Mrs. Mary Monahan Connor

Mary Monahan Connor, 98, died peacefully on March 16, 2023, at Melbourne Place, Pittsfield, MA. She was predeceased by her husband of 72 years, Dr. Roger A. Connor, MD. Born on May 13, 1924, in Holyoke, MA, Mary was the daughter of Michael and Maude McCain Monahan. She graduated from Holyoke High School in 1942 and from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. While working as an RN at Mercy Hospital, she met her future husband Roger, a young, dashing resident who swept her off her feet. Their courtship, captured in a flurry of postcards when Roger went on a pre-nuptial bachelor cruise, culminated in their marriage on October 4, 1947, at Holy Cross Church in Holyoke, MA. Mary was a long-time resident of Pittsfield, where she and Roger raised their six children and built a dermatology practice that served the community for 35 years. In retirement, Mary and Roger lived on Marco Island and, subsequently, in Naples, FL, with frequent visits to Pittsfield during the summer. Early in the marriage, when Roger was a Commander in the Navy, the growing family moved first to Camp LeJeune in NC and then to Camp Pendleton in CA. Finally, in 1955, Mary and Roger settled in Pittsfield, a city close to their respective hometowns with a booming post-World War II economy thanks to a then-thriving General Electric. By sheer dint of her nature—curious and outgoing, with an ability to bring people together and find humor and laughter in the most mundane moments—Mary soon became a fixture on the Pittsfield social scene. There was charity work for St. Luke’s and Hillcrest hospitals to be done and fund-raising for the local Catholic Youth Center, all good reasons to throw a party. Or stage a play. In one memorable moment, during a performance of “Applause” put on by the Berkshire Medical Society, Mary mangled her one line of dialogue much to the chagrin of her husband—but delight of her children. Dissecting Mary’s malapropisms and butchering of celebrity names (Arthur Fiedler for instance, was summarily renamed Arthur Fiddler one evening at Tanglewood) was a gleeful family past time. An indefatigable shopper, Mary would greet friends and fellow shoppers with a breezy, “Where the elite meet!” while perusing the aisles of the local discount stores like Zayre, Bradlees, and A&P—before popping off to Miss Agnes on Park Row for some much-needed fashion therapy. Shopping with Mary was not a chore; it was social event, filled with chance encounters, extended conversations with perfect strangers, and lingering goodbyes at the cash register. Through the decades, her love of shopping never abated, undimmed by advancing age and encroaching dementia. Mary and Roger loved to travel and enjoyed many trips to Europe, Africa, Hong Kong, and Quebec Province in Canada—documenting their trips beautifully with a 16mm camera that Roger always had at the ready—and passing their passion for discovering their world on to their children. Despite being married to a native French speaker, Mary’s command of the language was limited to an occasional “Mon Dieu!”, often in reference to the antics of her four boys and two girls. Above all else, Mary was a devoted wife and loving mother, championing her children in their endeavors, taking enormous pride in their accomplishments, and kindly sugar coating any of their short comings. With her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mary—always inquiring about their interests and opinions—would foster conversations that extended well beyond one-word answers. In addition to her husband, Mary leaves five of her six children: Kathleen (Richard Avellone) of Pittsfield; Marybeth Hamlin of Naples, FL; Timothy (Jennifer Berryman) of Torrington, CT; Christopher (Tracy) of Middleton, RI; and Matthew, also of Pittsfield. She leaves five grandchildren: Meghan Connor Shelton (John) of Charlotte, NC; Patrick Hamlin (Erica) of Tampa, FL: Christopher Connor of Tequesta, FL and Sean Connor and Griffin Connor, both of New York City. She also leaves three great grandchildren, Connor, Emma and Finley Shelton as well as several nieces and a nephew. Mary was predeceased by her eldest son Michael and by her grandson Timothy Roger Connor. She was also predeceased by her siblings: Margaret Monahan Cavanaugh, Edward Monahan, and her twin brother William Monahan, as well as her parents Michael and Maude Monahan. The family would like to thank Melbourne Place and Hospice of Western Massachusetts for the care and guidance they provided during Mary’s residence there in both the Assisted Living Facility and Memory Care Unit. A private family burial will be held on Saturday, March 25th at St. Ann Cemetery in Lenox. A celebration of life is planned on Saturday, June 10th, beginning at 11 AM with a memorial service at St. Ann Church followed by a summer garden reception at 14 Filomena Drive in Pittsfield. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you donate to the charity of your choice.

Mrs. Mary Monahan Connor

May 13, 1924 - March 16, 2023