Mary Joyce Courey

Mary Joyce Courey

Philadelphia, PA

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Joyce (nee Barnes) Courey, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished friend, who left us peacefully at the age of 86 on October 15, 2024.

Born in 1938, to Mabel and Joseph Barnes in Washington, Iowa. She earned her nursing degree from St. Ambrose College in Davenport Iowa, where she met her husband, Kenneth. They began their lives together in Pennsylvania and in 1970 moved their family to Randolph, NJ. In their retirement years, they moved to Naples, FL before relocating to Philadelphia, PA in 2017.

Mary Jo was the proud mother of Robert (Thomas), James (Lisa), Linda (Ken), and Joseph (Bobbi). She instilled in them the values of love, compassion, and resilience. Her legacy continues through her nine beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren (Jessica, Colleen, Sarah, Michael, Nicole, Kevin, Kelly, Avery and Bennett). She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, with whom she shared a loving marriage of 63 years, and her brother Wayne Barnes. She is survived by her sister, Louise Murphy, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mary Joyce Courey’s life will be held on Friday, October 25 at 11:00 am in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (18th & Ben Franklin Parkway), Philadelphia. Her welcoming ceremony will start at 9:30 am, followed by a viewing in church from 10:00 am - 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cathedral Basilica https://cathedralphila.org, in honor of her devotion to the Lord and her lifelong commitment to helping others.

She will be dearly missed but forever remembered for her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering love. Rest in peace, Mom.