Welch-Harris Project
In the News

Today, we remember Mary (Lyons) Daley, who died 84 years ago.

The Biddeford Daily Journal (Biddeford, ME), dated May 24, 1940, reported:

Mrs. Mary Daly Died Today

Mrs. Mary Daly, widow of Timothy Daly, a well-known resident of this city and member of St. Marys parish, died this morning at a local hospital.

Mrs. Daly had been seriously ill since last July, but had been showing improvement until last week when she suffered a sudden reverse and since last Friday her condition had been steadily failing.

She was born in Cork, Ireland, and came to this country when a young girl. A few weeks ago she observed her 74th birth anniversary.

She was a member of the Assumption sodality and in the interests of the parish.

Mrs. Daly leaves three daughters, Mrs. Julia Welch, Miss Mary Daly, and Miss Nora Daly, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 9 o’clock Monday morning at St. Marys church.

What I learned:

Mary was born in County Cork, Ireland, about 1866. [1]
Mary fell ill in July 1939.
Mary died at a local hospital.

Mary Daly was a Catholic and attended St. Mary’s Church. First known as the Church of the Assumption, it was built in 1856 and was destroyed by a fire. It was rebuilt in 1923 and dedicated in 1926. [2]

The Assumption Sodality is a religious body that aims to foster in its members an ardent devotion, reverence, and love towards the Blessed Virgin Mary—the society which began in 1563. [3]

Endnotes

[1] Mary’s birth in 1866 is in conflict with some other records that place her birth in 1862 and 1865. Mary’s birthdate needs further analysis.
[2] Internet: St. Mary’s Church, Biddeford, Maine – The Museum in the Streets®.
[3] Internet: Our Lady of the Assumption Sodality, Phoenix, AZ, “The History of Sodality.”