Maryanna Macy, 94

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Maryanna Giddings Macy, 94, a longtime resident of Taconic Avenue, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

A native of Great Barrington, Maryanna was born on September 22, 1925, the daughter of the late Marsh Burgert Giddings Sr. and Dorothy Quincy Lane Giddings. She was a 1942 graduate of the former Searles High School and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Russell Sage College in 1946. Following graduation, Maryanna worked at Albany Hospital for a year, then Samaritan Hospital in Troy until 1951. She was also in the Cadet Nurse Corp in World War II.

On June 21, 1947, Maryanna married Alan C. Macy at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. A dedicated wife and mother, she continued her nursing career at Fairview Hospital, the former Pines Nursing Home (Timberlyn Heights) and Willowood Nursing Home (Fairview Commons). She was the school nurse at the Searles/Bryant school from 1978 until her retirement in 1987.

As a lifelong member of First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, Maryanna sang in the youth choir, taught Sunday School, served as a deacon, and was chair of the church’s Centennial Celebration committee. She was also a member of the American Cancer Society, Lee VNA board, and a member and past president of the Thursday Morning Club.

Maryanna enjoyed books, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, swimming, and boat rides. She was also a talented knitter and seamstress. In their retirement, she and Alan traveled to national parks, Alaska, Civil War and other historical sites, across Canada by train, and made trips to visit family and friends. Their large backyard, often a gathering place for family, was in later years home to a screen house where Maryanna loved to sit and enjoy friends and nature.

Maryanna is survived by her husband of 72 years, Alan Macy of Great Barrington; a son, David (Kathleen) of North Haven, Maine; daughter Marsha Johnson (Hugh) of Randolph, Vt., and daughter Nancy of Great Barrington; three grandsons; one granddaughter; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. 

She was predeceased by eight brothers, Marsh Burgert Giddings Jr., Richard A. Giddings, Frank Giddings, Dr. Lane Giddings, Gerould L. Giddings, Orville Giddings, William H. Giddings, Edwin S. Giddings; and one sister, Dorothy Giddings Staknis.

Funeral notice: The funeral service for Maryanna Giddings Macy will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 17, 2020, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.

Donations in memory of Maryanna may be made to either the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington or The Mason Library c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com.