Mary Bowler Daly

Mary Hannah Bowler Daly was born in New York, New York, on June 30, 1932, to Michael and Margaret Bowler. She had three siblings who recently predeceased her: Bernadette Lavin, Patricia Frain, and Michael Bowler. She was raised in the Bronx and attended St. John Chrysostom School and Cathedral High School. After graduation, she became a secretary at Deloitte Haskins and Sells in Manhattan.

Mary met her husband, John “Jack,” in third grade, but it wasn’t until after she graduated from high school and started working that they became an item. John enlisted in the Navy, and after completing his service commitment, they were married on June 11, 1955. They lived in New York City, Webster, and Rochester in New York and eventually moved to Lanham, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C. Along the way, they had seven children: John (Lori) Daly, Michael Daly, Robert (June) Daly, William (Kim) Daly, James Daly, Maureen (Jeff) Branham, and Jeanne (David) Smith.

After living in Lanham for many years, the family moved to Central Florida in 1969 for a new career opportunity for Jack. They built a home in Maitland, and Mary enrolled the children at St. Margaret Mary Catholic School. She was an amazing partner in education for the teachers, religious, and administration. She was a fierce protector of the playground and volunteered for many years.

Mary was an important part of St. Margaret Mary Parish. She and Jack were instrumental in the Parish Retreat Program, the Cursillo movement, and Alpha-Peer Ministry. She volunteered on committees and served in many church ministries.

Mary believed in the importance of education. She ensured all her children earned their college degrees, and when her youngest was in third grade, she pursued her own higher education journey. She went to Seminole Community College, now Seminole State, and then out to FTU, now known as UCF. She earned a bachelor's degree in business and then a master's degree in counseling and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She worked at BETA and Lakeside Alternatives and eventually had her private practice for over fifteen years.

Mary enjoyed sharing her life with her 14 grandchildren and, eventually, 7 great-grandchildren. She attended plays, concerts, sporting events (as long as it wasn’t too hot out), and religious ceremonies celebrating Baptisms, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, a Bar Mitzvah, and Weddings. It was her great joy to see these young people pursue their educations and careers and, for some, start their own families.

When she retired, she enjoyed spending time with her large family, volunteering, going to plays, and going to any event with music and dancing. She was also a devoted wife to her husband, Jack, in those years and stood by him through all the trials with his physical health. As a couple, they were an inspiration and gratefully celebrated 58 years of marriage until Jack died in 2012.

In 2021, Mary had an accident that required her to undergo rehabilitation, and eventually, she moved to Watercrest Senior Living in Winter Park. She absolutely thrived in this active community. She revived her bridge game, played endless Bingo, and was a stalwart presence during brain games. She made good friends there and continued to share her faith with others through Catholic mass, prayer services, and other faith-sharing activities.

Mary passed away peacefully on October 7, 2024; she was 92 years old. She Is also survived by her brother-in-law, William (Pat) Daly. A brief visitation with the family will be at 10:15 a.m. on October 14th at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, Florida, followed by the funeral liturgy, the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests your support of the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Haitian Ministry.