Mary Simpson

02/20/2007

Mary Simpson, 89, a former longtime resident of South Main Street, died Tuesday at Fairview Commons, where she had resided for several years. Born in Great Barrington on Dec. 26, 1917, daughter of William T. and Elizabeth Dovey McDonnell, she was a 1935 graduate of the former Sheffield High School and a 1938 graduate of the former St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsfield. Mrs. Simpson was employedas a nurse by the Shrope Foundation, a home for children in East Chatham, N.Y., from 1966 until retiring in the early 1990s. Before that, she was a private-duty nurse for many years at St. Luke's, and at Geer, Sharon and Fairview hospitals. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Church. She was a seamstress and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, needlework and gardening. Her husband, Alexander D. Simpson, died June 30, 1986. They were married Feb. 10, 1944. She leaves three daughters, Eileen A. Clarke of Sheffield, Nancy E. O'Brien of Housatonic and Judith M. Varney of Winter Haven, Fla.; a son, William T. Simpson of Southfield; two sisters, Constance Beneat of Sheffield and Elizabeth "Bille" Cronk of Ashley Falls; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Mary McDonnell Simpson died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield by the Rev. John Lis, pastor. Burial will be in the spring in Sheffield Center Cemetery at a time to be announced. The family will receive friends tomorrow from 4 to 7 p.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Valley Church through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. She also leaves three sons-in-law, Frank Clarke, Larry O'Brien and Bob Varney; a daughter-in-law, Sharlene; a sister-in-law, Lillian; seven grandchildren, James and Michael Varney, Elizabeth Amstett, Joseph and Matthew O'Brien, Alexander Simpson and Kimberly Volpe; and two great grandchildren, Tracy and Charlotte Amstett. A brother, John McDonnell, died in 1966. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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