28 May 1929 – 14 March 2020

Recently, the Sisters of Mercy farewelled Sr Anthony Mary Casey, who died peacefully on 14 March 2020 in Bethany Home. Together with Bishop Michael McCarthy, the Sisters were joined by family members and friends at the Funeral Mass for Sr Anthony Mary in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, The Range on 18 March 2020.

Cecilia Anne Casey, known as Cecily, with her twin brother, Thomas, was born 28 May 1929 in Rockhampton to Les and Annie (nee Butler) Casey. Sadly, Thomas died two weeks after birth, then Maureen, born in 1931, died in 1940. Cecily was blessed to have two younger surviving sisters, namely Anne and June. When St Peter’s School opened in 1934, it is recorded that Cecily was a first day pupil in the Preparatory class later completing secondary school at the Range College.

After leaving school, Cecily was employed as a secretary at Kirby’s, a well-known Rockhampton business. On 6 January 1947, Cecily entered the Rockhampton Sisters of Mercy, was received as Sr Anthony Mary on 5 October 1947 and professed on 22 January 1950 with Sisters Valerie Schleger, Patrice Kennedy, Paulinus Scotney and Michael McRae (all dec’d) and Sisters M Andrina Ryan, Gabriel Kennedy and Angela Doheny.

Initially teaching in primary schools, namely West Mackay and Farleigh, Sister then spent 1951-1955 teaching Commercial subjects at the Range College before going to Gladstone (1956-1959) and South Mackay (1960). In 1961, her book-keeping, shorthand and typing skills were well utilised when Sr Anthony Mary taught at St Patrick’s High School, Mackay, then St Mary’s High School, North Rockhampton and the Range College. Returning to Mackay (1966-1974), Sister was a foundation staff member of Our Lady of Mercy College, now Mercy College. From 1975 till 1988, Sr Anthony Mary taught at the Range College until she took compassionate leave to care for father until his death in 1993. Care of boarders was another task that St Anthony Mary undertook while teaching in Mackay and the Range College.

In 1996, Sr Anthony Mary responded to a request for a Parish Worker in Gin Gin and this ministry proved life-giving for her and for the local community to whom she gave herself so wholeheartedly. Since coming back to Rockhampton in 2004, Sr Anthony Mary has lived at Bethany Convent, The Range Village and McAuley Place before moving to Bethany Home in December 2018.

May our Sister rest in peace as we commend her to the loving embrace of the God she served so faithfully.

Sr Joanne Molloy RSM

WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE FOR SR ANTHONY MARY CASEY

Prepared by her sister, Sr M Marise Casey, and Sr Kerry-Ann Sullivan

Spoken by Sr Grace Bartolo

Cecilia Anne Casey (Anthony Mary or Cecily) and her twin, Thomas, were born on 28 May 1929, the first children of Les and Annie Casey. Sadly, Thomas died on 13 June 1929, just a few days after his birth.  The Casey family then grew with the birth of Maureen in 1931, Anne in 1935 and June (Marise) in 1939.  In 1940, Les and Annie Casey experienced the heartache of losing a second child with the death of Maureen.  Anthony Mary was very close to Maureen as they were born only a couple of years apart –Anthony Mary has always said that she had lost her mate and Maureen has never been far from her thoughts. Marise told Anthony Mary last week that she was breaking family tradition as her mum and dad, Thomas and Maureen all died in the month of June!

Les Casey was a butcher and Annie Casey was a very accomplished seamstress.   Life in the Casey household meant having fun, with extended family, neighbours, friends, and with each other.   Many parties with the extended family were held at the Casey home.   Birthdays were always special with aunts, uncles and cousins all having a wonderful time together.   Jeanie Luxton, a cousin of the Casey girls, even had her wedding reception on the side veranda of their home!  Of course, there were the usual ups and downs of life.   Mrs Casey was a wonderful cook and we all know that Anthony Mary didn’t inherit too many cooking skills from her mum – Anthony herself often said “Anne and June are wonderful cooks and have taken after mum but I missed out”!   She did however have a great sense of humour.

I am sure many of us have heard the story often told by Anthony Mary that she looked after ‘June’ when she was small, and how it was her job to give her young sister some arrowroot biscuits with butter and milk.  Like most of us do with family stories, Anthony may have embellished the facts a little.   While Marise was probably too young to remember a lot, she is sure it was a case of one spoonful for her and three for Anthony Mary!

