Mary Frances (Reck) Clark

GROVELAND - Mary Frances (Reck) Clark, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on December 31, 2021 at The Residence at Salem Woods in Salem, New Hampshire. She was a resident of Groveland for more than 50 years.

She leaves her son David and wife Patricia of Sterling; her son Michael and wife Judy of Haverhill; her son Mark and wife Linda of Haverhill; her son James and wife Susan of Brentwood NH; her daughter Mary Beth of Bradford; her daughter Susan Russo and husband David of Princeton; her daughter Margaret DiGrazia and husband Christopher of Bradford; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by Walter, her husband of more than 60 years, her brothers Frank, George and Clement Reck, and her sisters Rita Tobias and Madeline Reck.

Mary was born in Trevorton, PA, the youngest of six children to Michael and Ida (Lagerman) Reck. As a young woman, she worked in the family store, Reck’s Market, which sold goods from her father’s bakery. After graduating from Trevorton High School in 1946, Mary entered nursing school at Misericordia Hospital in Philadelphia. After graduation, she worked as a nurse in hospitals in the Trevorton area for a few years.

She decided to broaden her horizons and joined the Air Force, and was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio. One night at a dance she met a dashing weatherman named Walter Clark. Four months later, they were married. Over the next 12 years the Air Force moved them from Ohio to Panama to Texas to Missouri and finally to Massachusetts. During this time, their family grew to seven children. After Walter left the Air Force in 1970, they stayed in Groveland. Mary eventually returned to nursing for the City of Haverhill, working mainly at the Glynn Memorial Nursing Home. The love, patience and care she showed raising 7 children carried over to her work with the Alzheimer’s patients. Mary eventually became a charge nurse.

Mary retired from nursing in 1990 and moved on to her full-time role of grandma to her growing collection of grandchildren. It was her favorite job ever, and all her grandchildren fondly remember time spent with her. Anyone who visited the Clark home knew Mary's cooking and baking skills. Her cinnamon rolls, breads, birthday cakes, and cookies, especially her snickerdoodles, were legendary. She also became an avid quilter, turning out quilts for all her children and grandchildren.

Walter and Mary moved into Nichols Village in Groveland in 2013. After Walter passed away in 2017, Mary moved to Salem Woods in Salem, New Hampshire. She continued to miss Walter for the rest of her days, and is undoubtedly happy to be reunited with him.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, January 14, in St. Patrick Church, 114 Center Street, Groveland at 10:30 AM. Please meet directly at the church. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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