Obituary of Mary B. Keegan

On Sunday, May 10 our beloved Mary (Marie) Keegan passed away peacefully. In the days since we have been blown away by the outpouring of support and love from near and far. Marie/Mom/MomMom left her mark on so many. Through countless phone calls, texts, direct messages, emails, we have been reminded of her openness, her kindness, her enthusiasm for a party, her passion for cooking and entertaining, and her love of family and friends. She embraced America with all of her heart, while retaining her deep love of Ireland and all things, and people Irish. To say she will be sorely missed is an understatement. Please keep the messages and calls coming. We are so grateful for the offers of help and support. We are sorry we can't greet you all at the wake and funeral Mom deserves. We plan to hold a tribute to her life at a future date. In the meantime, we'd like to suggest a donation made in Mom's memory to the charity of your choice. We can recommend a few: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/ Mom often supported St. Jude's. The mission of St. Jude's, for pediatric catastrophic diseases including cancer through research and treatment. While mom battled cancer she often remarked that she thought it would be so much worse to see a child suffering. Contributions help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude's for anything, including treatment, travel, housing or food. Center for Food Action: https://cfanj.org/ The Center for Food Action works to prevent hunger and homelessness and improve the lives of striving families living in poverty in Northern NJ. We have all been impacted by the current pandemic. CFA has pivoted to make sure our neighbors don't go hungry. As the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis has mounted, CFA has provided over 3,000 households – 8,400 people -- with food, and is delivering food to the doorsteps of the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and those in quarantine. Mercy Center: https://www.mercycenterbronx.org/ As you may know, Mercy Center has been close to our family for many years. It seems particularly fitting, in Mom's memory, to support an organization focused on helping mothers be their best. Like Mom, the women of Mercy Center are largely immigrants who strive, through hard work and focus, for the best possible life for their children. It was started in the spirit of Catherine McAuley of Dublin, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who welcomed all into her home with a cup of tea. Thank you again for all of your support. Words cannot express our sadness, and our gratitude for family and friends who are with us in spirit, if not in person, at this terrible time. Please stay safe. Best, John, Siobhan, Sinead, Neil and Brian