McWilliams, Mary E.

Mary Elizabeth (Fisher) McWilliams was born June 22, 1918, to Howard C. and Caroline M. Fisher in Providence, Rhode Island. She died on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

Mary graduated from Pawtucket High School in 1936 and from Connecticut College in 1940 with a degree in economics. She returned to college in 1977, receiving her Master of Education degree from Bridgewater State University.

In June Mary celebrated her 100th birthday with a lunch gathering of friends and family, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews from across the country. She said it was the best birthday she’d ever had.

In March 1942 Mary married Randall H. McWilliams. In 1959 they moved their family to Canton. Mary stayed home to raise her children until returning to the workforce in the early 70s as the librarian at the Dean S. Luce School in Canton. In 1994, Mary moved to Brunswick, Maine, and most recently to Hallowell, Maine.

Small but mighty, Mary raised four children and was involved in their scouting and other activities as well as many car pools. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Canton and the First Parish Church in Brunswick. She was an artist at heart and tried many arts and crafts throughout her life. Mary sewed beautifully, making clothes for herself, her children, and even for their dolls. She took up stained glass, flower arranging and jewelry making. Drawing and painting came in her later years and she thoroughly enjoyed taking classes to improve her skills. Mary was a lifelong bridge player and a charter member of the Bloody Marys at Thornton Oaks in Brunswick.

Mary is survived by her children: Peter of Cologne, Germany, Jean of Hallowell, Maine, John (Hazelle) of Reading, and Martha (Doug) Weishahn of Lincoln, Nebraska. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jessica Plante (Vernon Gardiner), Elijah (Dani) Plante, John Weishahn, Elizabeth (Doug) Szwanek, Matthew McWilliams and Thomas McWilliams; Julie Plante, Kaitlin Gardiner, Kalin Plante, Elijah Plante and Claire Szwanek, and her great-great-grandson Kai Cole. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her brother Joseph L. Fisher.

The family would like to thank the staff at Thornton Oaks, Neighbors Elder Care and Granite Hill Estates for helping Mom remain independent for as long as possible, and the staff at Glenridge Nursing Home and Maine General Hospice for caring for her when she could no longer do so.

Services were held on Tuesday, September 4, at First Parish Church in Brunswick, Maine. Memorials may be directed to Neighbors, Inc. (Elder Care), PO Box 728, Brunswick, ME 04011, or to Bowdoin International Music Festival, 6300 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011-8463.

It was Mary’s wish to be cremated and have some of her ashes scattered at her favorite places of Touisset, RI, where she spent summers with her parents and brother, Ray Point, Maine, and Tunk Lake, Maine. Other cremains will be interred at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home in Gardiner, Maine. Memories may be shared on the funeral home website at www.staplesfuneralhomes.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Sep 8 2018. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.