Obituary: Mary Frances Deakin Edwards, 90, Of Ridgefield

Information and Photo Courtesy Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Mary Frances Deakin Edwards died peacefully with family by her side Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Danbury Hospital due to natural causes. She was 90 years old.

Missy, as she was known to family and friends, was born Sept. 12, 1933 in Danbury. She was the daughter of Helen Cuff Deakin and John J. Deakin. She attended St. Peter Elementary School, Danbury High School, Class of 1951 and Danbury State Teachers College (now known as Western Connecticut State University), Class of 1955 where she earned her degree in Education. She taught 4th and 5th grades at the Baker Elementary School in Darien from 1955 - 1958.

In 1957, she married N. Donald Edwards of Georgetown, CT and they lived on the estate of actor Carmen Matthews in West Redding for five years. As their family grew, they moved to Ridgefield in 1962, a town she would call home for the next 30 years. In Ridgefield, she raised six children. She was an active member of the St. Mary Parish. Later she obtained her realtor’s license and worked out of several offices but spent the most time working for the William Pitt Real Estate office located on Main Street in Ridgefield.

When she became an empty nester in 1992, she moved to Williamsburg, VA where she continued to sell real estate for William E. Wood and Associates. While in Williamsburg, Missy was an active member of St. Bede Catholic Church. After her retirement, she moved back to Connecticut in 2016 and for the last 6 years was a resident of Hancock Hall Nursing Home in Danbury.

Missy enjoyed raising her kids and serving as designated driver to all their practices, meets, games and events. She also enjoyed interior design, traveling, playing bridge, going to live theater, reading and sharing and hearing stories that made her laugh with family and friends.

She survived by her children: Jim Edwards, Boise, ID; Mary Lacasse, Hillsboro, OR; John Edwards (Nettie), Flower Mound, TX; Stephen Edwards (Pati), Penacook, NH; Paul Edwards, New Britain and Chris Edwards (Jennife), Manilla, The Philippines. She also is survived by 12 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law Mary Deakin Fredlund (Henry), Southbury, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents and her brother James C. Deakin.

A mass celebrating her life will be held Friday, March 15 at 1pm at St. Peter Catholic Church in Danbury with burial services immediately following in St. Peter Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to either St. Mary Parish, 55 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, CT 06877 or to the St. Peter School, 98 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.