Sister Mary Corkery

Sister Mary Corkery

Cedar Rapids

Sister Mary Corkery, RSM, age 100, died Nov. 16, 2023 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa after a brief illness. Mass of resurrection will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 at the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Innovation Center, 9000 C. Ave. NE, Marion, Iowa, by Father James Brokman. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

The visitation will be on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at the Community Room at HallMar Village, 8900 C. Ave. NE, Marion, Iowa, with a wake service at 6:00pm. Arrangements are with Teahen Funeral Home.

Sister Mary was born on September 12, 1923 in Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of John and Marjorie (Blessington) Corkery. She attended school in Sumner, Iowa and graduated from high school in 1941.

Sr. Mary entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1943 after graduating from Mt Mercy Junior College in Cedar Rapids. She received her teaching certificates in elementary education from the State of Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s in Cleveland, Ohio. Sister Mary was an elementary education teacher for over 40 years teaching in kindergarten, first grade, second grade and also was a principal. She taught at St. John’s in Waterloo, Iowa, St. Patrick’s in Fairfax, Iowa, All Saint’s and St. Matthew’s in Cedar Rapids, St. Patrick’s in Anamosa, Iowa, St. Matthew’s in Kalispell, Montana, St. Nicholas in Evansdale, Iowa, St. Benedict’s in Decorah, Iowa, Sacred Heart in Waterloo, Iowa, and Sacred Heart in Oelwein, Iowa.

Upon her retirement in 1991, Sister Mary remained an active service worker and companion through volunteering with Hallmar Care Center and with the Sisters of Mercy. Her love for flower gardens, reading and music allowed her to enjoy life to its fullness. She moved into Sacred Heart Life Center in 2013 and then to HallMar Village in 2023. Sr. Mary was a vowed Sister of Mercy for 80 years. In a recent interview she shared about being a Sister of Mercy, “All in all, to be in Mercy has allowed me to experience God’s presence in everyday life. I continue to open my heart to live life to the fullest – to be a whole, integrated and happy person living in the presence of God.”

In addition to the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Marjorie, siblings Robert Corkery, Donna Wolfgram and Margaret Murphy.

Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley Center, 1220 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 or the Community Free Health Clinic, 947 16th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.