Obituary of Mary Louise Corkery

Mary Louise Corkery, 93, of Jamestown, went to be with the Lord at 7:19 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, 2015, in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center and was surely greeted with a host of cherished family and friends. A lifelong area resident, she was born May 31, 1922 in Jamestown, NY a daughter of the late Leo M. and Rose L. Hart Corkery, Sr. She was a 1939 graduate of Jamestown High School and earned her nursing degree from Buffalo Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the State university of New York at Buffalo in 1968 and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Community Health for the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1983. Mary's entire career had been devoted to nursing. She worked as a Head Nurse at Jamestown General Hospital for 4 years, and then as a Pediatric Nurse for Dr. Clark for 16 years and a Public Health Nurse for 2 years. The capstone of Mary's career was her devotion to Jamestown Community College She was the Director of Nursing for the Jamestown Community College School of Nursing for 17 years, teaching hundreds of nurses in the area, retiring in 1986. Mary Louise was a lifelong communicant of Holy Apostles Parish at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church where she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and served on many boards and committees of the church. A lifelong bowler, she enjoyed the game, the social element, and the organization as well. She was a life member and past president for the Jamestown Women's Bowling Association and was vice president of the New York State Women's Bowling Association, receiving an emeritus membership and was elected to the New York State Bowler's Hall of Fame. She was very active in community affairs having memberships in the American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, the Jamestown Business and Professional Women, Jamestown Visiting Nurses, Lutheran Social Services and the Jamestown Democratic Committee. She was an avid Buffalo Bills fan and was a season ticket holder for many years. Surviving are her nieces, Anita (Rick) Festa of Rochester, NY, Nancy (Gary Wiezbic) Seekins of Falconer, NY, Bridget (Jay) Smith of Lakewood, OH, her nephew Michael (Alison) Corkery of Reston, VA, as well as several great and great great nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her sister Anne C. Seekins who died in 2011, a brother, Leo M. Corkery, Jr. who died in 2011, her nieces, Kathleen Boska, Mary Tarlo and a great nephew Brian Seekins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 7, 2015, at Holy Apostles Parish at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, December 6, 2015, in the Lind Funeral Home where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 1:45 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Holy Apostles Parish, 508 Cherry St. Jamestown, NY 14701.