Mary Ethel Lovell, 85 of New Smyrna Beach, Florida passed away peacefully on April 23, 2015 after a courageous battle from an undetermined neuro muscular disorder. Besides her husband Jack of 65 years, she also leaves behind her loving family: brother, Thomas P. Kiely (Lynn); son, John T. Lovell; daughters, Kim Lovell Butler (Michael) and Lisa A. Lovell (Jen Doran); grandchildren, Joseph and Julia Butler; and her sweet dog, Emily.
Mary was born, raised and educated in New York City. She came into the world on November 13, 1929 to parents Thomas and Mary Kiely. Mary graduated from the Sacred Heart of Mary Girls High School and Packard Business College. She often talked about her wonderful upbringing in the City and spending summers at the seashore. She met her husband Jack at Rockaway Beach, NY during one of those summers. They married on November 18, 1950.
Mary lovingly raised her three children in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida while also working in various positions in school administration, hospitality management, real estate sales, and leasing and retail management.
In retirement, Mary and Jack enjoyed living in upstate New York, the Maryland Seashore and the Georgia mountains before finally returning to Florida and settling in New Smyrna Beach.
Mary derived so much joy from nature and the simple pleasures in life, like gardening, reading, listening to music, dancing, movie watching, engaging in endless games and activities with her grandchildren, and traveling with family and friends. She loved animals especially dogs (hers and others) and birds (especially crows). She would bring donations to animal shelters, always fed the song birds and crows wherever she lived and thoroughly enjoyed her daily walks with Emily. Mary was a dynamic, bright, talented, fun and nurturing woman. She was a consummate wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Mary fought to the very end with incredible bravery and grace in the face of a horrible illness. At Mary's request she asked to have a private family memorial and cremation. Memorial Donations can be made to: Vitas Healthcare (Central Florida), www.vitas.com or 2201 Lucien Way, Ste. 100, Maitland, FL 32751; Pet Rescue by Judy, www.petrescuebyjudy.com/info/donate or 401 South Laurel Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771; and/or Humane Society's Mountain Shelter, P.O. Box 1252, Blairsville, Georgia 30514 or www.humanesocietymountainshelter.org .