Published in the January 6, 2021 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Mary L. Brownson, 87, passed away peacefully in Fort Myers, Fla., on Dec. 12, 2020.
Mary was the beloved wife of the late Robert (Bob) C. Brownson.
Mary was born in Morristown, N.J., the daughter of two immigrants, Herman Mertins of Hamburg, Germany, and Nora (Enright) Mertins of County Limerick, Ireland.
Mary was one of three children. She was predeceased by her brother Herman Mertins Jr., who is survived by his wife Barbara Mertins of Nashua, N.H., and her identical twin sister, Helen Struble, who is survived by her husband Roger Struble of Butler, N.J. Mary attended Butler High School, from where the twins graduated from Butler High at the top of their class, earning high honors.
Mary became a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines in Boston, where she met Bob, also a flight attendant. They married and raised their five children in Wakefield.
Mary was a kind soul with a wonderful sense of humor. She was an avid tennis player, competing on various teams throughout the North Shore of Boston. At the age of 39, she enrolled in the nursing program at the Northeast Vocational Technical School in Wakefield. She earned her LPN degree, graduating at the top of her class. Mary worked at Winchester Hospital as an LPN in the nursery for many years.
In 1987, Mary and Bob moved to Cape Coral, Fla. Mary became a licensed real estate broker in Cape Coral to stay busy. While tennis was her first passion, Mary came to enjoy the game of golf. She was extremely proud of her only hole-in-one just two years into the sport. She remained in Florida after her husband’s death, pursuing golf, tennis, swimming and focusing on her well-being.
Mary was an avid reader and writer. She penned numerous poems. One poem in particular, “The Gull,” was published in her early years. In 2005, she and her twin sister co-authored a novel, “First Light,” set in Scotland in the 1500s, about medieval castle life.
Mary was the loving mother of Stephen Brownson and his partner Joan Button of Andover, Robert Brownson and his wife Caroline of Cape Coral, Fla., Michael Brownson and his partner Kathleen Lyons of Newburyport, Todd Brownson and his partner “Peg” Sheehan of Fort Myers, Fla.,, and Julie Menezes and her husband Arthur of Haverhill.
“Grand Mary” was predeceased by granddaughter Kayla Brownson, and is survived by seven other grandchildren: Phillip Brownson, Daniel Brownson, Hillary Brownson, Andrew Brownson, Tara Brownson, Erika Brownson and Nicholas Menezes.
Funeral services are being handled by Gendron Funeral Services. Please visit gendronfuneralhome.com for more information.
Due to COVID restrictions, services will be held privately.
