Mary J. (Palmer) McQuillan, 79, of Dartmouth died July 29, 2002 at home after a long and courageous battle with malignant melanoma.
She was the wife of Edwin J. McQuillan, former postmaster of Fairhaven.
Born in San Francisco, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Anne (Lamey) Palmer. For the past 55 years, she lived in Fairhaven, and more recently in South Dartmouth.
Mrs. McQuillan was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Dartmouth and a member of the church's Ladies Guild.
She was formerly employed by Rochester Memorial School as a teacher's aide until her retirement in the late 1970s.
Mrs. McQuillan was a member of the Ladies' Branch of the New Bedford Port Society, the Colonial Club of Fairhaven, the Volunteer Council of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Shining Tides Quilters' Guild, a former member of the Greater New Bedford Garden Club and the Couples Club of St. Joseph's Church in Fairhaven.
She enjoyed quilting, travel, flower gardening and arranging, and painting in watercolors. She cherished time with friends and her family, and was proud of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband; 5 daughters, Mary Anne McQuillan of East Freetown, Elizabeth McQuillan of LaJolla, CA, Martha McAfee of Fairhaven, Trish Ashworth of Tiverton, RI and Joanna McQuillan Weeks of Fairhaven; her sons-in-law, Fred Sterner, William McAfee, Glenn Ashworth and Loring S. Weeks; 4 grandchildren, Joshua Renfree of New York City, Adam Renfree of LaJolla, CA, Katherine McAfee and Stephen McAfee, both of Fairhaven; 2 brothers, Ed Palmer and Warren Palmer, both of San Francisco; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordFriday, August 2, 2002 at 9 AM.Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth at 10 AM.Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Visiting hours on Thursday, August 1, 2002 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM.
Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, New Bedford.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Southcoast Home Care, 28 Sconticut Neck Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719 or to the Dartmouth Council On Aging Daycare Program, 628 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748 .