Mary Nevin Petrie

Mary Nevin Petrie, age 77, peacefully entered the embrace of our Lord on January 3, 2024, concluding a courageous 36-year battle with breast cancer. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Mary was raised in the Syracuse area of New York. She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Virginia Nevin, her brother Andrew Nevin, sister Hazel N. Newton, and her beloved husband, Robert W. Petrie.

 

As a child, she and her siblings regularly took classes at the Everson Museum of Art, where she developed an interest in handicrafts, favoring pastel work and building marionettes. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Mary dedicated many years to teaching early elementary school and special education in New Hartford, NY. She cherished her memberships at First Presbyterian in Brandon, FL, Niccolls in Old Forge, and Westminster in Utica.

 

Common among her many pursuits was the theme of "instigating group enthusiasm," as stated in the job description for Resident Advisor by her Alma Mater. Mary brought that same enthusiasm throughout her life to a variety of interests, including honing numerous craft skills, baking cookies to share, low-impact fitness, and avid reading, even staying updated on the latest in children's literature post-retirement. She particularly found joy in quilting and knitting and excelled in intricate rubber stamp art, regularly sending heartfelt greetings to friends.

 

It was during her retirement years when she first learned to play the flute and tap dance. She also embraced competitive sculling to raise awareness for breast cancer, contributing to the creation of the 2014 Guinness World Record for the largest assembled raft, One Square Mile of Hope.

 

Amidst these activities, she and the husband she held dear could be found entertaining, boating, and weaving baskets together at their White Lake home—a cozy cabin adorned with a collection of locally sourced Adirondack crafts, including their own.

 

Mary is survived by her children and their spouses, Jennifer (Eric) and Brian (Angela), along with three precious grandsons, Elijah, Malakai, and Sagan. She is also survived by her two special siblings, Robert Nevin and Ginit Marten. Mary's genuine interest in others and unwavering positivity garnered her numerous loving and lifelong friendships.

 

In honoring Mary's memory, her family kindly requests that you celebrate her life in any way that contributes to making the world a better place.