Mary M. Frain

She was born in Manchester, NH on February 29, 1924 to Dominick and Catherine (Burke) Monaghan, natives of Ireland. She was educated in Father McDonald Elementary School, St. Joseph’s High School for Girls and Mt. St. Mary College. She earned a Masters Degree from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She attended other college courses and workshops, including a summer at Cornell University as a Shell Merit Scholar.

While in Manchester, she was a counselor to the Junior Catholic Daughters and the Legion of Mary. She also served as Treasurer of the Manchester College Women’s Club. She taught Advanced Math in the early years of St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program and taught summer school of Religion at St. Joseph’s school. She did much volunteer work for the Catholic Church. Mary and Austin (her husband) were inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in 1986 - a Catholic order dating back to the Crusades.

She taught at Manchester Central High School for many years as a teacher of Advanced Math, Elementary Analysis and Calculus, eventually serving as Department Chairman. She also served in the same capacity at Monadnock Regional High School in Swanzey, NH. She volunteered at St. Bernard’s Church Office each week helping to transcribe records from the ledgers to the computer for easy reference.

She was an active volunteer in the St. Joseph School Library in Keene along with her husband and attracted many others to volunteer in the Library for many years. Together the Frain’s led Bible classes during Advent and Lent at St. Bernard’s. She was recognized by AARP when they named her the first Retired Educator of the Year for her 15 years of service as Membership Chairman of the N.H. Retired Educators Association. She also served for 15 years as the Membership Chairman of the Cheshire County Retired Educators Association and in many other roles as well. She taught many religion classes both in Keene and Swanzey.

She is survived by her brother, Thomas Monaghan of Manchester, NH and her sister Catherine Parnell of New Hyde Park, NY; seven nieces and nephews and nineteen great-nieces and nephews.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Cathedral, corner of Pine and Lowell Streets, Manchester, NH on Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, 448 Donald Street, Bedford, NH. Family and friends may call at the Lambert Funeral Home, 1799 Elm Street, Manchester, NH on Friday, February 28, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

The Foley Funeral Home of Keene of Keene is in charge of arrangements.