Last year both Anthony Mary and Marise celebrated “0” birthdays, Anthony 90 and Marise 80.  Anne, Gordon and John Paul travelled from Toowoomba to attend the celebration which made the day special for them both - as Anne, Gordon and their family are a much loved and very important part of their lives. During the celebrations Sr Anne Slattery delivered a beautiful tribute to both Anthony Mary and Marise.  Anne wondered whether the occasion was historical or not and noted that all the Sisters were doubly pleased to be able to enjoy the occasion, because of their bond as sisters and all they’ve shared during their lives.  Here is a little of what Anne had to say:

‘Anthony Mary entered the Novitiate in 1947 and Marise answered God’s call and joined the Community at St Anne’s Novitiate in 1959. I can’t imagine what it must have been like as sisters to share that experience of God’s call whether you expressed it to each other or not.

Anthony Mary’s first year teaching was at St Francis, West Mackay.  After 11 years primary teaching, she moved into Secondary Schools for approximately 14 years where she taught English, Bookkeeping, Typing,  Shorthand, Speech and  Religious Education. During some of this time, Anthony Mary had charge of the Boarders at the Range College. Her life then took a different turn and she had compassionate leave to care for her father. Years later, when she returned to Rockhampton, she again showed love and care for family when she would drive to Bethany every afternoon to visit her Auntie Molly and feed her her tea.

Anthony Mary answered a call for a Parish Worker at Gin Gin where she took on life in the Parish for approximately 8 years – she left Gin Gin in 2003.  While in Gin Gin, Anthony Mary became an integral part of that community and the people really loved her.

Apart from the normal duties of parish life such as caring for the Church and being in charge of the Sacramental Programmes, she visited the hospital on a regular basis and as there was no resident minister for the other religions in Gin Gin, she was often called upon to visit the sick and pray with the patients belonging to other faith traditions.  She befriended many people in the community. This shows her love of people and her ever-readiness to reach out to others. Her attendance at the Dawn Service and other Civic Ceremonies and gatherings, meant a great deal to that community.

Anthony Mary will always be remembered for her great rapport with her students. She had a real gift of being able to connect with people. She was known to be meticulous in all her teaching work especially when correcting her students’ papers. The time and effort she gave to that task amazed her fellow teachers’.

Family meant the world to Anthony Mary and her love for Anne and Gordon, Marise, Michael and Dianne, Anne Maree and her late husband Peter, Janine and Greg, Peter and Karen, John Paul and their families was always evident.  She was truly interested in every member of her family, delighting in their successes and concerned and caring when things did not work out. Today we offer you all our sympathy, our love and our prayers.

Marise, your devotion and care of Anthony Mary over many years has been an inspiration.  Know that you do not face the future alone.  We can promise all your family and especially Anthony Mary that we, your sisters, will always be here to care for you, to support you and to love you. 

A woman of faith whose quiet prayer life sustained her throughout the ups and downs of life, Anthony Mary had a great devotion to Mary and could often be seen with Rosary Beads around her neck as her days were spent praying the Rosary.  She was a powerhouse of prayer, especially for her family and friends and anyone else she knew who needed her prayers. She had a gift of being able to comfort others in their need.

She has collected many prayers over the years; she even had them pasted in old exercise books.  Marise has said that Anthony Mary could have gone into opposition against Pellegrini’s. Her Bible and Office Book are both full of little notes on the fruits of her own reflections – most of them written in shorthand so only she knows what they say!!! Marise found the following note in Anthony Mary’s handwriting on Wednesday and it reads:

‘LOVE AWAITS US – an immense love awaits us as we step into Eternal Life.  We do not know the details, but that does not matter.  The God of Surprises is preparing for us everything that could make us uniquely happy.  We were, after all, made to be happy.  We were, after all, made to be LOVED and at the end, LOVE itself will enfold us.  With the three Divine Persons, there will be those who have gone before us, delighted that we/I at last have arrived.  In this life we often feel like a lonely marathon runner, but then we will FIND ourselves’.

Anthony Mary, today we gather to thank you, we honour you and celebrate your life. May the angels welcome you into paradise, into the arms of your God whom you have loved and served so faithfully.   Rest in peace!