OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Mary (Scannell) Slattery, 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 19, 2016, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

For 61 years, she was married to the love of her life, Joseph Slattery, who preceded her in death in 2013.

Mary was born Feb. 20, 1924, in Lowell, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Phillip and Mary (Cooney) Scannell. She resided in the Highlands and Belvidere sections of Lowell where she and Joseph raised their family of eight children. She attended Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, and Trinity College in Washington, D.C., where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Upon graduation, she worked as a medical laboratory technician. After taking time to raise her family, she began her 20- year career as an elementary school teacher at the Peter W. Reilly School in Lowell.

She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church of Lowell, Massachusetts, and then Saint Margaret’s Church of Old Orchard Beach.

Mrs. Slattery loved Old Orchard Beach; she spent every summer of her life there. In 1989, she and Joseph retired in Old Orchard Beach, where she spent many happy years until the time of her death. She was an avid swimmer. She loved to read, ride her bike, tend her flower garden, pursue handicrafts of all sorts, listen to and play music, and to travel. She had a great sense of adventure and creativity, which she supported in her children and grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was her large family and she truly enjoyed any opportunity to be a part of their lives.

Mrs. Slattery is survived by: five daughters and three sons, Mary Jo Slattery and her husband, Andy Stewart, of Enfield, New Hampshire, Patricia Norman and her husband, William, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, Ann Slattery of Old Orchard Beach, Joseph Slattery and his wife, Lynne, of Pelham, New Hampshire, Margaret Beaulieu and her husband, Jean, of Bernard, Robert Slattery and his wife, Kathryn, of Old Orchard Beach, Thomas Slattery of Annapolis, Maryland, and Cornelia Clair and her husband, Michael, of Biddeford.

She was devoted to her 17 grandchildren, Justin, Julie, Michael, Joseph, Elizabeth, Michael, Cameron, Joe, Anne, MaryKate, Colleen, Bobby, Norah, Sean, Bernadette, Willa and Agnes. Her house and front lawn functioned as the hub of many family activities which she truly cherished. She was a great friend to her children, grandchildren and extended family. She will be missed very much.

In addition to her beloved husband, Joseph, Mary was preceded in death by: her brothers, Phillip, John, James and Robert; and her sister, Cornelia Donnellon. She is survived by: her sister-in law, Mary Boland of Bradford, Massachusetts; brother-in-law, Charles Slattery of Rye, New Hampshire; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Mary’s memory to Hospice of Southern Maine. Gifts may be mailed to HSM at 180 US Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074, or made online at www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/give.

Private family viewing will beheld at the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Margaret Catholic Church, 6 Saco Ave., Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Monday, June 27, 2016, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Deering Park Section, Beach St., Saco, Maine. Dennett, Craig, & Pate Funeral Home of Saco is assisting the family with arrangements. Should one choose, an online guest book is available to leave a message of condolence for Mary’s family by visiting www.DCPate.com.