Mary MacNeil

Mary Katherine MacNeil passed from this life to the next on February 17 at age 96. She was born in Norwich on May 11, 1923 to John and Katherine Golembiewski. After attending the Norwich Free Academy she married Charles MacNeil on August 24, 1940. They shared 69 years together before his passing.

While Charlie served in the Navy during WWII, Mary joined thousands of other wives helping the war effort at home as a factory piece worker. She and Charlie made their home in Norwich and Oakdale, CT where they raised six children, five of whom remain to mourn her loss: Charles Gregory MacNeil (Kathy) of Sterling, CT, John MacNeil (Monica), Charlotte Wildowsky (Bill), Colleen Freeman (Carl) all of Oakdale, CT and Antoinette Spada (Dan) of East Lyme. She also leaves 21 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 3 great, great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son’s Michael and David, daughter Therese and sister Josephine Johnson.

She was a stay-at-home mom for most of her life. However, in her 70’s she went to work at her daughter Charlotte and son-in-law Bill’s businesses, Good Buy Charlie’s and All That Laundromat. Firmly believing one must “use it or lose it,” She remained there for 15 years, working well into her 80s.

A devout Catholic, Mary seldom missed Sunday Mass. As she entered her nineties she wondered what her place in the world was…what she still had to offer…who needed her? And, she was told she remained necessary to all who knew and loved her as an example of how to live, love and endure. Her final role was to give those of us left behind a blueprint to follow and a reason to hope. She so beautifully filled that role. The world is a better place because she lived and a lesser and sadder place without her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Oakdale, CT on February 29 at 10 a.m., followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Catholic Charities, 331 E Main St, Norwich, CT 06360 or the charity of one’s choice. Church and Allen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.