Mary Alice (Soden) Griffin died peacefully at her home in North Eastham on Sept. 10, 2022. She was 87.
The daughter of Bartholomew and Susan (Connolly) Soden, Mary was born on March 27, 1935 in Cavan, Ireland. She spent her childhood in Ireland.
In 1947, when Mary was 12, her family emigrated to the U.S. She went to high school in New York City and after graduation worked for I.B.M., where she met her future husband, Donald Griffin.
Mary left I.B.M to raise her three children, and the family relocated more than once, first to New Jersey, then back to New York as Donald’s sales work required. In each town where they lived, Mary made lifelong friends, so when the family moved to North Eastham in 1973, after having spent many summers there, friends from away would often make the trip to visit them.
Mary was “always warm and welcoming,” her son Stephen said, even as the Eastham house filled with friends for weeks at a time. “She was so much fun,” he said. “She was lighthearted and would always go with the flow.” One of her nicknames was “Mary of the Dunes.”
North Eastham was also where she most enjoyed taking care of her children as well as several dogs. She loved the ocean and taught many friends the proper way to dig for quahogs and how to make beach plum jam. Her knitting skills were also impeccable.
Over the years, Mary worked for certified public accountants Joe Teaves in Truro and, most recently, John Medeiros in Provincetown.
Those who knew Mary describe her as one of the kindest people they had met. She was accepting of everyone, never judgmental. She dearly loved her friends. One of her biggest joys was spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons, Stephen Griffin and partner Kate Racette of Yarmouth and Mark and wife Darby Griffin of Wellfleet, as well as by her eight grandchildren: Cory Poole of Santa Barbara, Calif.; Hannu Pechukas of Wellfleet; Alexa Griffin of Johnston, R.I.; Brianna Griffin of Yarmouth; Christian Griffin of Dennis; Sydney Griffin of Amherst; Cali Rose of Norton; and Finnian Kai Griffin of Wellfleet. She also leaves a sister, Nora (Soden) Bellotti of Long Island, N.Y., as well as a niece, nephew, and several grandnieces and -nephews.
Mary was predeceased by her parents; her husband; and her daughter, Laurene Susan Griffin.
Celebrations of Mary’s life will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans and at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 at St. Joan of Arc Church, 61 Canal Road, Orleans. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be left at nickersonfunerals.com.
