Mary Joan Lyons

LYONS Mary Joan Lyons died peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Friday, January 28, 2005 after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma. She is survived by three daughters and their spouses; Jennifer and David Marsocci, of North Scituate, Rhode Island, Dana and Matthew Openshaw of Trumbull, and Kathryn and Bradley Vogel of North Haven. Mary was the beloved daughter of Emil Grega and the late Emma Hoffman Grega. She was the adoring grandmother of Lauren, Courtney and Harrison Marsocci and Scarlett Vogel. Mary is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Melinda Grega, her three sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara and George Carroll, Kathy and David Fish, Beth and Geoff Lambert, and several nieces and nephews and her former husband Henry Lyons and his wife Janet. Mary was born on May 11, 1944 in Bridgeport, CT. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas School and Notre Dame Catholic High School in Fairfield. Mary attended Mount Aloysius College in Pennsylvania and graduated from Cardinal Cushing College in Brookline, Massachusetts. She taught first grade for three years in Quincy, Massachusetts before returning to her hometown, Fairfield. Mary's passions were endless. She found serenity and beauty in her garden where she spent quiet hours reading or entertaining family and friends. Creative and talented, Mary was an accomplished Master Calligrapher. She brought these gifts to her work as co-owner of The Country Mouse in Greenfield Hill. Loving the arts, Mary was also the House Events Manager at the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University. She always found time to volunteer and was a Board Member of The Grasmere Eldercare Center, a volunteer at Operation Hope, on the planning committee of Summer Safari at The Hallbrook Hospital and an active member of Swim Across the Sound. Mary enjoyed quiet times, tennis and happy moments with her children, grandchildren and friends at the Fairfield Beach Club. Mary had a true love of life and was a friend to many. She spent a lifetime spreading kindness to others. When she became ill, all she dedicated to life came full circle as she received a tremendous outpouring of love from family, friends, co-workers, and doctors. Mary's family thanks the many people who have shown kindness and generosity to her during her valiant struggle with Multiple Myeloma. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 10 a.m. directly at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery. Friends may greet the family on Monday from 4-8 p.m. at the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull. In lieu of flowers it would be appreciated if donations were made in Mary's memory to Swim Across the Sound, St. Vincent's Medical Center, 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606-9904; Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), 51 Locust Avenue, Suite 201, New Canaan, CT, 06840 or The Mary J. Lyons Scholarship Fund c/o the Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824