A tribute to Mary Cunningham

 
Profile read at her funeral on Saturday 13th September 2014 at the Church of Our Lady and St Joseph, Prosperous, Co. Kildare

Mary oval photoOur dear Mary has left for heaven and on behalf of the family we want to thank all of you for your cards and messages of sympathy. So many have said what a beautiful person Mary was, so gentle, serene and loving.

Mary was born in Liverpool on 25 August 1946. Her mother was from a well known Dublin family and her father was of Irish descent. Mary grew up in a devout Irish Catholic family within a strong Liverpool parish community. She was the eldest of six children. Mary was born with a hole in the heart which meant she was not involved in the more boisterous activities and in fact became quite an accomplished pianist and good student, even if the calm exterior hid a mischievous streak.

At Leeds University Mary studied French and Spanish and spent many years working in a variety of settings from the library in the former Hope University, Liverpool and the Jesuit library in Dublin.

She was awarded the ‘Bene merenti’ for her contribution to the organisation of the Eucharistic Congress in the 1970’s. In Ireland, Mary was a woman ahead of her time translating for European business men in Dublin just as Ireland was joining the EU.

During her studies in the 1960’s Mary was amongst the first group in the UK to come into contact with the international ecclesial Movement, the Focolare which began during WW2 to promote the unity that Jesus prayed for: “ThatAll may Be One”. Mary described her first visit to the Focolare centre in Liverpool as “drinking champagne from a crystal glass”.  She went on to become a pioneer of the Focolare in both the UK and Ireland. In 1969 she entered the Focolare and everything she did was for God.

In the early 1970’s Mary opened the first focolare house in Dublin with Pina Peduzzi and Lieta Betono. Around them in Ireland, they saw people who were good, kind; people who already had a deep sense of family and spirit of sharing. What did they have to offer? They agreed to make mutual love visible amongst them and within a short time many people became attracted to this gospel way of life.

It was in that period that Mary wrote to Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement: “I want to say an eternal thank you not only for having opened up heaven to us but also for showing as a way to bring heaven on earth.”

Mary with EmmausIn the mid ‘80’s Mary returned to Ireland where in 1999 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was not long afterwards she started to use a wheelchair and gradually began to lose her sight.

In 2004 when Chiara Lubich was visiting Ireland she met Mary and thanked her for giving her own life for the benefit of others. In a letter Chiara wrote to her ” Your contribution to unity is precious and pleasing to God because it is rooted in love for Jesus on the cross.” And while saying goodbye Chiara said to her “You are my bank, Mary”. These words encouraged Mary so much.

Most of us knew and loved Mary, visiting her in St. Vincent’s hospital in the late ‘90’s and in Donnybrook hospital in the early years of 2000 after which she spent 9 years in her own apartment in St Brocs on Milltown Rd. More recently her last 2 years she has been based in Mill Lane Nursing Home in Naas.

Visiting Mary was always a privilege. She could bring you fully into her life with all its questions, doubts and at times anguish. Mary knew what suffering was and with everyone’s help was able to transform it daily into Love. She loved Jesus on the cross uniting her suffering continuously to His.

We would remind her regularly of the fruits this daily offering brought from heaven . She was the root of so many of our activities and she knew it! All of us went confiding in her. “You know Mary we are trying to bring the children to Rome but we’re low on funds.” ” Mary some of the teenagers are going through a hard time? Can you pray for them?” “Mary, my brother’s marriage is failing”….and Mary would simply say “Oh my gosh….” And give you a beautiful smile but you knew the situation would resolve itself or at least become bearable and that has been a continual occurrence, especially in the last 14 years.

A week ago Mary was taken to Naas hospital with pneumonia. Visits from the surrounding community assured her she was being accompanied by an extended family. She was always convinced as she once wrote “Jesus wants to work on our nothingness and all we have to do is believe in His love” .

Right up till her last day Mary knew how to always remain in an attitude of love towards others, a love without discrimination – family, friends and carers were all treated equally and with immense gratitude.

pina & mary - CopyLast Monday even though she seemed to be improving she received the Sacrament of the Sick, Holy Communion and Confession all of which left her and those around her with a deep sense of serenity.

She concluded the evening with the rosary and in spite of her oxygen mask was able to recite with surprising strength the “Hail Marys” of an entire rosary. The Joyful Mysteries seemed to summarize the steps of her life. Her last words were to say thank you to all those who were praying for her.

She quietly left for heaven the next morning.

Mary gathered all of us, people of all ages, types and walks of life to her. Her suffering was not hidden and many of us had the privilege of carrying it with her. But her smile made it all seem light.

Her sense of humour, and love of singing and her famous expression “Best foot forward” express well her daily efforts to build her “home” in heaven where she is certainly now dancing.

She will be buried with Lieta Betono, another of the co-founders of the Focolare Movement in Ireland in the cemetery close by and we are deeply grateful to both of them for their example.

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