IN MEMORIAM: Mary Wilcox, 85;

Mother Of 6 Had Retired In Florida

ONEONTA – Mary Louise Delaney Wilcox, 85, a bookkeeper/underwriter for 16 years at Gordon B. Roberts Agency while raising six children here, passed away in her sleep at Haines City (Fla.) Health & Rehab Tuesday, Jan 10, 2017.

In recent years, she lived in Haines City, Fla., and summered in Oneonta.

Mary was born Jan. 21, 1931, in Greene, to James and Mary (Sykora) Delaney. She grew up on the family farm outside of Greene, attended the one-room school on King Road with her four siblings until high school, when she attended and graduated from Greene Central School in 1948. While still in school she started work at the G.L.F. Egg Station in Greene, where she worked until 1951.

Mary frequented square dances with her sister and other friends and subsequently met her futurehusband, Roger A. Wilcox of Smyrna, at one such dance held at Loomis’ Hayloft in North Pitcher.

The married on Aug. 19, 1950, living in Greene and Smryna until moving to Oneonta in 1961.

Mary worked part time as a switchboard operator at Fox  Hospital until 1968, when she joined the Gordon B. Roberts’, working there until retiring in 1984.
A working mother of six children, she also enjoyed volunteering at the Oneonta Boys Club.  She was a WeightWatchers coach and a lifetime member.

She was also a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and its Altar Rosary Society, The Oneonta Business Women’s Association, the Columbiettes and Ladies of the Moose.

After retiring, the couple bought a fifth-wheel camper and left for Florida, where they had previously bought a house.  But the camper was home for the next 10 years as they toured all but two of the 50 states, most of Canada and Mexico.  They then divided their time between Florida and Oneonta.

Mary enjoyed shuffle board and pinochle leagues, but most of all she loved and enjoyed time spent with family and friends.

Mary is survived by her husband of 67 years, Roger Wilcox and their sox children, James Wilcox (Carol) of Oak Hill, Jeanne Bensen (John) of Greenville, Michael Wilcox (Kathy) of Greene, Mark Wilcox (Renee) of Schenectady, Kathleen Wenck (David) of East Meredith, and Kevin “KC” Wilcox of Albany; her beloved sister Catherine McDonald of McGraw, brother James Delaney of Greene and sisters-in-law Anita Delaney of Gilbertsville, Bunny Delaney of Greene and Anne Bradley of Charlotte, N.C.

She is also survived by all her grandchildren, Christy Charise (Justin), A.J. Bensen (Ruth), Kaela Knoth (TJ), Morgan Wilcox, Robert Holcomb (Lynn), Roy Holcomb, Stephanie Wenck Juliano (Josh) and Anemarie Wenck, and great-grandchildren Austin and Ashley Charise, Noah and Nate Holcomb and Julian Knoth. Also a large and loving family of nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as many friends, throughout the United States and Canada. She especially loved the wonderful people at Lake Region Village in Haines City, Fla., and her lifelong best friend Margaret Baily Redmond.

She is predeceased by her parents, two brothers, Thomas Delaney of Gilbertsville, Martin Delaney of Greene, sister and brother-inlaw, Dorothy and Burton Wales of Plymouth, brothers-in-law John McDonald of McGraw, Alvin Bradley of Charlotte, N.C., and sister-in-law Pat Delaney of Greene.
Mary was a quick wit and a wiz with numbers hence her love of cards. She was always fast with a smile, a kind word and a hug. She was a gentle lady who always found the good in others. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and the world is a duller place without her.

Calling hours are 5-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St, Oneonta. A funeral mass will be at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Saint Mary’s, with Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor, officiating.  Interment will be in the spring in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary to The American Cancer Society , Make A Wish Foundation or The Family Resource Network, Inc.

Condolences to the family may be made online by visiting our website: www.grummonsfuneralhome.com  Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.