Mary C. Barragy

     Mary C. Barragy, 69, of Mason City, died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, at her home in Mason City.  

     Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013 at Epiphany Parish – St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 5th St. S.E., Mason City.  Following the Mass, cremation rites will be accorded and inurnment will be held at a future date in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.

     Mary was born in Mason City on April 16, 1944, the daughter of James and Sara O’Brien.  She attended school in Mason City and was very proud to be a member of the first class to graduate from Newman Catholic High School in 1962. Mary met the love of her life, Joe Barragy, when she was a freshman.  They quickly became high school sweethearts.  They were united in marriage on Jan. 25, 1964 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.   Joe and Mary never left each other’s side for more than 50 years.  They were blessed with five boys,  Michael, Thomas, Daniel, Scott and Jason.   

     Mary and Joe moved to a farm south of Clear Lake in 1967. Together they farmed until the early 1980’s.  Mary worked for the family business, O’Brien Moving & Storage, as the secretary until the business was sold in 2006. 

     Mary enjoyed spending time with her family, especially the long-standing family tradition of Sunday spaghetti dinners at her mother’s house.  Mary loved to talk about her boys and grandchildren who meant the world to her.   She and Joe looked forward to going out to dinner with friends on the weekends.  Mary enjoyed Christmas and made a special hobby of collecting Santa Clauses, and in her early years she loved to paint.

     Mary was always one to give of herself to the community.  She volunteered at the church as a CCD teacher and a lector, parent rep for any of the boys’ sports programs, especially the wrestling program, and was instrumental in starting the CARES post prom party at Clear Lake.

     In February of 1991, Mary’s life changed when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  She took it head-on for the next 22 years, as she made it her mission to beat it.  Although her illness could be debilitating, she didn’t let it slow her down.  She stayed very active in the lives and activities of her children and grandchildren.  Mary and Joe organized the MS Walk for over 20 years in Mason City.   In 2000, she was awarded Speaker of the Year from the National MS Society. 

     Mary was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, and the National MS Society.

     Mary is Survived by her husband, Joe; sons, Michael (Leeann), Thomas (Carole), Daniel (Dawn), Scott, and Jason (Nichole); nine grandchildren, Christopher, Taylor, Nikolo, Jordyn, Larissa, Matthew, Jackson, Ella, and Grace; brother, Patrick (Barbara) O’Brien, Mason City; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Larry) Olson, Buffalo, Minn., and Linda Barragy, San Antonio, Texas; as well as many nieces and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her parents.  

     Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.