Obituary of Mary E. Converse

Mary Elizabeth (Lee) Converse of West Bloomfield died Friday, November 10, 2023, at age 83, after a battle with cancer. She was born the daughter of Arnold Kenneth and Flora May (Rafoth) Lee on June 3, 1940, in Rochester, NY. Mary's journey through life was marked by her enduring love story with her devoted husband, Alan, who passed away in 2017. Mary was also predeceased by her parents, Arnold and Flora, brothers Thomas and Kenneth, and sisters Margaret, Dolores, and Carol. She is survived by her children, George II (Elsa), David (Bettina), and Katherine Fritz; grandchildren, Shannon and Joseph Williams, Nathan, Alan II and Christopher Converse, Isabel, and Vivian Fritz; great-grandchildren, Vincent Maxwell, Gabriella Pellam and Lily Elaine Converse; her brothers Arthur, James (Jim) and Kevin, sister Hattie; sister-in-law, Karen (Robert) Jacobs and a spoiled cat named Purrcy. Mary lived in the West Bloomfield house she and Alan bought in 1966 until her death. She was first a teacher, then the postmaster in West Bloomfield for over 25 years, where she cultivated lasting friendships and a deep connection to her community. A proud member of the United Postmaster and Managers of America (UPMA) Retired, she also served as the Town Clerk for West Bloomfield and a volunteer on the West Bloomfield Ambulance, where she helped many town residents and delivered a baby in the parking lot of the Bloomfield Inn. Mary was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, a volunteer at Strong Memorial Hospital, and a poll worker for the New York State Board of Elections. She had a loyal group of friends who met as the Red Hat Ladies for more than 30 years, swapping recipes and stories of children and grandchildren with pride. Mary was an enthusiastic sports fan, hardly missing any of her children's football games, track events, dance recitals, wrestling or volleyball matches. She followed the Syracuse and Duke University Basketball teams, the Rochester Red Wings, the Buffalo Bills, and the New York Mets. And according to friends, she was one hell of a card player. Her children will miss her smile, her elderberry pie, her yelling at the TV during any sports, and her ability to catch them swearing from hundreds of miles away. As Mary reunites with her beloved husband, Alan, in the embrace of eternity, we find solace in the belief that their love endures beyond the confines of this world. The memories of their shared laughter, shared dreams, and shared love will forever bind them in the hearts of those they leave behind. We know she rests easy at last, with her forever beau by her side. Friends may attend a memorial service Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Merton H. Kays Funeral Home, Inc., 59 Monroe St. Honeoye Falls at 11 am followed by her burial in West Bloomfield Cemetery. The family kindly requests donations be made in Mary's honor to UPMA Scholarship, c/o Luise Nix, 88 Rodney Nix Road, Cleveland, GA 30528