1937-2025
Born: 12th August 1937
Entered Religious Life: 8th October 1956
Died: 24th July 2025
Mary Fallon, daughter of James Fallon and Gertrude Fallon (nee Cleary), was born in Dublin on 12th August 1937. She entered the Religious Sisters of Charity on 8th October 1956 and was received into the Novitiate on 30th April 1957, taking the name Sr Joseph de Sales; she later reverted to her baptismal name. She was professed on 14th August 1959.
Mary ministered in different places in the Congregation from 1959 until 2017. Her ministry began in Benada, Co. Sligo, where she remained for 17 years. She made vestments for use at Mass which she embroidered with care and perfection. She had a great desire to go Africa and in 1976 was missioned to Kabwata in Zambia, where she ran a homecraft centre. She continued this ministry in Nakambala. Following a time of study in Ireland from 1981-1984, Mary returned to Kabwe in Zambia where she taught typing and home economics. In Maamba, she was involved in a youth project and in Mulanga she did accounts in the rural health centre. Apart from short periods in Ireland for further study, Mary spent 41 years in Zambia.
Mary was a very quiet unassuming person, but behind this demeanour was an extremely talented and gifted woman who used her gifts to better the lives of those less fortunate. She was great at networking and had connections in Ireland, England and elsewhere. In 2009, a group of seven young graduates from the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology went to Zambia to upskill the men in carpentry, thus enabling them obtain better jobs and have a better lifestyle for themselves and their families.
Mary’s friends in England, with the help of Work Aid and the Lions Club, sent a container of computers to Zambia, which enabled her to teach ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) course. Mary was before her time in re-using, re-purposing and re-cycling. Containers of sewing machines, including buttons, zips, needles and other artifacts for making clothes, also carpentry equipment, computers and other useful goods were sent over the years.
Mary was a truly kind, spiritual and helpful person; she was always ready to lend a helping hand and nothing was too much for her. In 2017, she returned to Ireland and was missioned to Árd Mhuire Community, Harold’s Cross. When her health began to fail, she transferred to Beechlawn Nursing Home in March 2021, where she was beautifully cared for by the staff.
Mary died in Beechlawn Nursing Home on 24th July 2025. May she rest in peace.
