Obituary of Mary Lou Dempsey

Mary Louise Dempsey Sherrill-Mary Louise Willett Dempsey was greeted by the angels including her husband on Friday, September 2, 2016. Mary Lou was born in Penn Yan on June17, 1927; the daughter of Clarence and Angeline Willett. She graduated from Waterville High School in 1946 and one of her proudest accomplishments was putting herself through college at Fredonia State College. She went on to teach kindergarten and first grade in the V. V. S. School district until she retired in 1986. Mary Lou met the love of her life, John Dempsey in 1951 and they were married on August 17, 1952 in Oriskany Falls. They were married for 41 years until he passed away on July 16, 1993. Mary Lou touched the lives of many people during her 25 years of teaching and volunteer work. She volunteered many hours playing the organ for Sunday Chapel at the Eastern Star Home and spent many hours with the residents there. She played the organ for Gethsemane Episcopal Church from 1965-2014. She was a dedicated member of the Order of the Eastern Star, first with Crystal Chapter in Waterville when she became Matron from 1996-2002. She went on to become Matron of the Sherrill Chapter and the Oneida Chapter. She was the Grand Musician for NYS in 1975 and was an honorary member of the Augusta Chapter. Mary Lou enjoyed canning, gardening and above all volunteering. Anyone who knew Mary Lou knew she loved to give her time to help others. Mary Lou said another one of her greatest accomplishments was raising her children. She is survived by her three children; John (Sandy) Dempsey, Sharon Cerio (Tim Pynckel), and Jim (Sharon) Dempsey. Seven grandchildren; Alicia (Matt) Toomath, Melinda (Betty) Potts-Cerio, Shannon (Joseph) Mendoza, John Michael Dempsey (Chelsea Light), Jessica Dempsey (George Webb), and Corrina Cerio (Eric Bader). Her great-grandchildren; Tessa Dempsey, Ryan, Joseph Jr., and Allie Mendoza, Reagan and Jackson Toomath, Madilyn and McKenzie Potts-Cerio, and one sister, Ruth Tanner of Lawndale, California. Mary Lou was predeceased by her husband John, her sister Clara Anne, and her parents Clarence and Angeline Willett, her brother-in-law Almon Tanner and her longtime best friend Bertha Haight. We would like to send a special thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Eastern Star Home and especially Christine McGlynn who became a part of our family. Family and friends are invited to call on Friday, September 9, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Malecki Funeral Home Inc., 464 SherrIll, NY. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Episcopal Church 320Park Street, Sherrill, NY, 13461with Rev. Beverly Messenger-Harris officiating. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the V.V.S. Education Fund, Gethsemane Episcopal Church or the Eastern Star Home. Online condolences may be sent to maleckifuneralhome.com