BREDA MANNIX MCMAHON

“Once upon a time, in a tiny spot in a faraway green isle, a place so small it was called Baile Beagan, meaning small village, a little girl was born.” This is the opening line of Breda Mannix McMahon’s book, I Remember It Well. Breda’s extraordinary life began on February 10, 1934 and she ended her physical time on this earth on March 8, 2021. Fittingly, this was International Women’s Day, with the theme “Choose to Challenge.” As a professional educator in the Kingston Consolidated School District for over 60 years, Breda taught countless students to challenge themselves. She was not one to shy away from a challenge either, emigrating to the US from Ireland at the age of 13, crossing the ocean essentially on her own. She put herself through college (New Paltz State Teachers’ College, now SUNY New Paltz), raised 3 children, survived cancer, was widowed suddenly at the young age of 59, and was a (some might say THE) consummate volunteer at John A. Coleman Catholic High School.

Breda was preceded in death by her parents, James and Julia Mannix, her brother Dennis, her sisters Kathleen and Maura, and her loving husband Frank (Mick) McMahon. She is survived by her children, Maureen Johnson and Kevin and Bryan McMahon, her grandson, Brendan McMahon, her son-in-law Red Johnson, and her sister Nora Walsh. Her extended family includes ve nephews in Ireland, and numerous cousins and their families in Ireland and the UK. This tribute would not be complete without mentioning Breda’s many friends, from ones she has known since her college days to the young people she met during her last years of teaching. Cremation and memorial arrangements are under the guidance of the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, Inc., 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston, www. jvleahyfh.com A woman of strong faith, Breda’s life will be celebrated at a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 20th at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, 242 Wall Street Kingston, N.Y. at 1:00 p.m. Face coverings are required and social distancing may limit the capacity of church. Private inurnment will be in Saint Mary’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in lieu of owers may be made in the form of contributions in Breda’s name to Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston, N.Y. 12401