Mary Elizabeth (Hardiman) Vail, 81, died on Monday, January 21st after a long illness. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 60 years, John “Butch” Vail; her sons, John M. Vail of Leicester and James Vail and his wife, Cindy of Grafton; a daughter, Jennifer Lavin and her husband, Christopher of Leicester; five adoring grandchildren, Sean, Connor, Jackson, Mackenzie and Zoie. She also leaves a brother, James Hardiman and his wife, Rose of Westboro and many nieces and nephews.
Mary was the daughter of the late Walter Hardiman and Constance Hardiman Morse. She was born in Boston yet moved and grew up in Worcester and graduated from South High School in 1955. After high school she attended Memorial School of Nursing and began her nursing career. She worked for many years at Memorial Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center. She continued her education while working and raising her family and received her BS in Nursing from Assumption College in 1988. She then became a supervisor at Certified Nursing Services from which she retired.
Mary was a loving wife, mother and nana who enjoyed most of her time spent with family. Holidays, backyard cookouts, cheering on the Patriots or vacationing in Aruba or on Cape Cod were the days she treasured most. Mary was also known to love a good day of shopping and lunch or just relaxing with a book and a glass of chardonnay. Her infectious laugh and beautiful smile will be dearly missed and in the hearts of her family and friends forever.
Her funeral is Saturday, January 26th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester. Calling hours are Friday, January 25th from 4:00 until 7:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Breast Cancer Association, 10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 480, Columbia, Maryland 21044.