Mary H. Cahill, 78, of Rocky Hill, died on August 17, 2024.  Mary was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, great grandmother, mother-in-law, and friend.  She passed away peacefully at home on August 17, 2024, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.  Mary was a life-long Connecticut resident.  She was born November 30, 1945, at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, the daughter of the late Alice Dudley Helenek, and grew up in Higganum.   She attended Higganum Elementary School, and later graduated from Middletown High School in 1963.  In November of '63 she started work at the Aetna Insurance Company in Hartford where she met her husband-to-be, Terry.

Mary is survived by her husband of 58 years Terrence S. (Terry) Cahill, their daughter, Beverly L. Cahill of Middletown, and son William J. (Bill) Cahill and his wife Theresa of Cromwell, her grandchildren U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander, Dr. Cory Fagan and his wife Lieutenant Commander Alaina Fagan, and Timothy Fagan and his fiancé Victoria Cheung, and Liam, Declan, Elena, and Maura Cahill, and U. S. Army Second Lieutenant Kellyanne M. Cahill, great-grandson Casey Fagan, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was a very loving and generous person.  For years, she cherished time spent with her grandkids – ice skating, baking, crafts, shopping, and tea parties.  Holidays and special occasions were wonderful opportunities to share with family, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Mary and Terry enjoyed memorable time traveling in the company of their family and friends for many years, and more recently spent the colder weather months in Florida.

Beyond spending time with her family, Mary's passion was gardening.  The outdoors was Mary's playground, and she grew up loving nature and its peaceful embrace.  She could work tirelessly in the yard from dawn 'til dusk and enjoy every moment. Mary volunteered her time in beautification work for several organizations.  She found fulfilling work with garden committees in Middletown, Rocky Hill, and Boynton Beach, Florida.   She couldn't go anywhere without trying to make their property more appealing. She would "weed" the front sidewalks and flower beds of restaurants and retail stores on the way in if she saw it needed to be done.  She was just as devoted to saving the environment by recycling and composting everything she could.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St, Middletown, CT.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 23, 2024, at St. John Church, 19 St. John Square, Middletown CT.

Our family would like to thank the Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in North Haven, the nursing staff of Brighton Hospice, and the care givers from Acuity Homecare for their care and support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary's name to the Restoration Fund at St. John Church at 5 St. John Court, Cromwell CT 06416, or the Pancreatic cancer research foundation.  To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.