Vice President

Mary’s commitment to the work of the Alliance stems from the experience of her husband’s journey with terminal cancer, as well as decades of work in ministry and social work accompanying people through their end-of-life times.

Mary is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, and has served in parish, hospital and hospice settings. She retired from active professional ministry in 2018 to care for her beloved spouse, Bob. Bob sought treatment for his cancer, enduring many difficult side effects in an ardent effort to seek a cure. Ultimately, his illness was terminal and caused many devastating challenges, including uncontrolled pain, losing the ability to speak, loss of the ability to eat or drink by mouth, sudden fainting episodes, a frequently clogged tracheostomy tube, and overwhelming fatigue. For these reasons, Bob wanted the option of medical aid in dying. However, this fundamental right of self-determination was not available to him in New Hampshire. Despite the fact that Bob had hospice care at home, his death was traumatic.

Mary serves on the Spiritual Nurture Ministry Team at Community Church of Durham, UCC, and greatly enjoys spending time with her adult children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her friends. She is involved in a variety of social justice activities. She loves gardening, hiking, cross country skiing, reading, and taking long walks.

In her husband’s honor, and with the hope that others who wish to do so will be able to have peaceful deaths on their own terms, Mary feels privileged to join in the work of the Alliance.