LADIES ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS, INC.

NATIONAL BOARD

IN MEMORIAM

Prayer for Our Dead

We seem to give them back to Thee, O God, who gave them to us. Yet, as Thou did not lose them in giving, so we do not lose them by their return. Life is eternal and love immortal and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing except the limit of our sight. Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; draw us closer to Thyself that we may know ourselves to be nearer to our loved ones who are with Thee.

If Fr. Francis X. Hanley were to wear his degrees and honors on his sleeve, he would need to have a very long arm. The first honor he received, however, was the greatest of them all when soon after his birth on April 23, 1931, he received a share of God’s own life as he was baptized Francis Xavier at St. Paul’s parish in Wilmington, DE.
It was also there at St. Paul’s that he first started scaling the heights of learning by attending the parish primary school from 1937 to 1945. During the next four years he completed his secondary education at the Salesianum. Then in 1950 he took his first step in becoming a Spiritan by enrolling in the Holy Ghost Missionary Seminary. In 1953 he started his novitiate year at Ridgefield and was professed in 1954. Following two years of studying philosophy and four years of theology at Ferndale in Norwalk, CT, he was ordained a priest on June 4, 1959, and made his Apostolic Consecration on June 6, 1960. Then followed a fifth year of theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
In August of 1961 Fr. Hanley returned to the Spiritan Junior Seminary at Cornwells Heights, but this time as a staff member. In August of 1968 he became headmaster of the school. By then he was well qualified for the position. He received his B.A., B.D., M.Ed. and M.A. in Religious Education and in Health Care Ethics. Then in the late 1970’s Fr. Hanley gained two doctorates – one in Education from the Walden University in 1975 and the other in Educational Administration at the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. He also had a number of certificates, but the one he loved to use is the one in sign language. Actually, Fr. Hanley was the co-founder of the Duquesne Apostolate for the Deaf which is now the Pittsburgh Catholic Office for the Deaf.
In August of 1983 he was appointed a member of the Spiritans International Novitiate Team in Quebec, Canada, and on January 1, 1987, he was appointed the superior of the Bethel Animation Center, now the Spiritan Center, Bethel Park, PA. He returned to Duquesne University, July 1999, and worked in the areas of student life and campus ministry and was also Assistant Superior of the Spiritan Community at Trinity Hall on campus. January 2005 brought him back to the Spiritan Center as superior until his retirement in 2006, where he resided at Sacred Heart Parish, Emsworth and did replacement ministry for the Congregation. Fr. Hanley employed his treasure of degrees in the two books he wrote. The one he published during his stay at Bethel is titled “Reflections for the Seeking Soul”, which consists of a series of dynamic nuggets grouped under themes which are highlighted for needs as they occur in one’s spiritual life.
His books are a treasure not only for the general public, but they are especially valued by the various groups with which he has special ties. Those include the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians for whom he was appointed National Chaplain in July 2006. At the time of his passing Fr. Hanley was chaplain for Allegheny County, PA as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Fr. Francis X. Hanley, C.S.Sp. died Thursday, December 23, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Helen (Groff) Hanley; his brother, Joseph and sister, Kathleen Hartnett. He is survived by his brother, Paul (Marie) Hanley of Hockessin, DE and his sister Marianne (Jerry) Rea, Huber Heights OH; and many nieces and nephews. In memory of Fr. Hanley, donations may be made to the Spiritans designated for retirement or for the education of future Holy Spirit Fathers, 6230 Brush Run Road, Bethel Park PA 15102.

~

Sarah E. (Sally) Murphy, Past National President, passed on to her eternal reward on December 7, 2010.

~

Rita Murphy, Past National President, passed on to her eternal reward on November 23, 2010.
Whalen and Ball Funeral Home; 168 Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10703; 1 (914) 065 - 5488. Further information about the service, etc., will be available from the funeral home when the plans are finalized.

Joan O’Brien, former National Right To Life Chair and National Life Member of the LAOH, passed on to her eternal reward on September 4, 2010.

Joan was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians for thirty years. She held many seats at the division, county and state level and, ultimately, the Immediate Past President in Massachusetts and National Pro-life Chair. In all her positions, she worked tirelessly in making sure the LAOH Constitution was adhered to and the mission of the organization was carried out. She had a passion for two particular offices, Historian, and Pro-life. She was thrilled when there were essay winners from her area, even when the winners were not of Irish heritage. She had been involved for many, many years in the Pro-life marches in Boston and Washington. Joan practiced our motto of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity every day. She traveled across our state and country to promote the LAOH. She always had a camera at hand to record the events for everyone else.

Joan's faith was a constant source of solace for her. She had her medals which are very important to her, but not so important that she wouldn't lend them out to someone who is in need of a little extra prayer. She is survived by five children and eleven grandchildren.

