1940 – 2013

AUBURN — Mary Gwendolyn Lee, 73, of Turner and formerly of Auburn, passed peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Hospice House in Auburn, with her husband, Richard, at her side after a long battle with inclusion body myositis.

Born June 5, 1940, the daughter of Theodore Mazerolle and Cecelia Gallant Mazerolle, Mary grew up in West Saint John, New Brunswick, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class from Saint Vincent’s Girls High School. In 1960, she earned a degree in radiology diagnostics from Hospital St. Joseph and began her career in Dalhousie, New Brunswick.

Mary met her husband, Richard, in Boston, Mass., in fall 1964, while working at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. After their marriage in February 1966, they began raising their family in the greater Boston area. After the births of their sons, Jon and Kevin, and daughter, Jennifer, Richard’s teaching position brought them to Bangor and the Lee clan saw the addition of Mark and Michael. In 1974, Richard’s career with CMVTI/CMTC brought the family to Auburn, where they established deep and abiding roots and the family grew to include two more daughters, Mary Kathryn and Rebecca.

The Lee home on Roosevelt Avenue was full of life, where family and friends were always welcome and always well-fed. In 1998, Mary became a naturalized United States citizen. At various times, Mary worked seasonally at Lamey-Wellehan Shoes and Whiting’s Farm Stand, and part time at BJ’s Wholesale Club. During elections, Mary served as a clerk at the polls.

In 2006, Mary and Richard moved to Turner to better accommodate Mary’s disability and enjoy their retirement. Mary loved to travel to visit her children, grandchildren and other family members. Recently, she and Richard traveled to Takoma Park, Md., to welcome her newest granddaughter, whom was born in August. Mary had a great love for cooking, church, crosswords, reading, sewing, bowling, quilting, collecting and most especially, being a mom. Her warm, caring, giving nature served as a wonderful example to all of her children.

Mary’s deep faith grew out of her own mother’s strong commitment to the Catholic Church. Her involvement touched many through several programs and ministries, including religious education, family life, marriage encounter, NFP, RCIA, Eucharistic minister and living the Gospel in her daily life. She and her husband served the diocese as associate directors of Family Life Ministry for several years with the Rev. Don Lonsdale. She also served as a public member on the Institutional Review Board at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

She is survived by her husband of almost 48 years, Richard H. Lee Jr.; her seven children, Jon Lee and his wife, Ginny, of Houston, Texas, Kevin Lee and his wife, Kristen, of Springfield, N.H., Jennifer Lee-Nolan and her husband, Michael, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Mark Lee and his wife, Sandra Heutz-Lee, of Lewiston, Michael Lee and his wife, Emily Sunderman, of Cornwall, Vt., Mary Kathryn Lee Harner and her husband, Jeff, of Takoma Park, Md., and Rebecca Lee and her husband, Nathan Groenendyk, of Pawtucket, R.I.; and 13 grandchildren, Christopher, Jacquelyn, Robyn and Rachel Lee, Maggie and Patrick Lee, William, Eleanor and Bailey Nolan, Anya and Eisa Heutz-Lee, Carter Sunderman Lee and Lily Harner.

The family would like to thank the staff of Turner Rescue, the Hospice House in Auburn and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston for the love and support they provided.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.