Obituary of Mary Begley

Passed away unexpectedly on October 7, 2025, at age 74. Predeceased by her parents, Alice and Eddie Maguire, and sister-in-law, Debbie Maguire. Survived by her loving husband, William of 52 years; Sons, Liam (Emily) Begley, Niall (Amanda) Begley; Grandchildren, Ellie, Molly, Charlie, Graham, and Henry; Siblings, Una (Willem) de Ridder, Teresa (Bill) Lyness, Eamon (Lyn) Maguire, Denis Maguire and Maurice Maguire; Very special friends, Sandy and Mike Kane, Chris Sedlmeier, Debbie Hunter and Maire Smith; Also many nieces, nephews in Ireland and England, and friends from the Webster Rec. Center and Boces #1, Fairport, NY.

Mary, with her husband, first arrived in the United States in August, 1975 intending to stay for just a two year period in Columbus, Ohio before returning to Ireland.  The central Ohio humidity was about to make its presence known to Mary's hair, much to her annoyance.  But she persevered.  Central Ohio was the perfect starting location to see the sights of the Central and Western parts of the US, two trips she ended up making.   After an intervening stay in Oxford in England, she moved back to Columbus in 1979, and finally to Webster in 1980.  Webster was less of a challenge for her hair.  She loved the friendliness of the American people, their informal lifestyle and their overwhelming generosity, in kindness, spirit and resources.  In Rochester, on September 21, 1989 Mary and her husband became American Citizens, an event she was very proud of.   After the boys were old enough, she took on a part-time position at The Webster Public Library, now providing her convenient access to all the mystery and detective novels she could read.  This was followed by a full time position in Boces #1, Fairport, where she spent most of her career.   

In retirement, Mary strengthened her passions.  She was an extremely talented knitter, embroiderer and loved to sketch, all from a very early age.  She was taught to knit, embroider and make Irish lace by her Irish Grandmother and Mother, from the County Tyrone.  Skills she practiced throughout her life and into  her retirement.  Amazingly, and to the chagrin of her husband, she developed the skill of reading, movie watching and knitting, all at the same time.  In the dark the knitting continued, even when she took the grand-kids to the movies.  The knitting was therapeutic.  Ultimately, in later years she had to reduce her knitting projects, which she missed.  Her sweaters were admired by many, with a lot of the Celtic designs being of her own creation, especially her DNA double helix patterns, which attracted many comments.  Mary was also an avid NY Times Crossword Puzzle solver, always looking forward to Saturday's most difficult puzzle with her morning coffee.  Her way with words came from her appetite for books, again from an early age.

Mary will be sorely missed by her husband, sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and the rest of her extended family and friends.

Suaimhneas síoraí tabhair dóibh, a Thiarna 

(Eternal rest grant unto her.) 

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 10:00 AM - Noon, at Falvo Funeral Home, 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd. (Webster Road) Route 250, Webster, NY 14580.