Mary F. Cartwright

Mary Lee Finnigan was born May 28, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan, daughter of the late Gregory Jerome Finnigan and Annette Lee Finnigan. She was a graduate of Saint Mary of Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan, class of 1948, and a 1953 graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following their August 29th wedding, Mary and Jack moved to High Point in September, 1953.

Mary was a devoted parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She was a member and past president of the Saint Edward’s Guild and served on numerous church advisory councils including the Financial and Building Committees. She was a member of the Altar Society and co-founded the Funeral Luncheon Committee. Mary headed the Interior Design Group in furnishing of the new Rectory and Convent at the Montlieu Street Church, and did the same in Charlotte for the Bishop’s Residence when the Diocese of Charlotte was established.

Always close to her heart was Immaculate Heart of Mary School, where she taught Kindergarten and was School Librarian. She co-founded the School’s Volunteer Group which later became the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home School Association. She remained involved throughout her later years as a school Mentor, and provided many needy students with financial aid scholarships.

Mary was well known and recognized for her countless hours of volunteer service to Maryfield Nursing Home where she co-founded the Blue Ladies Volunteer Corp. She served on Maryfield’s Building Expansion and Interior Design Committees and sat for many years as a member of the Maryfied Board of Directors and served as Board Chairman.

Her civic activities included memberships in the High Point Historical Society, Newcomers Club, Modernettes, High Point Garden Club, and for many years she delivered Meals on Wheels.

Mary is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jack Cartwright; two children, Molly Cartwright Bibee and her husband, Charles Henry Bibee of High Point, and Beth Cartwright Sutton(widow of Jaye Hal Sutton) of Kaycee, Wyoming. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Charles Cartwright Bibee and wife, Katherine Maybank Bibee of Charleston, S.C., Jaye Michael Sutton and wife, Cassidy Sheffield Sutton of Casper, Wyoming, Gregory Spencer Bibee and wife, Stephanie Carson Bibee of Raleigh, N.C., Matthew Christopher Sutton and wife, Genea Hill Sutton of Casper, Wyoming, Jack Thomas Sutton of Kaycee, Wyoming, and Mary Charles Bibee Kalkwarf and husband Kevin James Kalkwarf of Durham, N.C.

Mary was blessed with six great-grandchildren, Mila Abigail Sutton, Jaye Andrew Sutton, Caroline Maybank Bibee, Jack Spencer Bibee, Gatlin Ridge Sutton, and Mary Katherine Kalkwarf. She was pre-deceased by her two sisters, Patricia Ann Finnigan Romkema, and Barbara Annette Finnigan, both of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesdaay, April 23rd at 1:00 p.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with the Reverend Father Vincent E. Smith,O.S.F.S. as celebrant. The family will receive friends at Sechrest Funeral Service in High Point on Tuesday evening from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. A recitation of the Rosary will be held in the Chapel of Sechrest on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Please share your condolences with the family at www.sechrestfunerals.com.

Family members are grateful for the kindness and loving care given to Mary by the exceptional staff at Hospice Home of High Point. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home at High Point, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, N.C. 27262 or to www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org