Obituary for Mary A. Lowry
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Thank you.
Mary A. Lowry, 90, died peacefully at home in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the company of her life partner Marion Sugden Lill, her niece Sharon Lowry, and her beloved Physician Sheila Trugman, after a year of multiple hospitalizations for pneumonia.
Mary was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Alice M. Gaffney Lowry originally from Nashua NH and Charles F. Lowry Sr. of Cambridge MA. She is a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin School and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Mary was active in theater productions at UMASS and in community theaters in Boston and at Tufts University, Somerville, MA. Mary worked for 20+ years in Lowry Opticians, her family's business in Harvard Square. She was also a founder of New Words Bookstore, Cambridge MA, the first women's bookstore in New England, where she worked until her retirement in 1993.
In the 1950's and 60's Mary held a commercial pilots license and both flew and taught others to fly gliders. She was a member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots where she participated in air racing, including calculating timed results before calculators or computers.
In recent years Mary could be found reading voraciously (4 or 5 books a week) with a dog or 2 at her feet.
Mary was predeceased by her older brother, Charles F. Lowry Jr. She is survived by her partner, Marion Lill; her sister-in- law, Mary Lu Lowry of Wakefield, MA; her niece Marian Laviolette and her husband Bob and son and grandchildren of West Springfield, MA; her nephew Matthew Lowry and his wife Elizabeth and daughter of Wakefield, MA; her nephew Michael Lowry and his wife Angela and children of Seabrook, NH; and her niece Sharon Lowry of Framingham, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her Kelly relatives of Enfield, NH: John and Diane and their 3 children and grandchild .
Mary is further survived by her Sugden nieces and nephews: Robert F. Sugden of Fairbanks, Alaska and his wife Renee, their 3 children, spouses and grandchildren; Christopher A. Sugden of California and his wife Cindy, his 3 children, and their spouses or partners; Denise A. Culver of California and her husband Cliff and their 2 sons, spouses and grandchildren; Charles R. Sugden of Washington State and his 3 daughters, spouses or partners and grandchildren; Patricia R. Rodriguez and her husband Jose and their 3 children, spouses and grandchildren; deceased nephew Jeffrey S. Sugden and his children and grandchildren; and niece Kelly M. Sugden and her wife Janet and their 2 sons.
The family would like to particularly thank Mary’s care givers: doctors Delrosario and Trugman for the extraordinary care they provided, as well as the staff at Davita Dialysis Center. We most especially thank her home care givers: Matilda, Margaret and Tabitha who during the last months and weeks of Mary’s life dramatically improved the quality of her life.
There will be a burial service in March with just family and close friends, following which Mary will be buried in Eastwood Cemetery, Lancaster MA.
Covid permitting, there will be a celebration of Mary's life within the next year.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice or to the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com
Alternatively, please select the "Home" button at the top right on this page to return to the funeral home main page. Then click on the button under Ms. Lowry's photo.
You may have to refresh your browser to start the stream.
Thank you.
Mary A. Lowry, 90, died peacefully at home in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the company of her life partner Marion Sugden Lill, her niece Sharon Lowry, and her beloved Physician Sheila Trugman, after a year of multiple hospitalizations for pneumonia.
Mary was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Alice M. Gaffney Lowry originally from Nashua NH and Charles F. Lowry Sr. of Cambridge MA. She is a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin School and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Mary was active in theater productions at UMASS and in community theaters in Boston and at Tufts University, Somerville, MA. Mary worked for 20+ years in Lowry Opticians, her family's business in Harvard Square. She was also a founder of New Words Bookstore, Cambridge MA, the first women's bookstore in New England, where she worked until her retirement in 1993.
In the 1950's and 60's Mary held a commercial pilots license and both flew and taught others to fly gliders. She was a member of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots where she participated in air racing, including calculating timed results before calculators or computers.
In recent years Mary could be found reading voraciously (4 or 5 books a week) with a dog or 2 at her feet.
Mary was predeceased by her older brother, Charles F. Lowry Jr. She is survived by her partner, Marion Lill; her sister-in- law, Mary Lu Lowry of Wakefield, MA; her niece Marian Laviolette and her husband Bob and son and grandchildren of West Springfield, MA; her nephew Matthew Lowry and his wife Elizabeth and daughter of Wakefield, MA; her nephew Michael Lowry and his wife Angela and children of Seabrook, NH; and her niece Sharon Lowry of Framingham, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her Kelly relatives of Enfield, NH: John and Diane and their 3 children and grandchild .
Mary is further survived by her Sugden nieces and nephews: Robert F. Sugden of Fairbanks, Alaska and his wife Renee, their 3 children, spouses and grandchildren; Christopher A. Sugden of California and his wife Cindy, his 3 children, and their spouses or partners; Denise A. Culver of California and her husband Cliff and their 2 sons, spouses and grandchildren; Charles R. Sugden of Washington State and his 3 daughters, spouses or partners and grandchildren; Patricia R. Rodriguez and her husband Jose and their 3 children, spouses and grandchildren; deceased nephew Jeffrey S. Sugden and his children and grandchildren; and niece Kelly M. Sugden and her wife Janet and their 2 sons.
The family would like to particularly thank Mary’s care givers: doctors Delrosario and Trugman for the extraordinary care they provided, as well as the staff at Davita Dialysis Center. We most especially thank her home care givers: Matilda, Margaret and Tabitha who during the last months and weeks of Mary’s life dramatically improved the quality of her life.
There will be a burial service in March with just family and close friends, following which Mary will be buried in Eastwood Cemetery, Lancaster MA.
Covid permitting, there will be a celebration of Mary's life within the next year.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice or to the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com