Mary Quigley Alexander was born on January 11, 1924, in her home in Totowa, New Jersey. She was the elder sibling by 11 minutes to her identical twin, Regina (Jean) Fritz. Her parents were Matthew and Rose Quigley. She grew up with siblings Rose Quigley, Eileen Lagos, Matthew Quigley, John (Jack) Quigley, Jerry Quigley, Jean Fritz, and Dolores (Duke) Lutz, as well as Rita and Billy who died in childhood. Mary died on March 13, 2018, the 25th anniversary of her husband's funeral.
Mary and her twin sister Jean surprised their parents by enlisting in the WAVES shortly after their 20th birthday, when they no longer needed parental permission, to serve their country during World War II. Both served together at the Newport, Rhode Island Naval Hospital.
Mary married her husband Robert (Bob) Alexander in 1946, and had a long and happy 46 year marriage until Bob’s death in 1993. They had five children, Michael (Mike), Patrick (Pat), Eileen, Brian, and Terence (Terry). Mary, being an officer's wife, took care of her children as a single parent when her husband was deployed. Mary and her family lived in Germany (1946-1949), France (1963-1966) and Belgium (1969-1977) where Bob had tours of duty, as well as living in Massachusetts, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Virginia on tours of duty within the United States. She enjoyed all the different cultures and instilled that enthusiasm in her family.
Mary went to college as an adult and got her teaching degree from the University of Maryland. She taught at St John’s International School in Belgium, and the Wellington School in St. Petersburg, Fl. She loved teaching children and was enthusiastic about giving them the correct skills to enter their world.
Mary retired in St Pete, Florida but never forgot her roots as coming from New Jersey. Nearly every summer she enjoyed the family beach house at the Jersey Shore, spending memorable time with family and friends. She was an enthusiastic fan of Irish music, and spent many an evening with family and friends singing along with the musicians at the Harp and Thistle and other pubs in the St Pete area.
Mary enjoyed life to the fullest and leaves behind her five children: Mike, Pat and wife Peggy, Eileen and husband Ted, Brian and wife Renee, and Terry and wife Cathy, and their families, including thirteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by her older brother Jack and younger sister Duke and many nieces and nephews. She will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes a donation to Bon Secours- Maria Manor (10300 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33716) where she spent the last month of her life in the very caring hands of their supportive staff so she could live her final days with dignity and grace.
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