LEWISTON – Mary Josephine Kozak Priestly, 91, formerly of Topsham and Brunswick, died peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Russell Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she has resided for the past six years.

Born on April 22, 1914, in Fall River, Mass., she was one of nine children born to Sophia and Andrew Kozak. She attended Fall River schools, and was 1931 graduate of Durfee High School.

She married John Edward “Jack” Priestly on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1934, and lived briefly in Fall River before moving to the Topsham-Brunswick area where he was employed by the Verney Corporation before being employed by Bowdoin College.

After Jack’s death, Mary was employed by Bowdoin College where she worked more than 20 years in the food service department at Moulton Union and Senior Center.

After her retirement, she was made an honorary member of Bowdoin’s Alumni Association.

She was a skilled knitter who also loved sewing and attending Bowdoin sports events – especially hockey games – and going to see her grandchildrens’ games.

Surviving are two daughters, Mary Sophie Priestly of Wakefield, Mass., and Anne Veronica and Bernard “Bud” Koza of Lisbon Falls; two sons, Robert Andrew Priestly and his wife, Joyce, of Westford, Mass., and Timothy Kozak Priestly and T.L. Mikesell of Auburn; two brothers, Frank Kozak of Phoenix, Az., and Milton Kozak of Bridgewater, Mass.; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and countless dear friends.

She was predeceased by her husband “Jack” who died in 1958; a son, John Edward Jr.; her parents; sisters, Viola and Veronica; and four brothers, Stephen, Walter, Henry and Thomas.

She loved and was loved by many and will be sadly missed.

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