Sr Mary Beausang
1927 -2024
Born: 16th January 1927
Entered: 18th November 1946
Died: 2nd May 2024
Mary Christina was born in Cork in 1927, to Richard and Norah (nee Smiddy). She was the fourth child of eight, six brothers and one sister. May, as she was called by her family, was very proud of her brothers and often recited their names – Dick, Tom, Bill, Jack, Tony, Pat.
She entered the Religious Sisters of Charity on November 18th 1946 and was given the name Sr. Mary Augustine. She was professed on January 9th, 1949.
After spending a year in Stanhope Street (1949-1950) on the mission and three years in Donnybrook laundry (1950-1953), Sr. Mary made her Final Profession on June 9th, 1952.
She was missioned to Scotland in 1954 and in 1955 she went to Rockferry to study and then Sowerby Bridge (1956-1957) where she was teaching as well as studying.
In 1957, Sr. Mary was missioned to St. Brigid of Sweden, California where she was part of the teaching faculty. She spent many years teaching in St. Cornelius, Long Beach, St Columban, Garden Grove and St. Hedwig, Los Alamitos. She was principal at St. Cornelius and St Hedwig before she retired. Her motto for teaching was “be firm, be kind and let them know you love them” a mantra she quoted well into her life.
Sr Mary was always a great math teacher and in 1997 was appointed the bursar for the Californian Region, a position she held for 6 years until 2003.
Sr. Mary retired to 14th Street in 2003. She became involved with Christian Care in Mary Star of the Sea Parish. This organization helped distribute food and clothing to the poor and homeless every week.
She loved music and would listen to religious songs every day. It was from these songs that she drew her strength. Her love for the Blessed Mother and Venerable Mary Aikenhead was evident in her life.
Sr. Mary lived in 14th Street until 2014 when it became necessary for her to move to Paseo Del Mar. She remained in Paseo Del Mar until 2016 when she took up residence in Seacrest Skilled Nursing Facility. After some years at Seacrest Sr. Mary was transferred to St. John of God Retirement and Care Center.
Sr. Mary had a great love for the Irish language and her Gaelic phrases were often recited to the astonishment of her caregivers. Sr. Mary passed away peacefully on May 2nd 2024.
Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis.
