Mary Lou Vaughn

It is with great sadness to announce that Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Cummings Vaughn, the wife of David Vaughn, died peacefully on Ascension Thursday May 30, 2019 at Danbury Hospital surrounded by her family.

Born in Norwalk, CT on November 4, 1933, she was the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Carroll) Cummings. Mary Lou graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford in 1951. She attended Danbury State Teacher’s College (now WCSU) and received a B.S. in Education in 1955. It was there she met the love of her life, Dave, and they were united in marriage on August 18, 1956.

Mary Lou taught Kindergarten and First Grade in Danbury CT, Norwalk CT and Columbus GA. She went on to attend Sacred Heart University and Maryknoll School of Theology and received a Certification in Religious Studies. At the request of Msgr. Edward Duffy, Mary Lou was asked to develop the Religious Education program for public school children at St. Joseph’s Church in Danbury. There she served as the Director of Religious Education for over 30 years. Mary Lou felt it was her calling to serve the Lord and the people of St. Joseph’s Parish, which she did with great passion. Mary Lou truly enjoyed watching the children grow in their faith and love of God. She put her heart and soul into her work. She was a past President of the St. Joseph’s Ladies Guild, a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Third Order of Carmelites.

After retiring in 2000, Mary Lou and Dave enjoyed traveling to Ireland, England, Panama Canal and especially Alaska – she truly thought that it was the “Last Frontier”. She was well known for her fantastic cooking and baking skills and for her unique and contagious laugh. She loved entertaining family and friends, especially on the holidays. She was a fun-loving woman who enjoyed a great party and a good laugh. A life long Yankee fan, she enjoyed watching and attending games with her family. Her favorite all time player was Tommy Henrich. Mary Lou’s passion for online shopping was unparalleled – she will be missed by the UPS driver! She loved spending time at the beach and cherished the family vacations to Cape Cod. Mary Lou was a voracious reader who enjoyed historical fiction and books on spiritual growth and the lives of saints, from which she grew a great deal of inner strength. Her proud Irish heritage contributed to her feisty nature, determined attitude, her ability to achieve her goals and helped her to maintain a positive attitude throughout life, even in her most difficult days. Mary Lou was a very thoughtful and caring woman who had an innate ability to always choose the perfect gifts for loved ones. She found great joy in giving and never expected anything in return. She was an extremely devoted mother and wife and will be tremendously missed; but her family takes great comfort in knowing that she has been reunited with family and friends and is now pain-free and at peace with the Lord.

Along with her husband, Dave, Mary Lou is survived by her children Rick and his wife Jane, Michael, Sheila and her husband Greg, Brian and his wife Erin and Mark. Grandma was most loved and will be dearly missed by her grandchildren Matthew and Jason Nejame, Nicole, Zach, Ali, Kevin, Ryan, Cailin, Nicholas Vaughn and her niece and nephews Maura McLarty, Jim and Paul Cummings.

In addition to her parents, Mary Lou was predeceased by an infant son, Joseph Francis, her brother Arthur, sister-in-law Betty and her sister JoAnn.

Mary Lou was so grateful for the love and care given by all of her wonderful caretakers over the years but especially Jenny, Mary and Nancy.

Visiting hours will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, June 7 at 1:00pm (please note time change) at St. Joseph’s Church, 8 Robinson Avenue, Danbury, CT. Burial will immediately follow at Peter’s Cemetery, 71 Lake Avenue Ext., Danbury, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 27 Park Road, West Hartford, CT 06119