Sister Mary Watson, founder of St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit, has died at 86
and last updated 2021-02-03 22:01:33-05
(WXYZ) â The founder of St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit, Sister Mary Watson, died Monday, Feb. 1, according to a spokesperson for the organization. She was 86.
Watson founded the center in 1973, and started by serving meals to just seven needy seniors in the Cass Corridor. Her efforts grew over the years, soon making the St. Patrick Senior Center Detroit s largest health, wellness and activities center for people over 55, a release states.
The center today serves 2,000 Detroit residents.
Watson was also previously named Michiganian of the Year for her philanthropic work.
For the second year in a row, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed a beloved Detroit tradition the St. Patrick s Day parade.
Parade organizers on Thursday morning said that given the safety protocols that would have to be followed, they realized it would be difficult to host and promote this year s event, planned for March 14. The parade typically draws between 80,000 and 100,000 people and is one of the largest St. Patrick s Day parades in the country.
Michael Kelly, president of the United Irish Societies, which puts on the parade, said they made the decision to cancel with heartfelt disappointment. Kelly is already planning for 2022.
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Parade Canceled Due to Covid-19
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On Thursday, The United Irish Societies (UIS) announced that the 63rd annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade that was scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2021, has been canceled. UIS President Michael Kelly said,
“As we continue to
follow the COVID-19 safety protocols, it became very clear that it would be difficult to promote and host the 2021 Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade in a way that maintained safety for our sponsors, members, participants and viewers. Therefore, with heartfelt disappointment, the UIS and Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade Committee have decided to cancel the 2021 Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade this year .
With vaccines for COVID-19 rolling out around the country, it s easy to start daydreaming about life returning to a little more of a normal scene. Then we get reminders that it s still a slow process and we have to have patience in order to overcome the pandemic.
Today s reminder was courtesy of the organizers of the Detroit St. Patrick s Day Parade. According to The Detroit News, they decided to cancel one of the largest St. Patrick s Day parades in the country, a second-year, because of COVID-19.
Organizers told The Detroit News, the parade, which would have happened on March 14th and usually draws anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 people pre-pandemic would end up being too difficult to host and promote the event with all the safety protocols that would be needed to keep the parade participants, staff, and spectators safe.