Death Roll
Miss Mary Kelly
Miss Mary Kelly, whose death occurred this morning at
the residence of her brother in law, John Liggett, at
the ripe old age of 85 years, was known to many
Pittsburgers as one of the most competent instructors
of the past generation. She was a daughter of John Kelly,
formerly a prominent teacher of Allegheny.
Miss Mary Kelly was born December 25, 1814, in
Londonderry, Ireland. Her early life was spent there and
she early adopted the profession of Teacher, having
charge of the female school at Desertmartin, near
Belfast; her parents having come to America some years
earlier. She followed them to Allegheny in 1842, where she
first taught in the Manchester select school and afterwards
with her father, John Kelly, in the First ward High School
of Allegheny. Miss Kelly or "Aunt Mary", as she is known
to many hundreds of her old scholars, continued teaching
for the most part Pittsburgh, until 1889, when advancing
age and the care of an aged mother called for a cessation
of her schoolwork. Since 1867 her home has been with her
sister, Mrs Liggett, in the twentieth ward, of this city.
As a devout, earnest and consistent christian her life
was an example not alone to her scholars, but to
all with whom she came in contact. Her early christian
life was as a member of the Episcopal Church, in 1868.
She transferred her membership to the East Liberty
Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member at the time
of her death.
A lifetime of christian devotion could not but bring
a most beautiful and happy demise. With approaching death
came greater joy. "Thou art the life, the truth and the way,"
was a common expression from her lips and in this faith
her soul peacefully, joyfully took its flight.
