Mary Gilligan

05/14/2004

Mary Gilligan, 85, of Lake Avenue died Friday at Fairview Commons, where she had resided for several months. Born in Great Barrington on Oct. 15, 1918, daughter of Francis and Clara Maher Hassett, she was a 1936 graduate of the former Searles High School and a 1940 graduate of the College of New Rochelle, N.Y. A teacher, Mrs. Gilligan taught at Searles High before her marriage, and later was a substitute teacher at Monument Mountain Regional High School She was a communicant and eucharistic minister of St. Peter's Church. Committed to the environment and active in the community, she was a longtime member and president of both the Conservation Commission and the Great Barrington Land Conservancy. She played golf and tennis, and was a longtime member of the Wyantenuck Country Club. She also enjoyed trips to Cape Cod, gardening, bridge games, bird watching, her golden retrievers and watching Red Sox and Celtic games. Her husband of 53 years, Dr. Thomas J. Gilligan, died in February 1997. She leaves four sons, Thomas J. Gilligan Jr.of Mentor, Ohio, Peter Gilligan of Chapel Hill, N.C., Paul Gilligan of Auburn and Michael Gilligan of Durham, N.C.; five daughters, Michele Ettlinger of Baltimore, Susan Lucy of Fallbrook, Calif., Jane Richter of Lenox, Ann Seitz of Swarthmore, Pa., and Hannah Gilligan of Arlington; a sister, Ann Hogan of Morton, Ill.; a brother, John Hassett of Great Barrington, and 12 grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mary Hassett Gilligan, who died May 14, 2004, will be celebrated Tuesday, May 18, at 10 at St. Peter's Church by the Rev. Daniel Papineau, MIC. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. The family will receive friends tomorrow, May 17, from 4 until 7 at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. In lieu of flowers, donaions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Great Barrington Land Conservancy, Riverwalk in Great Barrington or St. Peter's Church through the funeral home. Mrs. Gilligan also leaves her daughters-in-law, Carole Gilligan, Lynn Smiley and Lizzy Gilligan; her sons-in-law, Les Ettlinger, Bob Lucy, Don Richter and Steve Seitz; 12 grandchildren, Heather and Megan Gilligan, Patrick, Donny and Hannah Lucy, Peter Steenland, Sasha and Brian Gilligan, Susan and Katy Seitz and Cordelia and Veronica Gilligan; her brother-in-law, John Hogan, and sister-in-law, Clara Hassett. She was predeceased by her older bother, Frank Hassett, formerly of Dalton. Mary will be remembered for her wit, warmth, sense of humor, strength and passion for life. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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