Mary Elizabeth Freer Lyle, 99
Dan McClelland
Mary Elizabeth Freer Lyle, 99 of Vernon Hall passed away Saturday June 17th at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care surrounded by family.
She was born in Poughkeepsie NY on October 19,1923 the daughter of Harry and Anna (Simon) Freer. She attended the Huns Lake one room school house and Pine Plains Central High School before attending the Wood Purinton Business School. She married Robert H. Lyle on April 21, 1946 and settled in Millbrook NY where she worked for Bennett College. Mary and Bob retired to Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks where they built a home on Little Wolf Lake and were long time volunteers at Paul Smith's VIC and the Wild Center. Mary was an avid reader, writer and poet. She loved camping, hiking and swimming. Wherever she was living she became actively involved with her community, from joining community theatre programs to driving for meals on wheels, to teaching an exercise class in her assisted living facility. She had a vibrant personality and a caring heart. After Bob's passing in 2008 Mary moved to Northfield MA to be closer to family.
Mary is survived by her daughters Jane Lyle-Jaworski and Jessica Lyle Chaplin and her husband Mark Chaplin as well as grandchildren Erin (David Thomas) Jaworski, Julian (Corey) Jaworski, Tara Chaplin, Kimberly (Ben) Sharp, Kelly (Kari) Freer, and great-grandchildren William, Jacob, and Emmett Thomas, Astyr Sharp, Adeline and Hugo Freer. For Mary her family was her joy.
Calling hours will be from 11 to noon Monday June 26 at the Kidder Funeral Home followed by a Liturgy of Christian burial in St Patrick's Church Main St Northfield MA. There will be a private burial at a later date in Millbrook NY. Donations in Mary's honor can be made to your local hospice center or to the Dickinson Memorial Library in Northfield MA.