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Obituary: Mayo auxiliary founder Nellie Dodd

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Nellie Dodd, native of Ballina, Co. Mayo, passed away peacefully on April 3. She was predeceased by her husband and daughter, Andrew Dodd and Theresa Haran.

A member of the Ormsby family in Ballina, Nellie’s brothers played Gaelic football for Mayo County team in Ireland and New York.

Since her arrival in New York, Nellie was involved in promoting Irish culture and encouraging future generations to proudly retain their culture and, in particular, their religious faith. Nellie shunned publicity. However, as a founding member of the Mayo Ladies Auxiliary, she served as its president and held various offices in that organization. Nellie used her considerable leadership and conciliatory talents to head committees for Communion Breakfasts and various social functions. Over the years she also encouraged and facilitated the continuance of the Mayo Football Club in New York.

Nellie displayed a motherly interest in future immigrants, and encouraged different generations to be proud of and to practice and maintain their culture. Though she spanned many generations she was interested in each one, and while honoring and respecting the past, she lived in the present generation. Age was never a barrier.

In 1990 she was honored for her "unselfish dedication to Irish culture and her devotion to all things Irish" by the Mayo Society of New York and was named Mayo Woman of the Year.

Nellie is survived by her sister-in-law in Ireland, Marion Ormsby, and by numerous nieces and nephews. After a Mass of Christian burial at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Bayside, she was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Queens.

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