Mary Z. Lademan

Mary Lademan of Greene transitioned peacefully from this life surrounded by loved ones on December 18, 2022.

Mary was born on February 3, 1932 in Detroit and grew up in Michigan on the shore of Lake St Clair in Algonac and Marine City. As a young woman, she attended Mercy College of Nursing in Detroit, which prepared her well for life as a healthcare advocate and caregiver. Mary met her husband Gerald (Jerry), while working at the hospital where he was a patient for an appendectomy. They were married on November 21, 1953.

The young couple lived in Southfield, Michigan, where they saw the birth of their first son, Gerard, in 1959. A few years later, Jerry’s job with Burroughs Corporation transferred him to Chenango Bridge, New York. The family of three became the family of four when their second son Michael was born in 1964. Two years later, another company transfer led them to Falmouth, Maine, where the Lademan family grew to include Carol in 1968 and Kathleen in 1971. Mary chose to take a hiatus from her nursing career to raise her kids. Years later, offered to help out a teacher who needed child care for her infants during the day. Mary loved caring for babies in the house–and her kids enjoyed playing with toddlers. Mary and Jerry were “down easters” for 22 years, but their hearts remained in Chenango County, so when Jerry retired in 1987, the couple built a home in Greene, excited to live out their years in the beautiful countryside. Sadly, Mary's world was turned upside down when her beloved husband died suddenly 9 months after moving in, leaving her alone with 2 daughters still in school.

Mary had to start over and went back to work as a nurse at Chenango Bridge Medical Group. After 13 years of commuting 20 miles each way through the snow and rain, she decided to leave the clinic and return to her passion for home child care. She adored the dozen or so children who knew her as “Mimi” and remained close to many of them as they grew into young adults.

Mary was loving, kind, and accepting of those she met, regardless of their situation. She maintained lifelong friendships, had a remarkable memory, and an amazing talent for sending birthday cards on time (mostly). She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Greene, and St. Joseph Church in Oxford. She prayed the rosary every night and firmly believed in the power of prayer and the presence of angels.

Mary is now reunited with the love of her life, Jerry,and her precious daughter Kathleen. She also joins her parents, Anne and William Bourlier, and her brother, Bill Bourlier, who went ahead of her.

She is survived by her sons, Gerard (Jerry) of Greene, Michael and his wife Janine, of Peterborough, NH, her “darling daughter” Carol, of San Diego, her 6 grandsons: Jacob, David, Sam, Yuly, Elan, and Asa, 14 nieces and nephews, and countless others whose lives were enriched by her laugh, encouraged by her empathy and warmed by her love.

A funeral Mass and memorial will be held June 2 at St. Joseph Church in Oxford at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider remembering Mary with a donation to the children’s charity of your choice or a simple gift of your time and talent to someone in need.