Mary T. Boyce, 97, of The Village of Laurel Run, Fayetteville, died in the early morning on December 1, 2011.
Mary was born in New York City, on January 15, 1914, to Cornelius (Neil) Gibbons, a New York City Police Sergeant, who was killed in the line of duty in 1924, and Mary Calhoun, both from County Donegal, Ireland. She graduated from Cathedral High School in Manhattan, 1932. She and her future husband, Donald C. Boyce, Jr., met while they were both working at the 1939 World’s Fair, and they were married in New Orleans in 1941.
Mary and her husband moved to Chambersburg, where he became personnel manager of T.B. Woods’ Sons Company. Mary lived in Chambersburg from 1947 to 1949, and again from 1956 until 1982, shortly after Donald’s death. Mary returned in 2006. In addition to raising her children, Mary worked at Sears & Roebuck and as a real estate and economic data gatherer for the Census Bureau. During her time in Chambersburg, Mary was active in the Corpus Christi Catholic Church. She took part in the Red Stocking Revue and the garden club and was a dedicated member of the Chambersburg Country Club and played golf until age 88. She was a voracious reader and bridge player, a diligent letter writer, and an excellent cook. She kept track of the activities of her far-flung family on a daily basis until her final days.
In April 2009, a video interview with Mary reflecting on her early life and memories of the Great Depression was featured on the New York Times website. The video may be viewed at the site’s “The New Hard Times” section.
Mary was predeceased by her eldest son, Donald, of New York City. She is survived by six children: Brian, of Virginia Beach; Neil, of New York City; Robert, of Fayetteville; Mary Jane, of Fairhope, Alabama; Margaret Anne, of Ashland, Oregon; and Barry, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Mary’s passing marks the end of her generation on both sides of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Village of Laurel Run Auxiliary at 6375 Chambersburg Road, Fayetteville, PA, 17222. The family also wishes to give thanks to the excellent staff of Laurel Run for years of loving, attentive care, and to Laurinda Slothour for being such a good friend and helper during Mary’s final years.
A memorial service will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on January 14, 2012 at 11 am. A wake will be held at 1 pm the same day at the home of Bob and Amy Boyce, 65 Laurel Drive, Fayetteville.