Mary Evelyn (Dutcher) Gerace

The youngest of four children, Mary was independent and ambitious. She graduated from Granville High School at age 16 and secured employment at the Glens Falls Insurance Company where she advanced to become a junior underwriter. Over time she saved enough money to attend Adirondack Community College. While at the insurance company, she met a recent Albany Law School graduate who took a summer job there. He coached her softball team and soon learned he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this special woman. Married in 1953, Mary moved across the state to Lakewood where she helped him establish his law practice on Chautauqua Avenue by serving as the office manager and secretary. After the birth of their first child, she continued working in the office, with the baby in a bouncer nearby. Evenings, she attended night school at Jamestown Community College.

Always a voracious reader, Mary was a frequent visitor to the small Lakewood Memorial Library on Chautauqua Avenue, becoming good friends with the librarian there, Katherine Alexander. Her involvement at the library led to her being asked to serve on the library board where she eventually served as president. During her presidency, she worked with a talented team to raise funds for the construction of a new library building that presently stands at 12 West Summit. Her children remember being part of a “firemen’s carry” where a chain of people passed books hand to hand from the old library to the new building.

For years, Mary worked to support WCA Hospital through her involvement with Country Capers, organizing the “Thieves Market”. She also volunteered to regularly provide therapeutic help to a local child who was suffering from complications of autism.

Sports were always an important part of living in the Gerace home. When Cockaigne Ski Resort only had a rope tow and the ski lodge was a tent, Mary and Joe introduced their children to downhill skiing. Taking up tennis after the children were older, Mary became quite proficient and played in leagues at the Jamestown Tennis Center which became the Lakewood YMCA. She led leagues and participated in doubles tournaments, often partnering with her best friend, Rita Weiler. Mary and Joe shared the love of tennis with family and made sure children and grandchildren had lessons at an early age. They also were founding members of the Livingston Club, a platform tennis group.

She had a deep appreciation of the arts. Her love of music spanned from Broadway shows and Josh Groban to Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Old Dominion. Her walls were adorned with paintings, some she created herself under the tutelage of professional artist and dear friend, June Lundquist. She supported the Drama Enrichment Program led by Michele Constantino and enjoyed taking in the many performances of her grandchildren at Jamestown and Southwestern schools.

Mary was a critical partner in the successful political career of her husband – reviewing and typing speeches, serving as advisor, attending multitudes of chicken BBQ’s, stuffing envelopes and instilling in her children the need to live ethical and productive lives.

Besides attending all the concerts, ceremonies, and sports events of her children and grandchildren, she babysat, cooked delicious meals, did tons of laundry, and served as a taxi driver before she taught many of them to drive.

Her love of animals extended from her beloved cats to the wild creatures who fed at her feeders and roamed through the woods that surrounded their house. One particularly severe winter, she rescued and took in a stray kitten who was struggling outside during a snowstorm. BobbyCat grew to be a stunning feline who never fully gave up his feral ways. Devoted to her, he only left her side to go from window to window to “protect” the house, take a catnap or hunt mice.

Mary was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Beverly, brother, Floyd, and grandson Andrew Gorman. She is survived by her husband, Joseph; sister, Grace; three children: Andrea (Tim) Magnuson, Joseph (Gina) Gerace, and Vincent (Marilyn) Gerace; grandchildren: Kathryn (Bryan) Teeters, Michael (Ashleigh) Magnuson, Karen (Collin) Galbato, Rebecca Magnuson, Thomas (Jenni) Gerace, Elizabeth Gerace, Joseph P. Gerace (Dr. Katie), Jacob Gerace, Michael Gerace, Mary L. Gerace, Vincent A. Gerace (Gabriel Burgos), Madilyn Gerace, Ashley Terenna; and several beloved nephews and nieces.

She loved her husband, her family, her animals, her house, the Yankees, and was deeply loved.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no memorial service or visitation hours. Memorials can be made to the Lakewood Memorial Library, Chautauqua County Humane Society, or Jamestown Community College Foundation for scholarships.

To leave words of condolence, please visit lindfuneralhome.com.