Sister John Mary Quirk, CSJ

(Anna Patricia)

March 21, 1940 – June 4,  2023

 We Remember Her
In the opening of the buds and in the
rebirth of spring.

I welcome this morning with a heavy heart at the sudden death of our dear sister John Mary Quirk.  How fragile life is! Today’s Liturgy is truly a celebration of the life of John Mary Quirk. She was always thankful for every kindness shown to her by her devoted nurses and caregivers at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham.

Anna Patricia was born in Malden to Michael Joseph Quirk and Hannah McCarthy Quirk, both from County Cork, Ireland.  She grew up in Malden with her two sisters, Betty and Mary Jo and maintained life-long connections to Sacred Hearts Parish.  She loved traveling with Mary Jo and Betty.

Anna graduated from Bishop Cheverus High School in 1958 and entered the Sisters of St Joseph.

John Mary would be celebrating sixty-five years as a Sister of St. Joseph in October of this year.  She began her ministerial journey as a teacher at Sacred Heart School in Weymouth. How she loved teaching first graders.  Her gentleness and nurturing manner were life-giving gifts for the children to whom she ministered. She went on to teach first grade at St. Pius, in Lynn. 

She was missioned to Bethany Hospital in Framingham to assist in the medical records department for one year.  She found this ministry very challenging but also loved it. She devoted over forty years to Bethany Hospital, later becoming Bethany Health Care Center. She became part of the healthcare team at Bethany.

John Mary was a woman for others, always thinking of ways to make people happy. Whether it was her giving away candy from her endless candy supply, parceling out the cookies that her cousin Ellen sent her, sending her Bingo winnings to the missions, or giving her handcrafted items to the bazaar at Bethany, she received so much joy when she was giving.  Just last week she wanted to buy yarn to knit something for someone.

I can tell you first-hand how generous John Mary was with her time and talents. She loved tutoring the children at Bethany Hill Place, her next-door neighbors. She did not just teach one child in the family, she was a role model for the whole family, with her generous spirit.  She would come laden with books and games for the siblings of the child she was tutoring.

John Mary, indeed, was a visible sign of God’s compassionate presence and love. May you go now in peace, faithful friend of God.

Given by: Denise Kelly, CSJ, June 8, 2023