Mary Rose Devaney

Mary Rose (Sullivan) Devaney, 108, a longtime resident of Lancaster, died Friday, February 18, 2011, at Sterling Village.

Mary was born on September 25, 1902, to loving parents Patrick and Jennie (Burk) Sullivan of Clinton, Massachusetts. Mary had one sister, Elizabeth, to whom she was devoted. Mrs. Devaney graduated from Clinton High School in 1920 and received a degree from Bay Path Institute in Springfield in 1921. She was employed for 35 years at the former Colonial Press in Clinton as an executive secretary to both Mr. Adams and Mr. Smith, founder and president of the company.

Mrs. Devaney was a notary public and a director of the company credit union. After retiring, she remained active, serving as President of the Golden Age Club and on the advisory committee for Meals on Wheels in Fitchburg.

Mary married Raymond Devaney in 1943. Though they had no children of their own, she was particularly close to her beloved sister Elizabeth's three daughters; Jane, Eleanor and Alice; and Jane's children; Diane, Michael, and Jim. Jane, her goddaughter, was her primary caregiver, visiting her several times a week at Sterling Village, along with Jim ("my faithful Jimmy", as Mary called him), Diane, Michael and niece Eleanor.

Her family truly appreciates the many kindnesses and expert care she received at Sterling Village.

Mrs. Devaney lived in Clinton most of her life until moving to Bigelow Gardens in Lancaster in 1967. She lived in her apartment there until she was 101, moving to Sterling Village after breaking her hip in a fall at home. Mary lived an active life up until her accident; she drove until just before her 98th birthday and was very involved with her family, her church, Immaculate Conception in Lancaster, and senior activities.

She was interviewed in 2001 by Dr. Thomas Perls, geriatric physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, as part of his nationwide study of centenarians, and was featured in an Australian television documentary on aging. She attributed her remarkable health and longevity to her father, who lived to be 104. Mrs. Devaney celebrated her 100th birthday in grand style, traveling to Fenway Park in a stretch limousine with her family for a game, courtesy of the Boston Red Sox. A lifelong baseball fan and accomplished knitter, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, community theater, playing cards and bingo.

Mrs. Devaney is survived by three nieces, Jane Martin and her husband Donald of Lancaster, Eleanor Kittredge of Leominster, and Alice Leach and her husband Joseph of Olney, Maryland; great-niece Diane Sanabria and her husband Carl, great-nephew Michael Martin and his wife Robin, great-nephew Jim Martin and his wife Lisa, all of Leominster; great-nieces Jennifer Vail and her husband Kevin, Amy Leach, Deborah Leach, and great-nephew Christopher Leach, all of Maryland; a godson, Michael O'Toole, Jr., of New York; 8 great-great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond Devaney, in 1975, and her sister, Elizabeth Kittredge, in 1998.

Funeral services are to be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 from the Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM at Immaculate Conception Church, 809 Main St., Lancaster. Burial is to follow at St. John Cemetery in Lancaster. Calling hours will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 from 5 until 7PM. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mary Devaney to: Immaculate Conception Church, P.O. Box 95, Lancaster, MA 01523. Online condolences may be placed at

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