Obituary for Mary Jean MacNown
CENTERVILLE, MA: Mary Jean (Hoy) MacNown passed away peacefully in her home of almost 50 years surrounded by her family on August 18th, 2023.
Born on April 24, 1934, in Montreal, Canada to Percival and Elizabeth (Heagney) Hoy, Mary was a doting big sister to her little brother John Hoy and cousin Edward Arnold who moved in with the family during World War II. After graduating from D’Arcy McGee High School in 1951, Mary embarked on her quest to travel the world with her best friend Dolores. After visiting the Heagney family homestead in Yorkshire County England, they continued to the European mainland for adventures and lots of laughs. Upon her return, she began working at the Canadian National Railroad as a comptometer operator (precursor to the electronic calculator and computer), but the weekend travel bug usually found her heading with Dolores to New York City to seek out the latest fashions.
Mary married Kent MacNown in 1958 and started a family in 1964. The family moved to Medfield, MA in 1966 with a 10-week-old in tow, continued to Sarasota, FL, in 1970, and finally settled on Cape Cod in 1974. She loved volunteering at her daughters’ schools (mostly to keep an eye on them) and at Cape Cod Hospital. Mary finished her working career as a salesperson at Filene’s at the Cape Cod Mall.
After retirement, Mary took up golf at Blue Rock Golf Course (mostly for laughs) and continued her world travels with her close friend Jane Powers, making it to almost every continent. Travel was her true passion and what brought her the most joy. Kenya, New Zealand, Fiji, and Italy were standouts for their natural beauty, majestic creatures, and of course, good food. Mary was a proud Canadian, a faithful Catholic, a lover of all animals, a prolific baker, and we are sure she would have been the first mother to travel to space if given the chance.
Mary leaves behind her daughters: Jeannie MacNown Fay of Centerville, MA, and Anthea MacNown Goering and her husband Mark of Scottsdale, AZ. She was a proud Granny to Hannah and Colin Fay, and Zachary, Olivia, Evan, and Amy Goering. She will be missed by her sister-in-law Barbara Hoy, nieces Jennifer &; Joanne Hoy, and nephews Tommy &; Michael Hoy. It was a poorly kept secret that the family dogs, Millie Fay and Macy &; Brady Goering were her favorites.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 15th at 11 AM at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Burial will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Beacon Hospice for caring for her with dignity and love. They would also like to thank Rosemary & Jeff Dillon for decades of neighborly love, her Renew group for their faith and friendship, and Stephen Lattimer for always being nearby to lend her an arm. Mary may not have been one to often express how she felt, but if you were ever a lucky recipient of her cookies or famous New York Special treats, consider yourself loved.
Born on April 24, 1934, in Montreal, Canada to Percival and Elizabeth (Heagney) Hoy, Mary was a doting big sister to her little brother John Hoy and cousin Edward Arnold who moved in with the family during World War II. After graduating from D’Arcy McGee High School in 1951, Mary embarked on her quest to travel the world with her best friend Dolores. After visiting the Heagney family homestead in Yorkshire County England, they continued to the European mainland for adventures and lots of laughs. Upon her return, she began working at the Canadian National Railroad as a comptometer operator (precursor to the electronic calculator and computer), but the weekend travel bug usually found her heading with Dolores to New York City to seek out the latest fashions.
Mary married Kent MacNown in 1958 and started a family in 1964. The family moved to Medfield, MA in 1966 with a 10-week-old in tow, continued to Sarasota, FL, in 1970, and finally settled on Cape Cod in 1974. She loved volunteering at her daughters’ schools (mostly to keep an eye on them) and at Cape Cod Hospital. Mary finished her working career as a salesperson at Filene’s at the Cape Cod Mall.
After retirement, Mary took up golf at Blue Rock Golf Course (mostly for laughs) and continued her world travels with her close friend Jane Powers, making it to almost every continent. Travel was her true passion and what brought her the most joy. Kenya, New Zealand, Fiji, and Italy were standouts for their natural beauty, majestic creatures, and of course, good food. Mary was a proud Canadian, a faithful Catholic, a lover of all animals, a prolific baker, and we are sure she would have been the first mother to travel to space if given the chance.
Mary leaves behind her daughters: Jeannie MacNown Fay of Centerville, MA, and Anthea MacNown Goering and her husband Mark of Scottsdale, AZ. She was a proud Granny to Hannah and Colin Fay, and Zachary, Olivia, Evan, and Amy Goering. She will be missed by her sister-in-law Barbara Hoy, nieces Jennifer &; Joanne Hoy, and nephews Tommy &; Michael Hoy. It was a poorly kept secret that the family dogs, Millie Fay and Macy &; Brady Goering were her favorites.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 15th at 11 AM at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Burial will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Beacon Hospice for caring for her with dignity and love. They would also like to thank Rosemary & Jeff Dillon for decades of neighborly love, her Renew group for their faith and friendship, and Stephen Lattimer for always being nearby to lend her an arm. Mary may not have been one to often express how she felt, but if you were ever a lucky recipient of her cookies or famous New York Special treats, consider yourself loved.