Saint Joseph Villa resident celebrates 100th birthday

Friday, Mar. 13, 2015

Lorraine M. Boyce

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

SALT LAKE CITY — Surrounded by pictures of her loving family, Mary Conway Taylor lives comfortably in her apartment at St. Joseph Villa. Mary was born on March 31, 1915 to parents who were Irish immigrants. She attended parochial schools for 12 years under the guidance of the Dominican Sisters and graduated from the Immaculate Conception Academy in San Francisco, Calif.

Mary spent 42 years working for the IRS in San Francisco as a tax auditor, which, she said, qualified her to count the collection money for her church. At one time, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, was pastor at her parish, and they have continued their relationship since Mary moved to Utah.

After Mary retired, she was active in the St. Mary’s College Guild in Moraga, Calif., raising money by staging fashion shows and other events.

Mary, a vibrant lady with a quick Irish wit, has one son, William, three grandchildren and one great grandson who live in the Salt Lake area. She said the reasons she moved here were to be close to her son and his family and to be able to attend daily Mass in the Villa Chapel.

William is hosting a birthday party in his mother’s honor and has invited many friends and family from California to help her celebrate this milestone in her life. She will also attend Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Sunday, March 29.

The staff and residents of the Senior Living Apartments at the Villa will host a birthday party for Mary on Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m.