Mary Caffrey, RSM (formerly Sister M. Lurana) 96, a Sister of Mercy for 73 years died on Monday, May 22 at Grand Islander Nursing Home in Middletown.  Her friend of sixty-seven years Marjorie Mancini, RSM was with her at her death.  Mary was the daughter of the late James F. Caffrey and his wife Ida (Young) Caffrey of Pawtucket.  Mary was predeceased in death by her beloved brother Edward Caffrey.

Mary is survived by the members of her Mercy community and her sister-in-law Faye Montgomery of Arkansas, her niece, Kathleen Meyer of New Hampshire, and her nephews Douglas Caffrey of New Hampshire and Kenneth Caffrey of Texas.

Mary entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cumberland on September 8, 1946.  She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Catholic Teachers College and a Master of Arts in Administration from Xavier College, Chicago, Illinois.  She began her teaching career in grades 4 and 5 in Fall River Diocese and then in Providence diocese.  She loved developing students’ creativity through writing assignments. Her leadership ability was recognized, and she not only taught but was the principal at St. Mary School, Bristol; St. Brendan, Riverside; and St. Margaret, Rumford.

She also served as the local coordinator for the parish convents including St. Matthew, Cranston; St. Xavier, Providence and Mother of Hope Residence in Portsmouth, opened as a community house for Sisters studying at Salve Regina University.  She was appointed to the Provincial Council and later ministered at Mount St Rita Health Centre as a director of physical therapy.  She also served as Administrative Assistant at Our Lady of Peace Spiritual Life Center in Narragansett.

However, it was an invitation from Father Daniel Trainor to serve as his Pastoral Assistant to the Needy at Assumption parish in Providence that spoke of her desire like Catherine McAuley to meet the needs of the people she met.  She was a compassionate welcome with her smile and kind words to those who approached the door seeking necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.  Her work with the St. Nicholas Fund provided means to pay for the needs.  She continued to volunteer at Assumption after she retired in 2005 and moved to Jamestown.

In Jamestown she served as a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Mark Parish as she had throughout her life in each parish where she lived.  She was active in the senior community where she lived and often prayed with those in need and was always ready to listen to their concerns.  Spending quiet time with God was the heart of her spirituality.  During one of her painful bed-ridden times when she could not move, she told Marge that she would say three rosaries each day for the needs of others.

Her final two years were as a resident at Grand Islander.  The staff at the nursing home said that you never did a thing for her that she did not say “thank you.”  Sisters who visited her would often have staff say she was their favorite patient because she always had a smile for them and often shared her beloved chocolates with them.  Catherine McAuley told her sisters: “If the love of God really reigns in your heart, it will show in the exterior.”  From students to the needy approaching the door for help, to workers in nursing care, those who saw Mary saw the love of God.

On her birthday in March her niece Kathleen and her husband Gregory Meyer planned a concert and lunch for her 96 birthday.  Mary loved a good time, and this was a special day.  Throughout her life she had enjoyed fun and relaxation with family and friends.  Two months after this party with Sister Marge beside her praying for her, she left to join her family, Mercy sisters, and untold people her kindness touched during her life.  She will be remembered as a compassionate woman of mercy with a warm smile.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at St. Mark Church, 60 Narragansett Ave., Jamestown, RI.  Visitation in the church will be at 10:15 a.m. with a Mercy Prayer Service at 10:45 a.m.  Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, 261 W. Wrentham Road, Cumberland, RI.  In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI, 02864, www.sistersofmercy.org.  Information and condolences please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com