Mary Elizabeth "Libby" Corcoran

Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Corcoran, 95, has passed away. Born on 15 January 1931 in South Bend, IN and passed on 6 May 2026 in Phoenix, AZ.

She graduated from Twyckenham HS, South Bend and attended Indiana University.

Mom was active in the St. Francis Elementary Mother’s Club when we were kids growing up and in charge of the yearly fundraising Carnival held in the old football field of Brophy for several years.

Mom and Dad traveled quite a bit, visiting Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia before settling down to spend long, cool summers in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Mom started making handmade quilts and helped me finish a quilt for my oldest son, by hand quilting the top after a visit to us in Germany. She loved needlepoint and restoring antiques, especially the high chair that she used when Chris was able to sit up unaided. Mom frequented junk yards, auctions, and Goodwill in search of “anything” that needed a new life, but it had to be functional in use when done.

Mom “rescued” the oak flooring from the old Madison Square Gardens, before it was demolished, and came home with enough of the wooden floors to use them in the family room.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, and sister; she leaves behind to celebrate her life: James “Corky” Corcoran, whom she married in 1952, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of Notre Dame University; Michael (Shaun), Patty, Maureen (Don), Katie and Chris; 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A Mass celebrating her life will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 4715 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012. The celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Dilworth, S.J., the son of her very best and closest friends, his parents, “Hon and Dearie”.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name, to Hospice of the Valley at www.hov.org/donate/.