Mary Mulcahy Branon

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. " ~ Mark Twain ~ Mary Mulcahy Branon, 96, died Friday, December 3, 2010 at her most recent home, the Skilled Nursing Facility at CVPH. A short time ago she said, "I want to go to heaven." God heard her and made her transition a quick and peaceful experience. Mom was looking forward to being reunited with Dad, her two sons, parents and two sisters. We are grateful that she is at peace. She bided her time, but was ready and anxious. Mary Helena Mulcahy was born July 21, 1914 in Brandon, Vermont. She was the second daughter of Michael Charles and Cecelia Martin Mulcahy. Although she was one of three daughters born at a time when women's opportunities were not seen as equal to males', her father instilled in her the idea that there wasn't anything she could not accomplish. Mom took what her father said and ran with it. In the depths of the Great Depression, she graduated from Trinity College in 1936 with a BA degree in English and the Romance Languages. Upon graduation she accepted a job in Island Pond, Vermont, teaching English, French, Greek, and Latin. She also taught piano, was the Drama Club Moderator and Yearbook Advisor. Mary Mulcahy met William Barry Branon, a student at St. Michael's College. He was smitten with her and courted her during their first years of teaching. They were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brandon August 22, 1938. Their marriage prospered until Barry's death on St. Patrick's Day, 1997. Mary continued to live a spiritual and fulfilling life, with the knowledge that she would meet her loved ones again. Even though Mary became a wife at a time when women gave up their careers for marriage, she would have no part in this tradition, continuing to teach in Newport and Mount St. Joseph's in Rutland. In 1952, her husband Barry was teaching and coaching at St. Michael's College in Winooski. Father Stone from the Diocese of Ogdensburg was sent to recruit him. The diocese needed a male teacher, coach and vice-principal at St. John's Academy in Plattsburgh, New York. They hired Barry, but also got the services of Mary. Even when she was raising her eight children, she continued to substitute when needed at St. John's Academy. If a nun was out for a period of time, she would fill in. She also was the bookkeeper for the school cafeteria, and anyone who went to St John's prior to 1978 should remember Mrs. Branon selling the white lunch tokens. She was a voracious reader and always had a number of books going at once. She enjoyed gardening, writing poetry, and family genealogy. She owned and read every volume of the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and did not shy away from intense discussions of Church doctrine with her brother-in-law, Father Philip J. Branon. She let him know often when discussing the Church tenets concerning the role of women that the word "obey" should not be part of wedding vows! Although her husband was the one everyone knew, Mary was the one in charge. She was Dad's rock, and saw to it that he and their children lived with a love of God, Church and family. She taught us to live by God's Commandments and instilled in us a love of learning. She was a staunch advocate of Catholic Education. Mary was a member of St. John's Church and the Altar Rosary Society. She is survived by three sons and their wives--Michael and Nancy Branon of Burlington, VT, William and Stephanie Branon of Cleveland, OH, Terrence and Michele Branon of Plattsburgh, NY, three daughters and two sons-in-law--Gracemary Fairbanks of Plattsburgh, Roseanne and Corky Corrado of Chazy, Kathleen and Keith Stark of Plattsburgh, 15 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Branon was predeceased by two sons - Martin Mulcahy Branon (1959) and Kevin Barry Branon (1977), two sisters, Catherine Mulcahy (1923), and Margaret Mulcahy Branon (2008). (Margaret's husband, Francis, was Barry's brother.) Calling hours will be held Wednesday, December 8, from 4 to 7 PM at the Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St. in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, December 9, at 10:30 AM at St. John's Church in Plattsburgh; burial will follow in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Friends wishing to make donations in her memory may do so to Seton Academy or Seton Catholic Central School. Online condolences and memorial candles may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.