Mary Mulhern
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On Thursday, July 23rd, 2020, Mary Mulhern passed away peacefully at the age of 76, surrounded by family at her residence in the Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living Facility in Woodstock Vermont.
Mary bravely battled frontotemporal dementia for many years before it claimed her life too early. Through it all, she demonstrated tremendous perseverance, courage and heart and continued to be a wonderful role model to family and friends.
Mary Mulhern, originally Mary Elizabeth Hawes, was born in Rockland, Maine on December 5, 1943 to Schuyler and Juanita Hawes. Mary was one of six children and grew up on a Holstein dairy farm with a collie, King, in Union Maine. Mary participated in many 4H activities and was part of the church choir. In high school, she was on the track and softball teams and was a member of the National Honor Society. She and her siblings were active in showing cattle and members of the Holstein-Friesian Association. Mary was crowned the first and only Miss Union at the age of 17 and was a Sea Princess at the Maine Seafood Festival, now the Rockland Lobster Festival.
After high school, she moved to the Boston area where she took classes at Bentley while she worked as a bookkeeper at a law firm. At the law firm, she met and married attorney George Mulhern. They had three children, Valerie, Michael and Janet (who passed away as a toddler.) Mary became an avid and competitive tennis player. She was highly involved in all of her children's school and extracurricular activities. She singlehandedly created all the costumes for the Sound of Music school play, helped coach Valerie and Michael on their little league teams, taught reading to children requiring extra assistance, and was always ready to volunteer for all school events.
She became a widow in 1986 when her husband passed of a heart attack. Several years later, she met Bill Smith and moved with him back to the Maine area where they built a lovely home on North Pond, Warren ME in 1993. Mary and Bill adopted two collie puppies, Holly and Tally, and became key members of the Collie Club of Maine. They spent many years raising, training (and often spoiling!) their dear collies along with other dogs and cats. Bill sadly passed in 1999. Mary became treasurer and show secretary of the Collie Club and spent almost two decades helping to grow the club and enhance the annual shows. She was incredibly dedicated to the club and worked tirelessly to ensure its success. She loved being a part of its wonderful community and was referred to as "Our Mary" by club members. She has owned many collies over the years, most recently her beloved dog "Cannon" who earned his conformation championship and also qualified for beginner novice in obedience, both of which made Mary very proud.
Mary was the heart of the large Hawes family. She cared for her mother and brother in their later years. She hosted annual family reunions every August at her home in Warren Maine, sometimes with over 100 family members joining. She also hosted and prepared Thanksgiving dinners for much of the large extended Hawes family for over 50 years. She will always be known as the family's beloved "Old Aunt Mary."
In 2018, she moved to Vermont close to her daughter Valerie and son Michael, with frequent visits from Cannon. At her residence in Woodstock Terrace, she was an active participant in arts, athletics, and van trips.
Through everything she faced, she always maintained great strength, cooperativeness, practicality and humor. She was endlessly supportive of her children and larger family. Mary will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Mary was pre-deceased by her daughter, Janet Mulhern, husband, George Mulhern, her partner, Bill Smith, her brother Allan Martin and her sister Jackie Hawes. She is survived by her daughter, Valerie Mulhern of Killington, VT; her son Michael Mulhern of Stowe, VT; siblings Lincoln Hawes and wife Peggy of Union, ME, Shirley Call and husband Malcolm of Jefferson, NH, Zoa Guptill and husband Steve of Berwick, ME; and many generations of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Due to current restrictions from Covid 19, a small family graveside service was held August 1st, 2020 in Weston, Massachusetts. A remembrance and celebration of Mary's life will be held over the weekend of August 7th and 8th 2021 at her home in Warren ME in conjunction with the annual Hawes family reunion.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary's name to the Collie Club of Maine in care of Barbara Halloran, 59 Gross Neck Rd., Waldoboro, ME 04572.
An on line guest book can be found at cabot fh.com