Mary L. Wilkins

Mary Louise (Lambertsen) Wilkins, 91, of Gloucester, passed away Wednesday evening, September 2, 2015 at the Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her loving family. Born in Ponca, Nebraska on September 21, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Mary (Andersen) Lambertsen and was raised by her foster parents David and Matilda Kassing. Mary was a graduate of Beatrice High School in Nebraska with the Class of 1942, graduating with a three year teaching certificate. She taught 8 school grades in one room in Johnson County, Nebraska from 1942 to 1943 and in Gage County, Nebraska from 1943 to 1944. Mary enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves WAVES program in 1944 and served as Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class until 1946. She was stationed at US Naval Hospitals in Corpus Christi, Texas, Bethesda, Maryland and the Naval Air Training Base in Pensacola, Florida. She also played on the WAVES softball team in 1945. Following her military service, Mary moved to Gloucester, MA in 1946 where she raised her five children. While raising her children Mary served on the PTA at Mt. Vernon School and Ward II Veterans Memorial. She was also a member of the Altar Boys' Mother Club at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. In September 1964, Mary began work as a part-time housekeeper at the Eastern Point Retreat House (Gonzaga), later working full time as housekeeper, part time weekend cook and then full time cook until her retirement in 1995 at the age of 72. Throughout her life, Mary was an avid reader. She was a passionate fan of Nebraska Cornhusker football, BC football, the Red Sox and the Celtics, and a longtime season ticket holder at the North Shore Music Theater. She delighted in attending and hearing stories about her grandchildren's basketball games, tennis matches, ice skating competitions, softball games, football games, and dance recitals. In her last months at Seacoast, she loved gathering with her bingo buddies: Barbara L., Marion, Barbara N. and Frank. She was also famous for her legendary apple pie. She was an extremely devoted mother and grandmother, and her family meant the world to her. She will be dearly missed by family and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Helen Chandanais and husband Raymond and their son John "Jay" Chandanais, Mary "Peggy" Delisi and husband Lorenzo and their children Teresa Morgan and husband Joseph, Joseph Delisi, Christopher Delisi and fiancé Emily Dalton; her son John Wilkins and wife Kathy (Geary) and their children Jennifer Johnson and husband William, Kelly Papa and husband Michael, Robert Wilkins and Shannon Wilkins; daughter-in-law Josephine (Orlando) Wilkins and her children Mary Jo Wilkins and significant other Malik Ferguson, Michael Wilkins and significant other Jessica Linquata; great grandchildren Camilla, Isabelle, Sophia, Emma, Liam, Lorenzo and Anthony; 6 step grandchildren, 13 step great grandchildren and 11 step great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Theresa A. Wilkins, her son Walter A. "Butch" Wilkins, her beloved sister Alvalah (Lambertsen) Williams and brother-in-law Robert. Mary's family would like to thank the staff at Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation for the wonderful care that she received during her stay. Her funeral will be held at the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, on Wednesday, September 9th at 8:45 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Extended family and friends are cordially invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery. Contributions may be made in her memory to Friends of Seacoast, Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 292 Washington Street, Gloucester MA 01930. For online condolences, please visit greelyfuneralhome.com.