- Mrs. Mary O. Reynolds, age 85, retired Curator of the Erie Canal Village died on Sunday March 15, 2020. Born in White Plains NY, Mary grew up in West Hartford, CT. She graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy class of 1952.
For many years Mary worked for the Town of West Hartford, CT at the Faxon Public Library. She loved recommending books to clients to suit their interests; she welcomed the children who came for story hour; and appreciated the librarians who mentored her. She also volunteered at the Children’s Museum of West Hartford.
When her husband, Frank, took a job at Griffiss Air Base, Mary and her four children moved to Rome, New York. Their old house with property nurtured her interest in history, the natural world, and house restoration. Soon after she began working at The Erie Canal Village. It was the perfect place for Mary to work. There, as Curator, she poured her energy into school programs, historical tours, research, collecting artifacts, building acquisitions, exhibits, and programs. She always appreciated being recognized at “The Spider Lady” who welcomed trick or treaters over the Canal bridge and into the Village on Halloween.
Always paramount in Mary’s work was the role the Canal played in the history of transportation, in the cheese industry in New York, and in helping the public, especially children, develop a deep appreciation of history.
After retiring from the Village, Mary volunteered at the Rome Historical Society as a Board Member and was awarded the Society’s highest honor: The Medal of the Order of 1777. Mary was also active with Cooperative Extension’s educational programs from 1995-2000.
She is survived by her husband Frank; daughter, Elizabeth O’Connor (and Brad) of Wichita Falls, Texas; sons, Larry (and Teresa) of Windsor, CT., Christopher, and Patrick of Lee, NY., and two grandchildren, Megan and Sean O’Connor.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. Arrangements have been entrusted to Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St. In lieu flowers donations can be made to The Mary Reynolds Memorial Fund of the Canal Society of New York, the Rome Historical Society, or Oneida County Hospice.
You may light a candle, send a message of sympathy, and read the obituary at www.nunnandharper.com.
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1934 - 2020 (85 years)