Mary Cecile Liston died peacefully on July 18, 2024 at the Jack Byrne Hospice Center in Lebanon. She was born Mary DeGrasse in Franklin, New Hampshire on October 25, 1948, the daughter of James and Cecile (Leahy) DeGrasse. Mary was a graduate of Bethel High School in Connecticut. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University and her masters in education from Lesley University.
In 1972, she married Edward Liston and settled down in the Boston suburbs to raise a family. Mary had a successful career as a teacher and administrator at Belmont Day School, where she touched the lives of many students, families, and pre-service teachers in her additional role as an adjunct educator with Lesley University. She was well known as a philanthropist and patron of the arts.
Family meant the most to Mary, and some of her happiest days were walking along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit with her husband, Edward, and enjoying a lobster roll or fried clams. She enjoyed cooking meals with her family using fresh farm stand vegetables, and spending time with her chocolate lab, Danny Boy. Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed traveling with her family and exploring destinations such as Alaska, the Panama Canal, Canada, and New England.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, her brother James DeGrasse, and her husband Edward. She is survived by her sister Suzanne Lomanno, her son Matthew Liston, her daughter Kathryn Morrison and her husband Brendan Morrison, her nieces Lilianne DeGrasse and Tammie DeGrasse-Cabrera, and her nephew Jeffrey Lomanno.
Funeral services will take place at the Mayhew Funeral Home, 12 Langdon Street, Plymouth, NH 03264 on Thursday, August 1st, 2024. Visiting hour will begin at 1:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM.
Donations in her name can be made to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center or the New Hampshire Food Bank.