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Mary Placide Weselcouch (née Mooney), age 88, passed away peacefully on June 12. Mary, the beloved wife of Edward O. Weselcouch for nearly 67 years, was born in New Haven on Nov. 16, 1929, the daughter of the late William J. Mooney and the late Elizabeth D. (Duffy) Mooney.

A resident of Essex for nearly 63 years, Mary was a 1947 graduate of Hillhouse High School in New Haven, and a 1951 graduate of New Haven State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State University), where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Upon moving to Essex following her 1951 marriage to Ed, Mary began teaching at Essex Elementary School. Shortly thereafter, her career was interrupted for close to 20 years to raise a family of five children. Mary returned to teaching at Essex Elementary School in 1971, where she was a learning disabilities teacher for 20 years before retiring.

Mary was a longtime parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Essex, and a past member of both the Essex Catholic Woman’s Group and the Xavier High School Home & School Association. Upon retirement, Mary took up decorative painting and enjoyed showing her pieces at craft fairs. Mary also enjoyed volunteering at the Ivoryton Public Library, Elder Hostel trips, shows at the Ivoryton Playhouse and Goodspeed Opera House, a good game of Scrabble with Aunt Carolyn, playing bridge, and summer evening picnics at Mile Creek Beach Club.

Most of all, Mary loved her family, especially her dear husband Ed. She took great pride in all of the accomplishments and activities of her children and grandchildren. And she loved her New Haven roots and Irish heritage.

In addition to her loving husband Ed, Mary is survived by her three sons and two daughters, Edward O. Weselcouch, Jr., and his wife Kathy of Bar Harbor, Maine, James D. Weselcouch and his wife Cathy of East Haddam, David G. Weselcouch and his wife Christine of Fairfield, Susan W. Autuori and her husband Edmund of West Hartford, and Elizabeth W. Dougherty and her husband Brian of Killingworth. Mary is also survived by 16 grandchildren (eight granddaughters and eight grandsons), and one newly born great-granddaughter. She is further survived by her sisters-in-law Carolyn W. Giannone and Florence (Flossie) H. Mooney, and by many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her three siblings, John J. Mooney, William J. Mooney, Jr., and Betty Ann Leach.

Visitation was held on June 18 at Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St., Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian burial was held on June 19 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 14 Prospect St., Essex. Burial followed at Riverview Cemetery, North Main Street, Essex. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Ivoryton Public Library, 106 Main St., Ivoryton, CT 06442.

Mary’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to the staff of The Hearth at Tuxis Pond in Madison, and to the staff of VITAS Healthcare for the compassionate care that was provided to Mary. To share a memory of Mary, or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.