Mary J. Thornton-Webb

Mary J. Thornton-Webb, age 69, of Ormond Beach, Florida passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Mary, a Psych. R.N., devoted her life to tirelessly helping others, working 50 years in healthcare. She blessed us with her fine cooking, angelic animal care and a deep, genuine love of others, which she lavished upon family, friends and co-workers. Truly, a very special lady.

A Gathering of Friends and Family for a Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 beginning at 10am at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home - Ormond Beach, 548 N. Nova Road, Ormond, with a Funeral Service starting at 12pm. Burial will follow at Volusia Memorial Park at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary's honor to Best Friends Animal Society, a cause near to her heart.

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Eulogy as written and shared by Dean Palamara

"Brave, Bright, and Beautiful"

Mary’s life was spent in purposeful devotion to helping others: family, friends, patients, coworkers, animals and strangers alike. Devoting 50 years of her life to the healthcare field, Mary ended her medical career as a Psychiatric Registered Nurse, sometimes as an agency Director. As a Psych RN Mary exuded the gift of compassionate care, easing the burden of her patients and bringing them much-appreciated joy.

Though she and I met a bit later in life, we formed strong and inseparable bonds. While we had certain differing preferences in music, TV programming and the love of the outdoors, it was important to us both to lend non-judgmental support to one another in our chosen activities. We learned from one another, and Mary patiently taught me how to be meticulous about cleaning.

Softball being one of my passions, Mary was quite supportive in my participation in Senior Softball League or Florida Half-Century Tournament play. She encouraged my playing the game as well as the socialization bonds that formed among the players and their families. Just as long as I changed out of my uniform in the garage when I returned home, so as to not track in any infield sand and dirt from sliding – or falling on the field. I was fortunate to have been lavished with Mary’s nursing skills during my many softball-related surgeries.

The occasional dinners we shared with players and their wives and partners brought Mary a closer understanding of my love of the game, and afforded her a chance to bond with other “softball women”, some of whom were also in the medical field themselves.

Mary’s many gifts included a very fine cooking ability and a devotion to animals. Her love of Zoey, who died in our care, and our current cats (Frankie, Freddie, Keila and Darla) was angelic. In fact, Keila - a 20-year-old, 6-pound tuxedo cat whom Mary rescued with permission from one of her dementia patients - was with me and Mary when Mary drew her last breath, as the cat displayed an unmistakable awareness of Mary’s impending passing by alerting the hospice nurse and me.

Mary was all about love, always selflessly giving and longing for its return. She loved her family: sisters Julie and Melita, brother Jim, brother-in-law Michael, late brother-in-law Jerry, niece Megan, great-niece Layla, and nephew James and his family with Sarah.

Upon meeting members of my family Mary was welcomed as a precious addition to my life, and she quickly formed a strong bond – especially with my mother and sister Kathy and her husband David, with whom we visited often in Pennsylvania. Kathy and Mary appreciated that each had discovered an additional sister to enhance their lives.

Mary’s lifelong ties with co-workers was never more evident than at end-of-life, when the heartfelt outpouring of their love brightened her face and soul.

Through the many medical challenges Mary was to endure, from abdominal tumors to four bouts with cancer, I was fortunate to have had the privilege to be by her side throughout the duration of each event. Assuredly not because of my nursing skills, Mary persevered through all (save the final cancer diagnosis) by applying her fierce, independent determination and inexhaustible fighting spirit. Following her first three cancer trials Mary built herself back up each time, even going through arduous physical therapy, so that she quickly became strong enough to return to work, which she’d always done. Her small stature belied an enormous heart – for work and for loving others.

Now Mary resides in Heaven – a far better place, where she has joined her mother and father and sister Emily, my mother and father and brother JoJo and countless others who beckoned her with open arms. She is surrounded by a bevy of her 4-legged “babies”, who delight in her reappearance. Saint Peter likely handed Mary a roll of never-ending paper towels as she was welcomed through the pearly gates.

May God bless you, Mary, my love.