Obituaries: Mary C. Van Horn

Mary C. (McGourty) Van Horn, 73, passed away March 20, 2013. Her husband Charles I. “Chuck” Van Horn passed away in 2010.  Mary is survived by her children Elizabeth Fitzmaurice and her husband Todd, Charles Van Horn and his wife Christy and Daniel Van Horn and his wife Eva.  She also leaves her brothers Francis McGourty and his wife Inge, David McGourty and his wife Joan, her sister Donna Alexandrovich and her husband Ronnie, and her grandchildren Casey, Tyler, Tess, Sara, Kate, Claire, Emily, Jack, Jessica and Samantha along with several nieces and nephews.  She is predeceased by her brothers Walter and Charles Hodgkins and sister Phyllis Newcomb.  Mary was born February 21, 1940 in Worcester, daughter of the late Agnes (Andersen) and Francis C. McGourty.  She grew up in Worcester and graduated from Classical High School and Worcester State Teacher’s College where she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.  Mary taught in the Worcester Public schools before she moved to Frankfurt, Germany where she taught at Butzbach Elementary School.  She met Chuck while he was serving in the US Army in Frankfurt.  She and Chuck married in Worcester in 1966 and together they found life’s greatest joy in raising their children.  Mary and Chuck made a home for their family in many corners of our country, including Kentucky, Ohio, Kansas, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Georgia. An invested educator, she proudly served on the Board of Education in South Windsor, Connecticut. Those who knew Mary will remember an intelligent well- read woman who could always beat you at scrabble.  She greatly enjoyed the past couple of years living in The Colony development in Worcester where she built close and meaningful relationships with her friends and neighbors. In lieu of flowers her family requests you honor Mary with donations to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 17 Waterville St., N. Grafton MA 01536.

CALLING HOURS & FUNERAL MASS

All are invited to calling hours for Mary Sunday March 24th from 3pm to 5pm at RONEY FUNERAL HOME 152 Worcester St. N. Grafton MA 01536. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday March 25th at 11:00am at St. Mary’s Church 17 Waterville St. N. Grafton MA 01536. All attending the Funeral Mass are politely requested to go directly to the church. Burial will be private at the convenience of her family. Directions and an online condolence book to share memories of Mary are available at: www.RoneyFuneralHome.com