GLOUCESTER: Mary Rose (O’Connell) Alpaugh, 73, died Sunday, March 16, 2008 at her home surrounded by her family. Always honest, blunt and outspoken, she gave marching orders till the very end. She was predeceased by her four spouses, William J. Seiss, William Elston, Walter Tobin and Charles F. Alpaugh.
Born in Boston on April 10, 1935 she was the daughter of the late Daniel W. and Mary A. (Kenneally) O’Connell. She had resided in Everett, Boston and New Orleans, LA for many years before moving to Gloucester eighteen years ago for the birth of her first grandchild.
She was employed as a home health aide for many years in the Cape Ann area.
She is survived by one daughter, Sherie “Vanya” Seiss of Los Angeles, CA and Gloucester, three sons and one daughter-in-law, Stephen M. Elston of Gloucester, Sean Joshua Tobin Popple and his wife, Wendy Popple of Holden and Hank Bergman of Gloucester, four grandchildren, Connor J. Elston and Michael Elizabeth Lola Seiss both of Gloucester and Jake and Molly Popple both of Holden, two sisters and a brother-in-law, Eileen O’Connell of Rockport and Peggy and her husband, David Norris of Raleigh, NC, four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Edward O’Connell and Arthur O’Connell both of Gloucester, Robert and his wife, Trudy O’Connell of Parhumph, NV, Eugene and his wife, Bonnie O’Connell of Rockport and Jean O’Connell of Swampscott, many greatly loved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, many in-laws, out-laws, friends, her favorite doctor, Janet Doran and especially the children of the City of Gloucester. She was also predeceased by three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Alfred and Shirley O’Connell, Joseph O’Connell, Leo O’Connell and Ellie O’Connell, three sisters and brothers-in-law, Evelyn and Paul Norris, Muriel “Mike” and George Romazko, Kathy and Richard Monitz, and a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Lynn Elston.
Her funeral services will be held at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody later in the summer at a time to be announced by the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester. In lieu of flowers, she asked that you tell someone you love them, forgive them or try to be friends again. Do something to help someone else. Be kind. Life is too short.