COURTESY
BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — Mary Frances Clark, 96, passed away on Oct. 16, 2018. Mary was born in Bellows Falls on Oct. 2, 1922, the daughter of Marion (Carey) and Philias Grignon. She graduated St. Charles School, Bellows Falls High School (1940), and Kathleen Dell School in Boston (1942) as a dietician. Mary was served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II as a spar from 1944 – 1945. She returned to Bellows Falls and married George E Clark in 1949. Mary and George raised three children, Philip Clark, Deborah Clark Tolaro, and Michael Clark.
Mary was active in St. Charles Parish and the American Legion Post #37. She worked in the insurance business in Boston and Bellows Falls before working at the Bellows Falls High School until her retirement.
Starting at a very young age Mary spent many vacations with her maternal relatives, the Careys, at the family home in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. These were cherished Boston memories, especially spending time with her Aunt Veronica (Carey) Goslin. Mary enjoyed many happy years in her beautiful home creating and maintaining her many perennial and vegetable gardens. In addition to her immediate family, she shared this with her best friend and mother, Marion Grignon.
Mary’s sense of adventure was endless on her many trips to Europe and St. Martens. To keep up with her energy when traveling was a challenge to all.
Besides her children, Mary is survived by her grandchildren Philip Clark, Alison Amidon, and Jennifer Tolaro-Heidbrink. She is also survived by several great grandchildren and two great, great granddaughters. Mary leaves a very special sister, Elizabeth Lynch of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, with whom she shared many memories and adventures. Mary also had several nieces and nephews.
A sincere thank you is extended to Bayada and the Brattleboro Hospice. Mary’s final years at home were made comfortable through the loving care of Salee Clark and Jennifer and Timothy Heidbrink.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at noon Saturday, Oct. 20 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls with burial following in the St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster, Vermont.
Memorial donations in Mary’s name may be made to St. Charles Church, 31 Cherry Hill Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
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