Funeral for Sister Mary Ignatius Walsh, R.S.M., 97, who died Wednesday, February 23, at St. Joseph Infirmary, was held Friday at Holy Trinity Chapel in the infirmary.

Burial was in the Sisters of Mercy lot in Westview Cemetery.

Sister was in the Religious Profession of Vows as a Sister of Mercy.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina on July 20, 1869, daughter of John Walsh and Johanna Walsh, she was educated by the Madams of the Sacred Heart in Selma. Her family lived in Augusta, Ga. for many years, where she served as society editor to the Augusta Chronicle. Her uncle, Mr. Patrick Walsh, was well known as a United States Senator from Georgia.

Formerly known as Anne Isabella Walsh, she entered the Novitiate of the Georgia Sisters of Mercy, at St. Vincent’s Academy, Savannah, Ga. in 1900. Sister Mary Ignatius pronounced her Religious vows on December 12, 1902 at St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah.

More than forty years of her religious life were spent as a teacher in the elementary grades of schools conducted by Sisters of Mercy in Georgia. Sister taught at St. Vincent’s Academy and St. Mary’s Home for Girls in Savannah and at the Immaculate Conception School in Atlanta as well as at St. Mary’s School and Sacred Heart School in Augusta.

During her “teaching years” she served as Local Superior at the Immaculate Conception Convent in Atlanta and at the Sacred Heart Convent in Augusta.

In 1941 Sister Mary Ignatius began her Apostolate of Mercy in Hospitals in Georgia. From 1941-1945, she served as local Superior at St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Atlanta and from 1945-1948 in the same office at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah.

Returning to St. Joseph’s Infirmary, Atlanta in 1948, she continued her visits to patients, spending many hours daily at the bedside of the sick and dying, thus bringing much spiritual strength and consolation to her patients and their families. Many hours of her day were spent in the chapel in quiet prayer for others.

On December 12, 1952, the Golden Jubilee (50 years) of her Religious Profession of Vows was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Infirmary, Atlanta, where again on December 12, 1962, the Diamond Jubilee (60 years) of her Profession was celebrated by her Sisters of Mercy, relatives and many friends. Last December 12, 1965 was the 63rd Anniversary of her Profession.

Surviving Sister Mary Ignatius are two nephews, Mr. Patrick Walsh of Augusta, Ga.; Mr. John Edwin Walsh of Lenoir, N.C.; one niece, Mrs. Jack Randall of Atlanta; several grandnieces; one great nephew; one cousin, Mrs. Marie Walsh of Augusta, Ga.

H. M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill Funeral Directors were in charge of the burial. A Requiem Mass was offered by Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan at 10 a.m., Friday, in the Holy Trinity Chapel.

Monsignor Joseph Moylan, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Atlanta, and a life long friend of the deceased, spoke of the long and devoted life Sister Mary Ignatius had lived as a Sister of Mercy through her ministration to the families of God; in years of teaching and at the bedside of the sick; building her life a temple of the Most High. That God is all joy, all happiness and all peace, were evidenced in the life of this exemplary Religious, her glory being that of giving herself to God. He closed his talk with a prayer that it will not be long before this holy one receives her eternal reward.

Attending the Mass were: Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan; Abbot Augustine Moore of the Trappist Monastery in Conyers, Ga; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Moylan; Rt. Rev. P.J. O’Connor; Father Noel Burtenshaw; Father John Stapleton, who assisted the archbishop; Father John McDonough; Father Joseph W. Ballard, O.M.I.; Father Paul Kelly; Father Conald Foust; Father Dan O’Connor; Father Phillip McArdle; Father Thomas Roshetko; Father Patrick C. Connell; Father Joseph Ware; Father Michael Manning; Father John O’Shea.

Relatives present at the Mass were: two nephews, Mr. Patrick Walsh of Augusta, and Mr. John Edwin Walsh of Lenoir, N.C., and a niece, Mrs. Jack Randall and (Mr. Randall) of Atlanta, many Sisters of Mercy and other Religious orders - friends - employees and students of nursing.

Pallbearers were Dr. Carlos Stuart; Dr. Julio Hernandez; Mr. Thomas George; Mr. David Jones; Mr. Joseph Jenkins; Mr. Donald Mathis and Mr. William Whitehead.