Cynthia L. Mahoney
Encyclopedia
Cynthia L. Mahoney was an Episcopalian nun
and former chaplain
in New York City
who was present at "Ground Zero" following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
"[S]he worked in the pit after 9/11 with the fatality team, and worked as an EMT and assisted the New York City Coroner's Office during and in the aftermath of the disaster. She spent six months at New York
's Ground Zero site ... [she] blessed human remains pulled from the smoldering debris of Ground Zero, prayed with the workers who painstakingly combed the rubble each day and comforted relatives of the dead when they visited the site" (as per http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110406/obi_103203.shtml and also her obituary in the Associated Press
).
to Dallas John Mahoney, Jr. and (the late) Elizabeth Jennings Mahoney.
In addition to her father, she is survived by a sister, Gaye Elizabeth Peebles of North Dakota
; a brother, Dallas John Mahoney, III, Camden; a nephew, Richard Allen Peebles and a niece, Elizabeth Anne McManus (http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110406/obi_103203.shtml).
, the lawyer representing thousands of ailing "Ground Zero" workers, to her Aiken, South Carolina
hospice and requested that he act as her guardian and fulfill her dying wish by overseeing her autopsy after she's gone ... [she suffered] post-traumatic stress syndrome, Worby said. She had witnessed WTC victims burn or jump to their deaths, and prayed over countless human remains ... Mahoney asked that results of her autopsy be used in any class-action lawsuit filed by ground zero workers who say the air around the site has sickened them (http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1232&Itemid=61).
home. She had been suffering from asthma
, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and gastroesophageal reflux disease
; she believed that the cause of these ailments was her exposure to toxic substances at "Ground Zero".
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and former chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who was present at "Ground Zero" following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
"[S]he worked in the pit after 9/11 with the fatality team, and worked as an EMT and assisted the New York City Coroner's Office during and in the aftermath of the disaster. She spent six months at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Ground Zero site ... [she] blessed human remains pulled from the smoldering debris of Ground Zero, prayed with the workers who painstakingly combed the rubble each day and comforted relatives of the dead when they visited the site" (as per http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110406/obi_103203.shtml and also her obituary in the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
).
Family
Cynthia L. Mahoney was born November 15, 1951 in Camden, South CarolinaCamden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
to Dallas John Mahoney, Jr. and (the late) Elizabeth Jennings Mahoney.
In addition to her father, she is survived by a sister, Gaye Elizabeth Peebles of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
; a brother, Dallas John Mahoney, III, Camden; a nephew, Richard Allen Peebles and a niece, Elizabeth Anne McManus (http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110406/obi_103203.shtml).
David Worby
Sister Cindy summoned David WorbyDavid Worby
David E. Worby, JD is a trial lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. He is a published author in American Trial Lawyers Magazine.-Villanova University affiliations:Worby graduated from Villanova University Law School in 1976 with a JD....
, the lawyer representing thousands of ailing "Ground Zero" workers, to her Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
hospice and requested that he act as her guardian and fulfill her dying wish by overseeing her autopsy after she's gone ... [she suffered] post-traumatic stress syndrome, Worby said. She had witnessed WTC victims burn or jump to their deaths, and prayed over countless human remains ... Mahoney asked that results of her autopsy be used in any class-action lawsuit filed by ground zero workers who say the air around the site has sickened them (http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1232&Itemid=61).
Death
Mahoney died, aged 54, on November 1, 2006 at her Aiken, South CarolinaAiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
home. She had been suffering from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , also known as chronic obstructive lung disease , chronic obstructive airway disease , chronic airflow limitation and chronic obstructive respiratory disease , is the co-occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a pair of commonly co-existing diseases...
and gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease , gastro-oesophageal reflux disease , gastric reflux disease, or acid reflux disease is chronic symptoms or mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus...
; she believed that the cause of these ailments was her exposure to toxic substances at "Ground Zero".