Mary Y. Buxton

1926 - 2021

The family of Mary Y. Buxton, nee Yarzab, announce her death on September 23 in Sarasota, Florida. Mary was born in Collinsville, Connecticut on May 30, 1926, the daughter of Frank Yarzab and Delia Donovan Yarzab. Her husband of 42 years, Russell F. Buxton, predeceased her. Her siblings, Francis Yarzab, Harold Yarzab and infant Barbara Yarzab have also died. Mary graduated from Canton High School, Canton, Connecticut and St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing, Waterbury, Connecticut. At her graduation from nursing school in 1947 she was honored with the Merit Pin, awarded to a graduate each year in recognition of skill and compassion shown during the three years of nursing training. She spoke often of loving her nursing career of over 44 years at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, Nobel Hospital, Westfield, Massachusetts, Meriden Hospital, Meriden, Connecticut and St. Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, Connecticut. She assisted in opening the first intensive care unit at St. Mary's in 1964. Mary and her husband enjoyed their travel together both domestically and overseas. With living in the Midwest for the last 18 years of her life she became a fan of Door County, Wisconsin. Prior to that she and Russell spent most of their years in Connecticut in Meriden, Terryville and, Bristol. Mary made friends wherever she went and had a strong and determined spirit which contributed to her aging well. Her faith was very important to her as was communicating by letter and telephone to stay in touch with family and friends throughout the United States and England. She was a big sports fan, particularly of UCONN's Women's Basketball Team, the Chicago Cubs where she celebrated her 90th birthday at Wrigley Field, and for many years attended at least one Chicago Bulls game each season. She liked to surprise people with the news she had played basketball in high school despite being so petite. In her nursing school yearbook it reads of her, "Good things come in small packages." As she aged and her eyesight deteriorated she converted her reading habit from print to talking books for which she was grateful. Despite being legally blind, with the aid of eyesight devices she was able to read the newspaper daily until the last months of her life. Faith, family and friends were always her primary focus. Mary engaged with love and humor with family and friends of all ages and interests, a hallmark of who she was. Many were very happy to call her Aunt Mary. She will be missed by a host of people. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Buxton Holmquist and son-in-law Russell Holmquist of Sarasota, FL, dear nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and many friends. Special thanks go to her caregivers, Leisha and Sharon. Friends may call at The Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main St., Rt. 4, Unionville, CT, on Wednesday, September 29 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Funeral procession from The Ahern Funeral Home will be Thursday, September 30, at 9:15 AM followed by The Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in the Church of St. Patrick, 110 Main St, Farmington, CT. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Collinsville, CT. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Chicago Lighthouse, a not-for-profit agency serving the blind and visually impaired, 1850 W Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.ahernfuneralhome.com.