Mary-Joy Apollonia Mackay

Mary-JoyApollonia Mackay was born to Heinrich Schmidt and Victoria A. Gnecchi on April 2nd, the year of our Lord 1933 at the then brand new Harborview hospital in Seattle, Washington and was taken by her Grandmother to the little Church of Our Lady of Mount Virgin to be baptized by Fr. Carmelo, S.J.Mary-Joy was a decedent of Luigi Gnecchi and Apollonia Locatelli of Corna de Girgno, Italy, in the province of Lombardi. They arrived in Seattle in the spring of 1889 via New York and St. Paul Minnesota. Luigi and Apollonia raised their 8 children in Seattle and supported and fostered Mother Cabrinis excess orphans. Mother Cabrini would come to their home for visitations and have Victoria, Mary-Joys mother, sit on her lap and tell stories. Having this connection to mother Cabrini strengthened Mary-Joys Italian heritage and her faith. Mary-Joy was the youngest of three with Edward and Donald being her older brothers who she looked up to and tried to emulate her whole life. For a brief period they moved to Spokane while her father found work during the depression.Mary-Joy attended Our Lady of Mt Virgin parish school, staffed by the Tacoma Dominican Sisters, and a few lay teachers, her mother being one of them. This time period is a fond one of Mary-Joy. Mary-Joy cranked the organ while her mother played at weddings and funerals. Her preference was weddings because the attendees, in the Italian tradition, threw candy covered almonds and she looked forward to eating them. This was also during World War II. Both of her parents were very patriotic, air raid wardens, volunteers, and involved in victory gardens. Her father was head of motion picture operations for several Seattle movie theaters.Her High School years were at Immaculate Concn where The Holy Name Sisters encouraged her to become a teaching Sister but she eventually felt the call to become a cloistered Carmelite nun. During this time she would go to the movies with her friends after Mass and this was an all day event, watching three shows that included a movie, news, and cartoons. The Nuns encouraged her to continue her studies at Seattle University and ensure that her calling remained constant. Before university she worked for one year at an insurance company in the Dexter-Horton building and then attended Seattle University. These were formative years where she had a Jesuit spiritual director. After Seattle University, Mary-Joy worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (the PI). She answered the phones for the want adds and at one point a woman called her who wanted to put her baby up for sale. In order to ensure the baby found a good home, Mary-Joy worked extra hard to create a good add. Shockingly, the add made its way past the editors and it ended up in the paper! Later the whole surprising yet endearing situation was featured on the front page of the paper. Mary-Joy was so embarrassed. At the PI was also where she met her husband, Lawrence E. Mackay Jr. They were married on her birthday, April 2, 1956, officiated by Fr. Evoy S. J. at Our Lady of Mount Virgin.Caring for her family and concern for her children was of primary concern in her life. A homemaker from 1956 on, she was a wonde example of faith, hope, and love. Over an extended period with many health problems, it was beautiful how humble she was in this modern world of self gratification and promotion. She had a still birth and lost one child named Stephen, both around 1970. This was very hard on her.Mary-Joy is survived by her brother Donald Schmidt of Vancouver, WA. Her children, Robert (Bob) Mackay of Brier WA, Kenneth Mackay of Seattle, WA, Janet Mackay of Shoreline, WA, Ellen Mackay of Phoenix AZ, Michael Mackay of Seattle, WA. Her grandchildren include Cindy Neorr, Michelle Mackay, Pamela Laabs, Christopher Mackay, and Danielle Mackay plus two great grandchildren Corbin and Tyler Neorr and several nieces and nephews.