, 1945. One of the Community’s most energetic workers, she returned again to Africa in November, 1948 to open a new station in Obudu, East Nigeria, and, on her, return to Ireland in 1950 was sent to the U.S.A. to open the first M.M.M. bouse there.

After two years in the U.S. Sister St. John came back to Drogheda and was immediately rostered out to Tanzania in East Africa to help in the running of another new mission in Ndareda. The last few years of her life were spent in promotion work in Ireland.

She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Brian Cusack of Rush, and her niece, Mrs. C. A. Amerlynck also of Rush. The funeral took place to St. Peter’s Cemetery after Solemn Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda.

Right Rev. Monsignor John F. Stokes presided at the Mass celebrated by Rev. Michael Crawley, Chaplain to the International Missionary Training Hospital. Rev. M. Walsh, C.C.. St. Peter’s presided at the graveside.