Always the Jersey girl, Mary was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, moving to the Northeast and Midwest to raise a family and settling in Cary, North Carolina for semi-retirement.
A graduate of the University of Maine at Orono teaching program, Mary started her career as a high school French teacher, transitioning to the elementary school level mid-career and changing directions again by becoming a piano teacher. She used to joke that she never imagined teaching piano considering how much she tried evading her own lessons as a child. Mary's love of music helped her to develop a unique teaching style that was enjoyed by all age levels. Her students adored her immensely and looked forward to her fun lessons every week.
In addition to playing piano, Mary was very involved in the Encore Singers group, performing in numerous concerts throughout the season and making many longterm friendships.
Mary was married to the late Francis Andrew Finnegan, Jr. and was the loving mother of two daughters, Kerry Adapathya (Ravi Adapathya) and Andrea Anzelone (Jeff Loos) and six grandchildren, Christopher (17), Ryan (16), Alfonse (16), Ava (14), Ryan (14) and Aiden (13). Known as Meemo and Boo, Mary had a unique relationship with each of her grandchildren, creating many wonderful memories along the way. She is already and will be dearly missed.
A vocabulary aficionado, Mary was a force to be reckoned with and referred to herself as The Dragon Lady when it came to Scrabble and Words with Friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, George Carl Persinger and Elizabeth Persinger, and brother Carl Allan Persinger.
Mary's final resting place will be next to her beloved husband, Andy, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
