Known and loved by many, Mary Molloy was the person you could always count on. Whether it was a committee, fundraising campaign, church initiative or project that needed someone to step forward, Mary was ready to help.
On August 5, Mary passed away peacefully at the Edmonton General Hospital Continuing Care Centre. She was 77.
Her death is a tremendous loss to our community, particularly to the many people who knew Mary through the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL), the Catholic Church and the countless organizations to which she generously gave her time and talents.
Mary’s funeral will be celebrated on August 21 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton. For those unable to attend, the funeral will be livestreamed on the Archdiocese of Edmonton YouTube channel.
Mary was born on July 10, 1949 and raised in Saskatoon. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1976, she began a distinguished career with the federal government, working with the Governor General, the Secretary of State, External Affairs and the Canadian Grain Commission.
In 1980, Mary moved to Edmonton, where she brought her talents to the City of Edmonton, the utilities sector and Habitat for Humanity. She quickly became involved in the community, volunteering her time and expertise to numerous organizations, committees and Catholic initiatives.
“I met Mary in 2007 and quickly discovered her positive outlook, her generous spirit and her wonderful sense of humour,” said Susan Casey, her friend for many years. “She encouraged me to join the CWL, and we quickly became close friends as well as sisters in the League.
“She had an extraordinary ability to make people feel welcome and to inspire them to become involved. I am only one of many people who were drawn into service because Mary saw something in us and encouraged us to become involved.”
Those words capture the essence of who Mary was. Mary’s Catholic faith was at the heart of her life and found expression in her extraordinary commitment to service. She immersed herself in every project she took on, generously sharing her talents and encouraging others to do the same.
Over the years, Mary served on the executives of the St. Joseph’s Basilica Council, the Edmonton Diocesan Council and the Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Council of the CWL. She was instrumental in CWL fundraising for the Cornerstone of Faith, Newman Theological College and the renovation of Sacred Heart of the First Peoples Church.
She also started a Catholic Girls League at the Jean Forest Leadership Academy and was involved in the CWL Feed the Hungry project at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples.
Her service extended far beyond the CWL. Among the many organizations and initiatives close to her heart were the Archdiocese of Edmonton Liturgy Committee, the Visit of Pope Francis to Canada in 2022, St. Joseph’s College, the United Way, the Edmonton Catholic Schools Foundation, E4C Alberta and Catholic Charities Society.
It is impossible to name every committee, project or award that was part of Mary’s remarkable life of service. What can be said is that she gave generously of herself and touched countless lives.
Among the honours recognizing Mary’s service was the Kevin Carr Christian Leadership Award, presented to her by Newman Theological College in 2013 in recognition of her outstanding Christian leadership and long-standing commitment to the community.
Just before her death, Mary was presented with the Bellelle Guerin Award. This national CWL award recognizes a member who has kept the vision and dream of Bellelle Guerin alive through dedicated service to the work of the League in her parish, diocese, province and beyond.
Mary will be deeply missed by her many CWL sisters, Franciscan friends, members of the clergy, colleagues and all those fortunate enough to have known her.
She is survived by her loving husband, David McKinlay; her sister, Sr. Sharon, RGS; her brother, George (Betty Augaitis); and her many nieces and their children. Her oldest brother, the Honourable William Thomas (Tom) Molloy, O.C., S.O.M., predeceased her in 2019.
Mary’s legacy of faith, friendship, generosity and service will live on through the many people and communities she touched.
-Susan Casey is Alberta Mackenzie CWL social justice chair
For more information on the CWL, go to their website.
