Sr. Mary Agnes of the Sacred Heart, Daly, OP – Obituary
Sr. Mary Agnes of the Sacred Heart, Daly, OP
Obituary
Funeral Mass
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
9:00 AM
Sacred Heart Convent
1237 W. Monroe St.
Springfield, IL 62704
Final Resting Place
St. Martin Cemetery
707 Main Street
Farmersville, IL 62533
Today, we gather in solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude to honor the life of Sr. Mary Agnes of the Sacred Heart, Daly, OP, a cherished member of our Dominican family, who lived to the remarkable age of 100 years. As we come together—Dominican Nuns of Mary the Queen, Girard, and the Dominican Sisters of Springfield—we unite in prayer and love to celebrate her life, her faith, and her enduring legacy.
Sr. Mary Agnes was born into this world a century ago, and through all those years, she exemplified a life rooted in prayer, humility, and service. Her journey was one marked by unwavering dedication to her Dominican vocation, a life lived in silent contemplation yet radiating the love of Christ to all she encountered. Her long life was a testament to her deep faith and her steadfast trust in God's providence.
Sister was born Rosemary L. Daly in Rochester, NY on August 25, 1925, to Agnes Christine (McCarthy) Daly and Ivan J. Daly. Sometime later, the family moved to Webster, NY, where she boasted of living many happy years on a farm. After obtaining her degree at St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, she worked for two years before following her desire to pursue the religious life.
She first applied to the Perpetual Rosary Monastery in Buffalo, NY. They, however, directed her to the Diocese of Rochester where they had recently begun a new foundation in Elmira, NY.
On February 2, 1948, she was received as the third postulant of the Monastery of Mary the Queen, Elmira, NY. Upon her entrance she requested the religious name Mary Rose. However, the nuns, having learned that her mother Agnes was deeply distressed about losing her only daughter to a cloistered contemplative monastery, gave her the religious name Mary Agnes instead, in the hope that with time it would become less painful for her mother to accept her decision.
From her early years, Sr. Mary Agnes showed a profound sense of calling. Her life was a living prayer, reflecting her devotion to Dominican ideals—study, prayer, and preaching—not through many words, but through her gentle presence and compassionate service.
She served her sisters as infirmarian throughout her religious life, except during her service as novice mistress and her three-year term as prioress. She also served as portress during the day and faithfully maintained correspondence with benefactors, family, friends, and all who requested prayers. Each reply often included something to lift the recipient’s spirits—a prayer card, a saint’s image, an article, or even a comic strip.
She was good-natured, always cheerful, and possessed a keen sense of humor, with the ability to laugh at her own foibles.
In the kitchen, she was famous for her lemon meringue and rhubarb pies. On her cooking days, the nuns looked forward to her vegetables and beautiful soufflés—provided it was a Friday, as she admitted she did not fare well cooking meat. She also loved working in the garden, faithfully replanting Easter lilies each July and taking pride when they bloomed in the fall.
Throughout her contemplative life, she found strength in prayer and joy in union with God. She understood prayer not as passive, but as powerful—shaping hearts, healing wounds, and transforming lives.
In her later years, when the monastery temporarily relocated to Springfield, Illinois, and she required skilled care, she was lovingly cared for by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. Their care reflected the love and respect she had shown throughout her life.
Sr. Mary Agnes was preceded in death by her brothers, Richard John Daly and Charles (Chuck) Daly. She is survived by her nieces Barbie Daly, Susan (Sue) Lawson, and Carol Floyd, and nephews Christopher Daly and Timothy Daly.
Today, as we remember her, we are called to reflect on her life as a model of faithfulness and humility. She has entered the fullness of eternal life, rejoicing in the presence of our Lord.
We thank God for the gift of Sr. Mary Agnes’s life. We thank her for her example, her quiet strength, and her unwavering love for Christ. May her soul be at peace, and may her memory remain forever in our hearts.
Rest in eternal peace, dear Sr. Mary Agnes.
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.
Memorial Information
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Dominican Monastery of Mary the Queen, 15635 Greenridge Rd., Girard, IL.
Source: StaabObituary.com