MARY LYONS KING, PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Mary Lyons King, age 101, died peacefully on September 7th , 2009 at Forest Farm Health Care Center. Mary was born in Newport, RI in 1908 to Patrick J. and Abbie Breen Lyons. A life-long Newport resident, Mary graduated from Rhode Island College and soon thereafter married her beloved husband, the late Charles J. King.

A teacher for more than 40 years, Mary began her career at the Paradise School, a one-room schoolhouse in Middletown, RI. For most of her career, Mary taught the elementary grades in several Newport Public Schools, including Lenthal, Cranston-Calvert, and John Clark.

Throughout her life, Mary was a devoted and active parishioner at Newport's St. Joseph's Church.

Following in her father's footsteps, Mary was active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, holding various senior positions, including National President of the LAAOH.

A kind, gentle, and wonderful person, Mary opened her heart to family and friends. Mary's dearest family included her sister, the late Nora McDermott, her son, Charles Gerard King, her daughter-in-law, Ellen King, her grandchildren, Tara, Sean, and Michael, her great-grandchildren, Kylie, Daniel, Charlotte, and Madelyn , and her nephews, Raymond, John, David, and Dermot McDermott.

ELLEN S. BRADY, RHODE ISLAND STATE VICE-PRESIDENT

Ellen S. Brady, 57, of Halsey St. in Newport, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 13th at Newport Hospital. She was the wife of Joseph R. Brady. Born in Newport, RI on June 17th, 1952 at Newport Hospital, she was the daughter of Ruth E. Caswell of Saunderstown and the late Capt. Frederic C. Caswell Jr. - USN Ret.

Ellen graduated from the University of Rhode Island's School of Nursing in 1975. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Newport Hospital for more than 30 years. Ellen was a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which she served as Secretary. She also served as Vice President of the RI State Board of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. She was an avid reader, a talented cook and a gifted knitter.

Besides her husband and mother, she leaves her daughter Amy Hansen and her husband LTJG John Hansen of Jacksonville, FL, daughter Kathryn Brady and son Joseph R. Brady III both of Newport, granddaughter Hannah Hansen, sister Judith Cushing of Newport, brother James Caswell of Saunderstown, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, August 17th at 10 am in St. Joseph's Church, Broadway and Mann Ave., Newport. Visiting hours will be held from 3-6 pm on Sunday, August 16th in the O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St., Newport.

Donations may be made in Ellen's name to the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Scholarship Fund, 2 Wellington Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.

~~ SR. SARA MARIE HEALY (Submitted 2/10/2010)

Sr. Sara Marie Healy, past Chaplain, Division Eleven – (Oakland) Pittsburgh, PA. (Nov. 1908-Sept. 2008)

Sr. Sara Marie, a sister of Mercy, was known as a walking, talking, smiling advertisement for Carlow University (Mount Mercy Academy) in Pittsburgh. A diminutive woman with the boundless energy and keen Irish wit was the special assistant to the Carlow’s president prior to her retirement.

Quoted in a Pittsburgh Press article, Sister said she is living proof of the opportunities higher education offers women. In the 1940s, she was among the first women trained as aviation instructors for military pilots. It was during World War II that she became one of the first area women to be qualified as a ground instructor by the Civil Aeronautics Board. She was selected by her religious order, along with several other nuns involved in education, to take a US Government course to become aviation instructors at Latrobe, Westmoreland County. They were trained to teach aspiring pilots civil are regulations, meteorology and navigation and had to pass a pilot’s test.

When the war ended, she turned to nursing at Mercy Hospital where she instituted playtime therapy for children. Later, she was appointed director of St. Paul’s Orphanage, where she organized the school’s first orchestra, started the library and staged outdoor pageants.

The pageants sparked her interest in show biz so she was delighted when the religious order wanted her to create a TV series to attract women to nursing careers. In 1957 she wrote, produced and starred in seven shows over WQED called “Rx-TLC”.

During her nursing career she became interested in the Shriners’ burn hospital in Galveston, TX and after being hosted by them, returned to be a consultant when West Penn Hospital set up the area’s first burn unit in 1969.

In 1971 she was appointed director of Health Services at Carlow and in 1983 was appointed as special assistant to Carlow’s presidents – Sr. Marylouise Fennell and then Sr. Grace Ann Geibel.

She kept pictures of some of her former students including Dan Rooney, the United States Ambassador to Ireland and president of the Pittsburgh Steelers Football team when she taught at St Peter’s School on the North Side of Pittsburgh.

In 1996 she was named the first woman Grand Marshall of the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade: in 1997 she was named “Citizen of the Year” by Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy; and in 1994 was named as Carlow University’s “Woman of Spirit”.

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