Mary Callahan (1925-1954)
(Forty Years Ago)
August 27, 1953
Enroute to Japan by way of Alaska, Miss Mary Callahan left from the Chicago airport Sunday, flying to Seattle, Wash., from where she boarded an ocean transport. Yokahoma is her immediate destination but sealed orders, yet undisclosed will direct her to a teaching position somewhere in Japan. Miss Callahan holds a master's degree from Indiana University and has been a teacher in the Hammond school system. She is the talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Callahan of N. Clark St.The following newspaper article, hand-identified as coming from the April 15, 1954, Lowell Tribune, was found in the Lowell Public Library's clipping files:
- Miss Mary Callahan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Callahan, who is an exchange teacher in Japan, was stricken by a heart attack Apr. 4 and hospitalized in Tokyo. She is being evacuated to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester via plane and is scheduled to arrive at Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, Calif., today.
The following newspaper article, hand-identified as coming from the August 24, 1954, Tribune, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Community Grieved as Death Claims Mary Jane Callahan
Grieved residents of the Lowell community extend deepest sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. John L. Callahan and family of 251 Clark Street, whose lovely and talented daughter, Miss Mary Jane, was claimed by death at 9 o'clock Sunday evening, Aug. 22.Miss Callahan suffered a heart attack on April 1 while teaching in the Army Dependent School at Kohura, Japan. She was flown to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minn., where she was hospitalized for three weeks before returning home, where she was cared for by her family.
Mary was born at Cedar Lake, April 22, 1925. She attended grade school there and high school in Lowell before going to Rosary College in River Forest, Ill., for two years. Later she attended the University of Illinois and received her bachelor of science degree in education from the National College of Education in Evanston. She was awarded her master's degree from Indiana U. in 1952 and was well advanced in her work towards a doctorate.
Mary was an outstanding student, a talented artist, and she possessed superior knowledge and appreciation of all the good and beautiful things which she seemed to find in everyone and everyplace.
Mary was a teacher in the Hammond school system for five years, having taught at Porter and Clark prior to a most enjoyable term spent in Japan last year. She was an active member of the Hammond Business and Professional Women's club, the Pan-Helenic Society of Hammond and Alpha Beta of Delta Zeta Sorority.
Survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John L. Callahan, two brothers, John of Lowell and Thomas of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; two sisters Miss Patricia, who is teaching in Japan, and Mrs. Harold Huber of LaGrange Park, Ill.; besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Relatives and friends gathered at the Sheets funeral chapel Tuesday evening to pray the Rosary and at ten o'clock Wednesday morning, a Requiem Mass was solemnized by the Rev. Edward M. Boney at St. Edward's church in Lowell. Interment was in Holy Name cemetery at Cook.
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