Mary Frances Edwards (in her own words)
Mary Frances Edwards, a longtime resident of Havre de Grace, passed away December 11, 2013 at age 91. Mrs. Edwards was the daughter of the late Major Jesse C. Cook and Kathryn B. Cook. She was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana where her father was stationed in the military.
From Indiana, the family moved to Hawaii, where she attended the first and second grade at a Maryknoll Mission School. From Hawaii, the family moved to a small army post on Lake Ontario in New York – Madison Barracks. She spent a happy childhood there, enjoying the benefits of the nearby lake for swimming, and the cold climate for sledding and ice skating in the winter.
In 1938, her father retired from the military and took a job at an army depot in Schenectady, NY. She attended her senior year of high school there, graduating in 1939. She then attended New York State College for Teachers in Albany, NY, graduating with a BA degree in 1943. She taught Social Studies for two years at Bern-Knox Central School District in Bern, NY. At the urging of her family who had moved to Maryland, she moved and taught for one year at Havre de Grace High School. She worked at several other jobs, lastly in the Employment Division for the State Employment Service.
In 1955, she married her husband James E. Edwards. They lived first in Perryville and then moved to Havre de Grace in 1962. They lived at both locations in homes built by her husband.
Mrs. Edwards is survived by her sons, James E. Edwards Jr. and his wife Denise, Richard Edwards and his wife Dominique, and David Edwards, and daughter Kathy Fendick and her husband Rusty. She is also survived by six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and only sister, Ann Cook Deppish.
A visitation will be held on Friday, December 13, 2013 from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. at the Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 South Washington Street, Havre de Grace, MD.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 10 A.M. at The Church of St. Patrick, 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, Maryland 21078.
Contributions may be made to The Church of St. Patrick Building Fund, 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. Interment will be private. Messages of Condolences may be made to www.zellmanfuneralhome.com