Mary Florence Connors (1910 - 1980)

Born 19 Jan 1910 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 18 Mar 1980 at age 70 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Mary was born in Cairns, Far North Queensland in January, 1910.^[1] She was the daughter of Jack Connors and Florrie Fox. Mary was the oldest of the five surviving children in the family. She was baptised at the first Saint Monica's Church in Cairns (which was destroyed by a cyclone in 1927)^[2], by Father Downey.

Mary was educated at Saint Monica's in Cairns and later at Mount Saint Bernard College in Herberton.^[3]

In 1927, at the age of 17, Mary moved to the Sisters of Mercy convent in Mareeba to enter the novitiate. Three years later, in 1930, Mary took her final vows. She took the name Sister Mary Imelda.

In 1935, Mary was a witness to the marriage of her sister Noreen in Mareeba.

Mary taught in many primary schools in the Cairns and Tablelands regions, including five years at Saint Mary's in Cooktown during the 1930s. She also worked as a school principal during the 1950s, 60s and 70s at Mareeba, North Cairns, Earlville and Babinda.

In 1964, Mary flew from Cairns to Brisbane, with her sister Monica, for the funeral of their sister Noreen. At that time she was known as the Reverend Mother Imelda, of the Convent of Good Counsel, Cairns.

In January 1980, Mary celebrated her Golden Jubilee of 50 years since she professed to the convent.

Two months later she passed away, in March of 1980. ^[4]Her funeral was held at St Monica's Cathedral in Cairns, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated by Bishop Torpie.

Mary was buried at Martyn Street Cemetery in Cairns. (No. P 20/ 55 Lawn section) ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Government Birth registration: Mary Florence Connors Birth date: 19/01/1910 Mother's name: Florence Fox Father/parent's name: John Connors Registration details: 1910/C/1877 https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/01954336771db79fee0d2cccb98e0b2f8112ecb04a82e3e51d2024608f2dbea1
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Monica%27s_Old_Cathedral,_Cairns
3. ↑ Mary's school exam results in 1925 at Mount Saint Bernard Convent School in Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Sat 12 Dec 1925, Page 11, HERBERTON NOTES. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/40518236
4. ↑ Queensland government Death registration: Mary Connors Birth year:1910 Death date:18/03/1980 Mother's name: Florence Fox Father/parent's name: John Connors Registration details:1980/51637 https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/78ef248e4e206c5056743e5424cc86b2a9c8b193668a5c0020e0f06d0a64b933
5. ↑ Burial Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187401287/mary-imelda-connors: accessed 19 September 2023), memorial page for Mary Imelda Connors (19 Jan 1910–18 Mar 1980), Find a Grave Memorial ID 187401287, citing Cairns Cemetery, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 50787501).

• Photo of Mareeba Convent in a Queensland State Library photo collection https://www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryqueensland/32689591748/in/photostream/