Taunton, MA - It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce that Mary Elizabeth (Crossman) Vaughan, age 81, a life-long Taunton resident, entered into eternal rest on March 27, 2023, following a period of declining health. Mary’s wishes were to spend her last days at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loving family, where she passed peacefully.
Mary was a life-long Taunton resident and a 1959 graduate of Taunton High School. After marrying in 1961 and beginning her family in 1962, she was a stay-at-home mom, until all her children entered school, and then she worked mother’s hours to be able to spend as much time as possible with them. Being with them was where she was happiest. Later in life, she worked at Sil-Med Corporation and then Taunton State Hospital, until her retirement in 2002. She was a life-long communicant of St. Andrew the Apostle Church (formerly St. Joseph’s).
Mary was the daughter of the late Elsworth and Mary (McDermott) Crossman and the wife of the late George K. Vaughan, whom she was married to for nearly 50 years. She leaves her daughters, Loretta and her husband, Michael Goldrick, and Janet Vaughan, her sons, David and Brian Vaughan and his companion, Lili White. She also leaves her granddaughters, Kara, Ashley, Meghan, Katie and Tasha, and great-grandchildren Sophia, Benjamin, and Colton, who brightened her days with their love and laughter. Mary was the sister of the late Eleanor and Edward “Ted” Crossman and sister-in-law of the late Barbara Vaughan and aunt to the late Kathleen Conway, with whom she had a very special relationship. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins here and in Canada.
Mary always loved the beach, whether it be Onset or Newport, with her life-long best friend, Ann (Gordon), who passed in 2020, family camping trips on Sandy Neck, or her trips with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to St. Pete Beach, Florida. She loved listening to Country & Western music, tending to her flower gardens, and watching cooking shows with her great-granddaughter, Sophia, who would then rate her cooking and give her an award, if deserved. Above all, she cherished the time with her family, and was fortunate to live next door to several generations, allowing her to spend time with them every day, right to the end. Her family is blessed to have thousands of photos and several videos to remember the fun-loving person she was.
Mary was an amazing lady, who always put the needs of others before herself, whether it be someone she knew forever or someone she just met. She had a way of always making you feel welcome, and instantly, you knew you found a friend. A friend you could always count on to make time for you at a moment’s notice, no matter what she was going through or how she was feeling. She became the honorary Mom and Gram to many! Her strong spirit and humility were two of her greatest virtues and we are all better for it. Mary will be deeply missed and remembered for the unconditional love she bestowed to her family and friends.
Her funeral will be held on Monday, April 3rd, from O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home on Washington Street at 10:00, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Andrew’s the Apostle Church at 11:00. Interment will be at the family plot at the St. Francis Cemetery on Glebe Street. Her visiting hours will be Sunday, April 2nd, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Visit our website at O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home to sign the online guestbook, obituaries & directions.