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Mary Katherine Conroy

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Mary Katherine Conroy passed away peacefully on June 20, 2011 surrounded by her family and supported by Hospice Care at her home in Glendale.

Mary Kay is survived by her husband Jack, with whom she would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this September. They have eight children John, Pitr (Teresa), David (Katy), Michael (Susan), Maria (Christopher), Suzanne (Robert), Elizabeth (Michael), and Katherine (Daniel), and 21 grandchildren. Her primary vocation was her role as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Mary Kay was born February 29, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York to Evans Gerard Olwell and Mary Katherine McIntyre. She attended St. Saviour Academy in Brooklyn, studied at Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut, and graduated from Fordham University where she completed a degree in English with her teaching credential. She taught high school English in Brooklyn until the time of her marriage.

Mary Kay and Jack married September 22, 1951 at Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Brooklyn. They moved to Glendale in 1964 from Marblehead, Mass. While the children went through Incarnation School, her love of reading inspired her to start the Junior Great Books Program. She and Jack also served on the Parent Council at Immaculate Heart High School. After raising her children, she returned to teaching at Hoover High School where she taught English as a Second Language for 15 years.

Mary Kay’s passion for social justice inspired her, together with Jack, to devote much time and energy to Concern America, Habitat for Humanity and she was involved with the Vietnamese Resettlement Program. Most recently, she also served on the Incarnation Parish Council.

Most of all Mary Kay had a tremendous gift for friendship. She was present and available to all of those in her life and that will be greatly missed.

Visitation, Fri, June 24, 2011, 6:00-7:30pm with a Rosary at 7:30PM both at Callanan & Woods Scovern Mortuary (511 S. Central Ave. Glendale 91204 (818) 242-0258). Funeral Mass: Sat., June 25, 11:00am, Incarnation Catholic Church (1001 N. Brand Blvd, Glendale 91202). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Concern America, P.O. Box 1790, Santa Ana, CA 92702, (714) 953-8575 or Incarnation Catholic Church Building Fund.

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