Mary (Howrigan) Connor Passes Away

[Henry]

Mary Howrigan Connor, R.N.
(February 2, 1926 - May 13, 2009)

Fairfield- Mary H. Connor, R.N., 83, a lifelong resident of this community passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in the Northwestern Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Her loving family was at her side. She was born in Fletcher, Vermont February 2, 1926, the daughter of William and Margaret (McCarthy) Howrigan. On June 22, 1950, Mary married Bernard T. Connor in St. Patrick’s Church in Fairfield. Bernard, her husband of 58 years, survives her.

Mary attended Shepardson Elementary School in Fletcher and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1944 and the St. Albans Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She was a proud member of the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corp. She was a nurse at St. Albans Hospital from 1947 to 1954 and an obstetrics and operating room nurse at Kerbs Memorial Hospital and then Northwestern Medical Center from 1954 to 1985. In 1991, Mary volunteered as a Guardian Ad Litem for Franklin County Family/District and Probate Court. A position she held to this date.

Mary was very involved in Franklin County civic affairs. In Fairfield she served on the Board of Civil Authority, The School Board and Reparative Board, was a Justice of the Peace, Health Officer, School Nurse and a member of the Fairfield Card Club. She was a greeter at St. Patrick’s Church and was honored as an Outstanding Woman in Ministry representing St. Patrick’s Parish in 2007. She also was employed by the Franklin County Home Health Agency where she conducted birthing classes and worked on flu clinics.

In addition to her husband, Bernard, Mary is survived by five children; her son, Daniel F. Connor of Burlington, her daughters, Sheila C. Heald and her husband, Winslow of St. Albans, Loretta C. Pigeon and her husband, Richard of St. Albans, Margaret C. Brosseau and her husband, André of St. Albans and Maureen C. Morgan and her husband, Robert of Plymouth, MA, her grandchildren; Elizabeth and Emily Pigeon, Cole and Colin Connor, Matthew Brosseau and Robert Connor Morgan. She also leaves three brothers and four sisters; Robert Howrigan and his wife, Virginia of Fairfield, Dr. Thomas G. Howrigan of Fairfield, Harold Howrigan and his wife, Anne of Fairfield, Rose O’Connell and her husband, Emmett of Burlington, Loretta Magnan and her husband, Henry of Fairfield, Kathleen Connor of Burlington, and Teresa Manahan and her husband, John of St. Albans, a sister-in-law, Margaret Lareau of St. Albans and a brother-in-law, Donald Connor of Fairfield. She leaves her very special friends and neighbors, Buster and Martita Giard of Fairfield and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Mary Connor in 1952, a granddaughter, Amanda Lee Brosseau in 1984 and a grandson, Liam Robert Morgan in 1999, her brothers, Sgt. Raymond Howrigan and Francis Howrigan and his wife, Neva, brothers-in-law, Fred Connor and Eugene Lareau and sister-in-law, Reda Connor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fairfield. Interment will be in the Connor family lot in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Visitation will be in the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main St., St. Albans on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Northwestern Medical Center’s Palliative Care Program, c/o Social Services, 133 Fairfield Street, St. Albans, VT 05478 or Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478. Assisting Mary’s family is the Heald Funeral Home of St. Albans. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family through www.healdfuneralhome.com.