Elizabeth W. Mara, 95

May 01, 2015

Elizabeth W. Mara, 95, of Willow Street, PA, died in Lakeside at Willow Valley on Friday, May 1, 2015. Born on March 27, 1920 in Orange, NJ, and nicknamed Pat, she was the daughter of the late George B. and Elizabeth D. Wakeley. She was the loving wife of the late Paul V. Mara who died in August 2012.
She was a graduate of East Orange High School and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, earning a degree in psychology. After graduation, she was employed as a personnel professional at Prudential Insurance Co. in Newark, NJ, American Chicle Co. in Long Island City, NY, and Prentice Hall Publishing Co. in New York City. She was personnel director at the latter when she resigned to be married and raise four children. Later, she returned to personnel work at the Pepperidge Farm headquarters in Norwalk, CT.
Pat was a great admirer of horses from her participation in a mounted troop in New Jersey and spending her summers on a small family farm in Levanna, NY on the shores of Cayuga Lake. One of these summers was spent training a previously unmanageable horse to the saddle. She enjoyed cooking, tennis and bridge as well as traveling, having visited some twenty countries in Europe and the Middle East. During her marriage she lived in Fishkill, NY, Northbrook, IL, Westport, CT and Great Falls, VA from which she and her husband entered the Willow Valley Retirement Communities in Willow Street, PA.
She was an active supporter of Skidmore College, having served as annual fund agent, reunion chairperson and president of her class at various times. While in Virginia, she was a member of the Home & Community Club, Great Falls Historical Society, charter member of the Great Falls Women’s Club, member of the McLean Postcomers Club, the McLean Regency Racquet Club and the River Bend Golf & Country Club in Great Falls.
In Virginia, she was a volunteer in the telecommunications for the deaf program and in Meals on Wheels. In Pennsylvania, she mentored in a remedial reading program at a Lancaster elementary school.
Surviving are three daughters, Virginia W. Mara of Arlington, MA; Judith M. Anderson, wife of Keaven Anderson of Downingtown, PA; and Jean M. McCrystal, wife of William McCrystal of Pompton Plains, NJ., son-in-law Thomas Hunter IV, and six grandchildren, Kaitlyn McCrystal, Meghan McCrystal, Emily Anderson, Eric Anderson, Susan Anderson and Irina Mara. Pat was predeceased by her husband Paul, daughter Susan M. Hunter, and brother George W. Wakeley.
A memorial celebration will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Union Springs, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to SOME- So Others Might Eat, 71 “O” Street, NW, Washington DC 20001 or to Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.