Mary Ita Moriarty

Mary Ita (O’Brien) Moriarty was born in Woodcock House, County Limerick, Ireland on August 4, 1930. She was in training to become a registered nurse in Ireland but became aware of nurses training opportunities in London, so moved for this schooling in 1949. She was a graduate of Saint James Hospital of London, England and was a certified midwife in England where she trained at the Weir Hospital in London. Ita helped deliver more than 75 babies in her early career. Ita often wondered about the lives of those children she helped bring into this wonderful world and hoped they led great lives. She was also a private duty nurse to members of the English Royal Family in London. She was enlisted to help with the care of Lady Needham and the Duke of Somerset. She liked to point out that these people were very much ‘just like you and me’.

It was during her time as a private-duty nurse that she was introduced to a patient in her care, R.H. Sherwood (a coal-mining magnate from Indiana), who eventually convinced her to move to Indianapolis in 1955.

Ita found Indianapolis in the 1950’s to have a very strong connection to the community of her homeland, Ireland, and its immigrants. She found many friends in her adopted hometown. She eventually met her future husband, Denis Moriarty, (who was also an immigrant from Ireland, County Kerry) on a blind-date dinner that mutual friends had arranged.

She was a Past President of the Little Flower School Board of Education; Past President of the Ladies Altar Society of Little Flower; President of the Auxiliary, Ancient Order of Hibernians - St. Bridget Division; a member of Our Lady of Knock Auxiliary Division, (AOH); and a Past President of Community Hospital Retirees group. Ita was also the editor of the Community Hospital retirees’ quarterly newsletter (C.H.I.P.P.E.R.S.) for 17 years. Ita always had a keen interest in local politics and ran for a position as a local Indianapolis City-County Council in 1975.

Mrs. Moriarty was the retired Assistant Director of Nursing at Community Hospital, East. In her retirement, Ita enjoyed being a tour guide to her beloved Ireland for groups of up to 40 people for ten years. She organized these trips for many travelers coming from all over America. She enjoyed sharing the sights and stories of her homeland with others who also had an appreciation of the Irish heritage.

Ita is survived by her husband of 65 years, Denis Moriarty, Sr.

She is also survived and dearly missed by her sons (they were not only 5 brothers, but they were 5 BEST FRIENDS, as she was fond of telling everyone). Her sons are Gerard (Heather Probert) of Frazier Park, CA., Denis, Jr. (Brian Duffy) of Louisville, KY., David (Rita Huffman-Moriarty) of Ladera Ranch, CA., Aidan of Naperville, IL., and Brendan (Carolyn Rice-Moriarty) of Elmhurst, IL. She is also survived by nine grandchildren whom she cherished: Liam, Jennifer, Kieran, Olivia, Colman, Michael, Grace, Abagael, and Scarlett.

Visitation will be on Thursday, November 17 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church, 4720 East 13th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46201 with a rosary at 7:00 pm. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 18 at 10:00 am at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, 435 West Troy Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46225.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in her memory to Little Flower Catholic Church of Indianapolis, Indiana or to the Community Hospital Foundation of Indianapolis.