Agnes McConway

Agnes Mulford McConway passed away peacefully on Sunday morning 12 February at Trinitas Hospital, Elizabeth. It was a brief illness. She was 89 years old. Her family gathered around until the end. 

Agnes was born in Orange, NJ, the daughter of Carl B. & Agnes (Regan) Mulford. She was raised in Newark, and attended St. Ann’s School there. St. Ann’s was the focus of her early life. Agnes always had a great interest in Irish music and dance. That brought her to many dances at the Eagle Hall in Irvington and McGovern’s Tavern on New St. in Newark. It was at McGovern’s back room that she met the love of her life Patrick “Eddie” McConway. He told her that night that he was going to marry her. Her response? — “No you’re not.” They were married at her beloved St. Ann’s on 6 October 1956.

After high school she went to work at The Public Service Bus Company. She continued to work at the PS after her marriage, until she and Eddie began a family. Eventually, they had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. All were born in St. Elizabeth Hospital (Trinitas), where she died. She was a home maker for her entire life, raising her children while being very active at St. Catherine of Siena School and Church in Hillside/Elizabeth. She was a classroom mother, lunch attendant and Booster Club member. She loved to make the Miraculous Medal Novena Mass on Monday nights. The Rosary Altar Society was a favorite group in which she had many friends. St. Catherine’s became as important to her as St. Ann’s was in her youth. She and Eddie taught her children the importance of the parish family to their family.

In her later years, Nanny & Poppy, as they became known, helped raise many of their 10 grandchildren. She also kept up her interest in Irish culture. She was a founding member of the Union County Irish Assn. Going on the annual bus trips to the Catskills. Agnes travelled extensively, making pilgrimages to Ireland, Rome, Assisi, Fatima, Lourdes, Austria & Germany, and the Holy Land. She was a good traveling companion and was game for anything that came her way. Many of her grandchildren were baptized in the Jordan River water she brought back from Galilee. Each of them received a Rosary for 1st Holy Communion that she had picked up on her latest pilgrimage.

Agnes is survived by her 6 children — Timmy (Lori), Fr. Seán Jordan McConway, OP, Marianne (John) McKeary, Brendan, Eileen Higgins and Maureen (Bruce) Strazdon. Her 10 grandchildren — Dylan, Kevin & Meghan McConway; Patrick, Ryan & Mairéad McKeary; Sarah Agnes Higgins; Colin, Terrence & Kathryn Strazdon; and her great-grandchildren Rylee Ann McConway and Aria & Adam Shams-Strazdon. 

All in all, Agnes McConway was faithful woman — in her faith, marriage, family and friends. Warm and welcoming, she made her home a place of Irish hospitality, filled with good food, music and song. The kettle was always on. She lived a happy life, until she died surrounded by her family praying for her happy death. May God be good to her.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Agnes' memory to Alternatives Inc. www.alternativesinc.org would be greatly appreciated.

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