Mary was one of the most important people in my life. There wasn’t a day in my 41 years that I didn’t have her presence. She will be sorely missed.
Some memories:
1. Mary helped me plan my wedding. I remember sitting in her den putting together decorations and my wedding bouquet. Which is to say, she knew my color scheme. It was a May wedding so we went with white and lavender. On the day of the wedding, everyone else came in their pastels and spring florals but Mary showed up in a hot pink ensemble with lipstick to match. No pastels for Mary! She had such style and such an iron-clad sense of herself. She was always an individual and I loved that about her.
2. Mary taught me—or tried to teach me—all of the different handicrafts she learned from her aunts and grandmothers. She wasn’t just a hobbyist, she was truly an expert. I remember being in the front room of their house, when it used to be her sewing room, literally sitting at her feet as she showed me some technique for making something out of nothing. She was so patient and generous with her time and a remarkable teacher. Knitting is the craft that stuck for me and it was something we shared for many years. She was my favorite audience for anything I was making. It was one of the gifts she gave me that I treasure the most.
3. Last year (before COVID hit), Mary and Tom offered to pick up our son from school and take him to music lessons once a week. Mary loved to take that time in the car to chat with Miles. From what I gather, they had lots of good conversations. Every Tuesday, my husband and I would receive a text full of compliments, questions and concerns from Mary about Miles based on whatever they had talked about in the car that day. She was so engaged with him and wanted him to be his best self. He was never shy about his own questions or opinions—very blunt, like Mary—and that amused her (and us). I looked forward to those texts every week. I’m so glad Miles has those memories of his own with Mary.
There are so many other memories. She was so good to me and my family. She was a friend to my husband and an active, loving presence in our son’s life. I have been so blessed to have Mary and Tom in my life. I miss her dearly and I always will.
—Rachel Holt