Mary Lou Abbott

Mary Lou Abbott Sudbury - Mary Lou Abbott, 89, passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023, surrounded by her family, after a brief and sudden illness at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice, FL. Mary Lou was born October 3, 1933, in Cambridge, NY, youngest daughter of Margaret Emma (Mast) and Louis A. Dixson. Mary Lou was an active and well-loved member of the Sudbury, MA and Venice, FL communities. She formed immediate connections with those she met and touched the hearts of those she encountered during her lifetime. Mary Lou was a vibrant, caring, kind, and spiritual person who enjoyed life to the fullest and will be dearly missed.

Mary Lou was pre-deceased by her husband, Stephen B. Abbott in 2011, after 56 years of marriage, their son, David in 2016, sister, Marguerite D. Hill, and niece Linda Hill Thomas. She is survived by son Mark Abbott and wife Lisabeth Ostar of Hudson, MA; daughter Suzanne Carlson and husband Kurt of Medfield, MA; grandchildren Krista Fulham and husband Jake of Wayland, MA, and Austin Carlson of MA; great-grandchildren Charlotte and Emma Fulham; sisters-in-law Cora Cramer, of Newtown, CT, Ethel Abbott, of Oneida, NY; nephews Kenneth Hill, Jr. (Sue) and Darrell Hill of Greenwich, NY, Jeffrey Cramer (Lee), of Queensbury, NY; niece Louise Hill Foxwell (Peter) of Skowhegan, ME and extended family.

Mary Lou grew up on the family farm in Easton, NY, moving to Greenwich with her mother when she was 14 years old after her father's death. She graduated from Greenwich Central School and attended Plattsburgh State Teachers College, where she met her future husband Steve at a college dance. She later worked for the State of NY until she married. While Steve served in the U.S. Navy they lived in Monterey, CA, Adak, AK, and Pensacola, FL. Steve's civilian job as a Sales Engineer with Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. took them to Greenville, PA, Hinsdale, IL, and finally to Sudbury, MA in 1965.

Mary Lou was destined to continuing education through life, taking courses at Russell Sage College and Northeastern University extension, and graduating from Center Secretarial School in Natick, MA, followed by 23 years of office work, the final 8 years before retirement being with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). While working at DEC she graduated from Framingham State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993. During that year she established her home business of 'Mary Lou's Flowers', creating arrangements for weddings and functions for the next 10 years.

Family meant everything to Mary Lou, and all felt her unconditional love and support. She enjoyed spending time with her adored grandchildren Krista and Austin, spending each Wednesday with them for 14 years of their youth, playing endless games indoors and out, going to playgrounds and libraries, making Swedish pancakes and baking, walking at the Wayside Inn grounds, going to Honey Pot Orchard, to their favorite 5 & 10 in West Concord, and to Nutcracker performances.

Mary Lou was highly active in her community, charitable events, and volunteering. She served on the Sudbury United Methodist Church Flower Committee for 45 years, joined choir groups, bible study, the Fran Walker Memorial Garden project, the church Landscaping Committee for 10 years and the United Methodist Women and Rebecca Circle organization. She participated in the Health Ministry Commission and served as a Stephen Minister in both MA and FL. Mary Lou's involvement included catering at Rosie's Place in Boston, decorating the Sudbury Hosmer House parlor and serving as auctioneer at the annual Rebecca "Not So Silent" charity event. Mary Lou served as a coordinator to obtain volunteers in Sudbury schools for Bridges Together Inc., an intergenerational program. She was active in The Villagers Club, a social and civic Women's organization, and volunteered at the Sudbury Food Pantry.

Mary Lou's interests included bridge groups, the creative needle group called CATS, book discussion groups, decoupage, rug hooking, and staying fit by walking, kayaking, swimming, and was a member of Longfellow Health Club. She spent winters in Venice, FL where she was active socially with friends for dining, attending plays, beach yoga with Elin, and joining the Venice Presbyterian Church. Summers took her to the family house on Little Ossipee Lake in Waterboro, Maine. Mary Lou and Steve traveled to Alaska, Australia, France, Germany and Scandinavia, plus river cruises on the Danube and Seine, and sea cruises to Bermuda and the Caribbean. Her last trip abroad was to Italy where she explored Florence, Rome, and Venice. Most trips were enjoyed with groups of friends and family.

Mary Lou's passions included seeing nature, especially flowers and the ocean, yoga, music of all kinds, and cooking. Her cinnamon and crescent rolls have long been a favorite at family meals. The past 24 years she was actively playing clarinet with the Venice Concert Band and Northport Community Concert Bands in FL, New Horizons Band in MA, plus attending music camps in Sidney and Lubec, ME and Chautauqua, NY.

A visiting hour will be held on June 15th at the Sudbury United Methodist Church, 251 Old Sudbury Road (Rte. 27), Sudbury, MA from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Wadsworth Cemetery, Concord Road, Sudbury, following the services. In lieu of flowers, for those who desire, her family kindly suggests that memorial gifts in Mary Lou's memory be sent to the Sudbury United Methodist Church, with a notation indicating "Mary Lou Abbott Memorial".

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