Born on July 18, 1949, in Teaneck, NJ, Mary Lee was the beloved daughter of Edmund and Mary Pender. Mary Lee grew up in Maywood and Waldwick, NJ, and graduated from Saint Luke’s High School, in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. Mary Lee attended Elizabeth Seton Junior College graduating in 1969. Mary Lee then went onto Cornell University School of Nursing and Mount Saint Mary’s in New York City, graduating with her BSN in Nursing with honors in 1975.
Mary Lee was married to her husband Russell Greaves for 46 years and was beyond grateful to become an immediate family and mom thanks to their daughters Elizabeth and Kristen.
Mary Lee was a dedicated public health nurse who worked for the NH Department of Health and Human Services for 27 years. During Mary Lee’s time with the NH DHHS, she was the State Liaison for NH Infection Control and Epidemiology Professional Committee. Mary Lee was Co-Chair of the Cheshire Country Infection Control Acute/Long Term Care Collaborative. Mary Lee was one of the founding members of the Cheshire Council for a Healthier Community where she served as Chair for three years. Mary Lee was a member of the Greater Monadnock Regional Coordinating Committee for Public Health Emergency Preparedness. Mary Lee was an educational resource for Blood Born Pathogen Training for community agencies throughout Cheshire County. Mary Lee provided Tuberculosis (TB) skin test training for healthcare providers throughout the state and participated in several TB case investigations, epidemic planning, and response initiatives for infectious disease outbreaks for Cheshire County and the State of NH. Mary Lee served as a resource for citizens throughout the area. Mary Lee was recognized by the NH governor for her ability to set up shelters for those in need after the floods in Alstead in 2005. Mary Lee was also a member of the Monadnock Community Hospital Leadership Group, Healthcare Workforce Group Summit and Monadnock Regional Infection Prevention Group.
Mary Lee enjoyed spending time with her family, especially lake side on Lake Sunapee. After moving to their new home, Mary Lee particularly enjoyed the community she and her husband moved into and loved her new neighbors and book club.
Mary Lee is survived by her husband, Russell Greaves, daughter Elizabeth Feliciano and her husband Alexandre, daughter Kristen Blomgren and her husband Jeffrey, son Daniel Greaves and his wife Jennifer, and daughter Deborah Greaves O’Shea and her husband Brendan. Mary Lee adored her nine grandchildren, Madilyn, Sophia, Lila, Olivia, Nora, Xavier, Owen, Finn, and Tessa. Mary Lee will also be missed by her adoring sisters, Kathleen Eid, Joan Lofgren, and Laurie Marks. Mary Lee was preceded in death by her mother and father Edmund and Mary Pender, her sister Carol Pender, and brother-in-law Fred Eid.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 11:00am in St. Bernard’s Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial with committal prayers will follow the mass in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. All who knew and loved Mary Lee are welcome to attend to pay their respects.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SJRS Annual Fund, St, Joseph Regional School, 92 Wilson Street, Keene NH, 03431.
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SJRS Annual Fund, St. Joseph Regional School92 Wilson Street, Keene, New Hampshire 03431
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