Mary Boylan Cordova

Mary Boylan Cordova was born in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland on August 27, 1950 to parents Henry Boylan and Mary Campbell. Mary grew up in a little town called Carrickmacross as the eldest of 11 children in a very family-oriented household. By 19, she was ready to spread her wings and see the world. She started by traveling to New York and toured America on the greyhound bus. Over the next 10 years, Mary would find her independent spirit by working in England, Germany, and France. Motivated by the prospect of experiencing a completely different part of the world while helping others, she moved to South America in 1980. During her years living in Venezuela and Bolivia, she married Ted Cordova and began raising her son, Isvar, and her daughter, Fiona. Mary found her calling while in Bolivia and completed a Psychology degree from the Bolivian Catholic University in La Paz. In 1996, Ted suffered a debilitating stroke that prompted Mary to uproot her entire family to the United States, where she went on to apply her life lessons and academic credentials in the Craven and Pitt County school systems for over 25 years. Mary cherished the connections she made with her North Carolinian community as she worked in a myriad of roles, including teaching Spanish to young children, teaching English in the evenings to adults, testing preschool age children for learning disabilities, and aiding children and teachers in classrooms with special education needs. She enjoyed spending time with family, drinking red wine, eating cheese, sewing, and planting flowers. She was a natural gift giver who loved seeing joy on the face of her recipients, from family and friends to strangers in need. At the end of the day, no job or favor felt too menial for Mary to devote her time and energy, as she was always willing to go above and beyond for the people around her. She passed away at the age of 71 on October 20th, 2021 after a brief illness. Predeceased by her husband Ted and her parents Henry and Mary. She will be sadly missed and forever remembered with love by her family, including her son Isvar and her daughter Fiona, son-in-law Kenan and daughter-in-law Fanny, her adored granddaughter Arya, her siblings Pat, Finbar, Harry, Anthony, Dermot, Ken, Anne, Joan, Ita and Kirsty, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends. Please use the link below if you wish to participate in the Funeral Mass via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431148337?pwd=aVp3bTd6czVGUzB1YVh3Mnduc0Y4Zz09

Mary Boylan Cordova

August 27, 1950 - October 20, 2021