Search Last 7 Days Death Notices
The death has occurred of
Mari Tatlow Steed
(née Fitzpatrick)
The death has occurred of Mari Tatlow Steed (née Mary Therese Fitzpatrick), Aurora, Ohio in the United States of America. In the US, Mari lived previously in Philadelphia and Virginia, she had close family roots in Ireland, including Tipperary and Wexford, and she spent her early childhood in the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Co. Cork.
Mari passed away at home after a short but serious illness and in the warm and loving embrace of her cherished family. She was 64 years of age. Mari was immensely proud of her children, Kerry, Jessica and Alex, and of her seven grandchildren. We ask that you hold Mari’s memory and all who loved her in your hearts at this sad time.
Since the 1990s, Mari has been involved in adoption and Magdalene activism in Ireland and the United States. She was the co-founder of Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR) and Adoption Rights Alliance (ARA), and she served as the Coordinator for the Banished Babies group and Vice President of the US-based Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization. Previously, Mari served as US Coordinator for AdoptionIreland: The Adopted People’s Association until the organisation’s disbandment in 2007. Over thirty-plus years, she worked tirelessly in her spare time to help reunite families forcibly separated by Ireland’s institutional “care” and secret adoption systems, and to obtain redress and the access to information that is their basic human right. To those of us privileged to work alongside Mari for many decades, we will remember her as a fiercely-committed advocate, a strategically-minded activist, a deeply courageous leader, and a loyal, fun-loving and selfless friend. Words cannot adequately convey how much we will miss her, and how much we owe to her. Ní fheicfimid a leithéid arís / There will never be the likes of her again.
A longer biography is available at www.clannproject.org
Mari’s family will hold a special event to honour her life on 9th November from 2-6pm at The Irish Center in Philadelphia. The event will be streamed online, and details will be available in due course.
For those who wish to attend in person, please RSVP at the following link:
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations towards the fund to bring Mari and her mother Josie’s ashes back to Ireland: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mari-steed-get-the-care-she-deserves
Date Published:
Sunday 13th October 2024
Date of Death:
Sunday 6th October 2024