Marie
L. Roy, 95, died on May 30, 2024, at the University of Vermont
Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.
She
spent her last day by Lake Champlain in the house that her beloved
late husband, Louis Roy, built with friends, surrounded by her
family. She was able to welcome her grandson’s new fiancée and her
granddaughter’s partner. She remained as sharp as ever, vindicating
her belief in the power of a daily crossword puzzle to ward off
senility.
Marie
was born in New York City on June 5, 1928. She was raised by her
mother, Frances, and her stepfather, John Ennis. During the Great
Depression, she saw their kindness and generosity to others in hard
times, which made an indelible mark upon her character. Guided by
their example and her deep Catholic faith, she would become an
important part of many lives in nearly a century of life.
She
was actively involved in her community with causes and activities,
including serving as Girl Scout troop leader for 10 years. She
instilled a belief in the importance of environmentalism in her
scouts, with her troop taking part in the inaugural Green Up Day. She
was always concerned with the political situation of the day,
frequently volunteering on Election Days and always making a
concerted effort to encourage her community to engage as active
citizens by getting out the vote.
She
was proud to have graduated from Albany Business College at a time
when many women could not attend college, and she would retain a
lifelong love of learning. To further this passion for learning new
things, she enjoyed traveling to New York City to see shows, to
Ireland to investigate her family history, to national parks to see
the beauty of our country, and to museums and historical sites across
Europe. After graduating, she worked for General Electric. She and
her husband, Louis, later owned and operated a wholesale beverage
distributor, an accomplishment from their humble origins that both
took great pride in.
Marie
was a lifelong gardener, from her victory garden in World War II to
the tomato plants that still grow on her patio. This was a passion
she shared with her husband and passed on to her children. Her
grandchildren spent many a day in their childhood weeding the garden
beside her and harvesting everything from pumpkins to rhubarb. No
summer could pass without an overabundance of zucchini, tomatoes and
green beans mysteriously appearing in the back of visitors’ cars.
Marie
was a great lover of Lake Champlain, with friends remembering her
often up in the early morning for a swim, and even on her 94th
birthday she was thrilled to go on a boat ride out on the lake. Her
family will always think of her when they visit the lake.
She
is survived by her three daughters, Julie Ladue, Ann Marie McKay (and
her husband, David McKay) and Christine Mitchell (and her husband,
Dominick Mitchell); seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Ladue, Jake Ladue,
Jacob Simms, Donald McKay, Matthew McKay (and his wife, Camilla
McKay), Dominick Mitchell (and his fiancée Jessica Sinotte) and
Heather Mitchell (and her partner, Sean Gilhooley), who all called
her “Grammy”; and one great-granddaughter, Saoirse McKay, who
called her “Gigi.” She is predeceased by her sister, Jeanne
Lowery; her beloved husband, Louis Roy; and her son-in-law Jeffrey
Ladue.
If
you wish to honor her memory, you may make a donation in her name to
the American Lung Association, When We All Vote, the League of Women Voters or the American Civil Liberties Union.
A
memorial mass will be held later this year at St. John Vianney in
South Burlington, at the convenience of the family.
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2024.