Mary Theresa Lawson

LAWSON Mary T. Lawson, age 81, died following an extended illness on December 16, 2011, at Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, Florida, with many adoring family members by her side. Born on October 20, 1930, in Montreal, Canada, to the late John Shanahan and Margaret Reidy Shanahan, Mary was a graduate of Graham’s Business College, Class of 1948, and began her Secretarial career at Playford’s in Montreal. Once married, Mary became a United States citizen and continued her career at a number of Bridgeport, Connecticut, businesses including General Electric, American Homestead Furniture, Remington Arms, Emery Air Freight, and Marvin Brothers Trucking in Stratford, Connecticut. Mary also was employed in the Jewelry Department of Sage Allen at Hawley Lane, Trumbull, Connecticut. She absolutely loved her last position as Secretary of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Kissimmee, Florida, until retirement in 1996. Mary’s hobbies were cooking and crocheting. She was especially known for baking the most scrumptious fruit cakes and Irish soda breads for which she received many requests and was always delighted to oblige. Mary was also a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Montreal, Canada, Saint Mark Parish in Stratford, Connecticut, and Holy Redeemer Parish in Kissimmee, Florida. She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage and in 2000 traveled with family to the birth home of her beloved mother in Ennis, Ireland, where she was welcomed warmly by her Irish Reidy cousins. Mary’s pride and joy were her four grandsons and she loved being engaged in their lives whether it was school activities, religious ceremonies, or sporting events. Mary’s final years were spent serving her community as a volunteer at Community Vision, Osceola Council of the Aging, and Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, all located in Kissimmee, Florida. Mary is survived by her beloved childhood sweetheart and husband of 59 years, Douglas Lawson, and loving sister, Cathy Miller and brother-in-law, Robert Miller of St. Cloud, Florida, who cared for Mary during her final days. She is also survived by son, Craig Lawson, and wife Eileen, of Amherst, New Hampshire, daughter, Sandra Turner and husband, Kenneth Turner of St. Cloud, Florida, grandsons, Craig and Brendan Lawson and Dylan and Jarrett Turner, nieces who comforted Mary at her bedside, Donna Sines, Eileen Beaumont and husband David, and Wendy Cianfaglione, and many nieces and nephews. The family would also like to thank Beverly Hougland, Chief Executive Officer of Osceola Council on Aging. Beverly, words cannot express how much we appreciate the comfort and support you’ve provided our family during this difficult year. Cremation services provided by Osceola Memory Gardens, 2000 Thirteenth Street, St. Cloud, Florida, www.OsceolaMemGds.com. A mass of celebration will be held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1603 N. Thacker Avenue, Kissimmee, FL, 34741, on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Mary T. Lawson to the Osceola Council on Aging, Barney E. Veal Center, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee, FL, 34744, 407-846-8532, www.osceolagenerations.org.

Mary Theresa Lawson

October 20, 1930 - December 16, 2011