Mary is survived by her daughter Karen Monroe, of Las Vegas, NV, and predeceased by her son Paul Monroe, on February 11, 1986, and her husband David Monroe, on October 7, 2016.
Mary was born on September 16, 1933, in Davenport NY, to the late Harry and Lucy (Davis) Hebbard. Her father was Delaware County Social Welfare Commissioner from 1938 until 1956. Mary grew up in Delhi and graduated from Delaware Academy, in 1952. On February 7, 1964, she married David Monroe, who was also from Delhi. That same year they moved to Oneonta and bought a home on Central Ave. David worked at the Bookhout Funeral Home on Main St in Oneonta. Dave and Mary eventually bought the Funeral Home which they owned and operated until 1997.
Mary enjoyed taking part in many athletic activities throughout her lifetime. Growing up, she enjoyed swimming and riding horses. She was a high school drum majorette, a life guard at the Delhi pool, and a 4H swimming instructor and counselor. She spent many years bowling on an Oneonta league, dabbled briefly with tennis, skied, and was a member of the Oneonta Country Club where she actively played golf until her diagnosis with COPD dictated otherwise.
Mary loved all animals including horses, birds, cats, and especially dogs. Mary and Dave had several pet schnauzers. They started out with one miniature schnauzer, at one time had as many as six, and eventually fell in love with standard schnauzers; they had three. After retirement, while traveling through the state of Utah, Mary and Dave stopped at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah’s, Angel Canyon. The Sanctuary is a nationwide animal rescue and advocacy organization, and home to nearly 1,600 homeless animals. They were so impressed, they chose to donate a part of their estate to the Sanctuary. Never underestimate the power of love and joy an animal can bring to the human heart.
Mary is survived by older sister Elinor Terry of Zephyr Hills, FL, and younger sister Jane Hymers of Delhi, along with brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.
Mary is predeceased by her older brothers Harry Hebbard, Jr., Herbert Hebbard, Philip Hebbard, and Earl Hebbard, her older sisters Etta Frampton, Flora Nicholson, and Janette Gilbert, several brother-in-law’s and sister-in-law’s, two nieces and a great nephew.
Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service on Friday, September 21, at 3 pm at Glenwood Cemetery in Oneonta, with the Reverend Stephen D. Fournier officiating.
A reception for family and friends will be held directly after the service at the Courtyard by Marriott, 116 Courtyard Dr, Oneonta.
Donations in memory of Mary may be made to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (afsp.org), 120 Wall Street, 29th Fl, New York, NY 10005, or any animal organization of your choosing.
Karen Monroe can be contacted via email at [email protected]
To send an online condolence please visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.
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