Mary Hegarty Obituary

Mrs Mary Hegarty, born Mary McCormick in Straw, Northern Ireland in 1928, died peacefully, in her sleep, surrounded by her loving family on September 27, 2024. She was the first born of Francis and Anne McCormick. Tragedy struck early in Mary’s life when her mother passed away during the birth of her brother Paul when Mary was only four years old. Her commanding spirit showed itself when her father planned to have relatives raise the infant Paul. As they were loading his belongings into the horse and cart in front of the family home there was heard a great ruckus coming from inside. Mary took to smashing the china in anger and frustration upon learning that her brother was leaving. Her father quickly unloaded Paul and his belongings from the cart and the smashing of dishes stopped. That defiant determination would serve her well throughout her life. For although she had many magnificent highs during her time on this earth, she also faced significant sorrows.

Mary came to Philadelphia in 1948 to marry her betrothed John Hegarty.  John was living with his sister Mary and her husband Hugh Brolly and their three children in Southwest Philadelphia. Mary and Hugh were also hosting Frank Hegarty, the youngest of the 10 Hegarty children, who also lived in Straw, Northern Ireland and Hugh’s brother-in-law, Ed Graney, who hailed from Kerry, Ireland. The Brolly’s were hosting their relatives who had come to America to start afresh.

John and Mary married in 1950 and first resided in Southwest Philadelphia before moving to Girard Ave. where they lived until 1956. It was in 1956 that they started construction of their house on Pond Lane in Malvern PA, where Mary would live out the rest of her days. The couple’s first three children, Henry, Frank and John were born while they lived in Philadelphia. John had the unique opportunity to be born at home on Girard Ave. Mary had contracted the Measles and they would not let her into the hospital to give birth. Mary Brolly, John’s sister, assisted in the birth and John was born on Valentine’s Day in 1956. Hugh, Joe, Jim and Eileen were born while the couple lived in Malvern, in the hospital, sans measles.

Mary’s loving husband John was a carpenter of some renown in the wilds of Malvern.   I am calling it the ‘Wilds’ because they moved there before Malvern rose to its present status as a socially acceptable place of residence. John taught their sons (and any comers who wanted to learn) his trade willingly and most followed in his footsteps. But his life was cut short by illness in 1976 and Mary had to then face life on her own while finishing the job of raising the younger children. Tragedy struck again a year later when Henry, the oldest and a Vietnam Vet passed away at 27 years old. It was a major blow as she and Henry were cut from the same cloth.  And as dogged as tragedy can be it took Joe when he was only 40 and Hugh at 60, and her grandson John at 23. As we all know, no mother should be predeceased by her children, but Mary carried on.

The homestead on Pond Lane became known to the hundreds of friends and family visitors as ‘The Ponderosa'. All were welcome but Mary did not take lightly to fools. If one crossed her or seemed a danger to her kin one would have to be wary of her powerful right hook. Even the police knew not to cross her if they were in the wrong. Just ask the one who had his hat knocked off when he wrongfully brought John home without the bread she sent him to get. While knocking that hat off she yelled to Joe to ‘get the gun’. The officer fled and never came back.

Mary was also blessed with an astonishing beauty which she wielded deftly. Being raised by three ‘Irish Bachelors’ Mary had a view into the male psyche that few woman have. She knew how to use it and she often knew just when to use it. There were many a man left licking his wounds after falsely believing he saw an opportunity that never existed. As many can attest, growing up watching her work her charms to get her way was both educational and entertaining. Mary had an exceptional life and for the many, many who had a glimpse of that life the imprint is indelible. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 10am-11am at Saint Patrick Church 104 Channing Avenue Malvern, PA 19355, followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Interment to follow at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Mrs. Hegarty's Mass of Christian Burial will also be streamed live and can be accessed via www.facebook.com/MaugerGivnishFuneralHome/live/ starting at 11am. 

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