Published: 11/08/03

Shelburne, Vt. — Mary Angela Mason, nee Buck, died at the age of 80 on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, in Shelburne, Vt.

She was born on Feb. 26, 1923, in Plattsburgh, the daughter of the late Louis Henry Buck and Mary Angela (Coll) Buck.

Mrs. Mason graduated from St. John's Academy in 1941 and received her B.A. in History from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York City in 1945. Following secretarial training at Katherine Gibbs School in Boston, she worked as a dean's assistant at Harvard University.

Upon returning to the North Country in 1950, Mrs. Mason taught second grade at Chazy Elementary School. She was also joint owner of L. H. Buck Company of Plattsburgh.

Following a two-year courtship, Mary Angela Buck and Philip Clark Mason of Plattsburgh were wed at St. John's on April 19, 1952. During the next 26 years, they made their home in the village of Peru and at Valcour, where Mrs. Mason dedicated herself to raising their seven children.

The Masons retired in Plattsburgh in 1989, after a decade living in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette. Mrs. Mason moved to The Arbors nursing home in Shelburne, Vt., in 1997, after a heartrending descent into Alzheimer's disease.

Mrs. Mason maintained a strong commitment to education throughout her life. In the 1960's, she was a Girl Scout leader in Peru. She later taught catechism at St. John's and English as a Second Language in Chicago. She was also a docent at the Chicago Art Institute in the 1980's.

She was a member of St. Augustine's Parish in Peru, of St. Joseph's Church in Wilmette, Ill., and a lifetime parishioner of St. John's Church in Plattsburgh. Mrs. Mason was also an active supporter of Catholic charities, including Maryknoll missionaries, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Relief Services.

However, it was in her role as mother and friend that Mrs. Mason's memory will be most cherished.

Mrs. Mason is predeceased by her four siblings: Henry Buck, Robert L. Buck, Margaret M. Buck and The Reverend Francis C. Buck, S.J.

She is survived by Philip C. Mason of Shelburne, Vt., her loving husband of 51 years and by her seven children: Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Mason Hedlund of Weston, Conn., James P. Mason of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Philip C. Mason Jr. of Chapel Hill, N.C., Ann C. Mason O'Byrne of Bogotá, Colombia, Margaret B. (Margo) Mason Fornaro of Dallas, Texas, Sarah J. Mason of Cologne, Germany, and David F. Mason of San Francisco, Calif. Mrs. Mason is also survived by four children-in-law: Carl I. Hedlund III, Joanna Chestnut, Andres E. O'Byrne and Michael F. Fornaro; and by 11 grandchildren: Christopher and Michael Hedlund, Angela, Adrienne, Lucy, William and Callie Mason, Gabriel, Antonia and Sofia O'Byrne and Matthew Fornaro.

Calling hours will be at Brown's Funeral Home in Plattsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John's Church on Monday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. Mrs. Mason will be interred in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to The Reverend C. Buck, S.J. Scholarship Fund, Boston College High School, 150 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125-3391. The fund was established in honor of Mrs. Mason's Jesuit brother for the education of underprivileged Catholic boys.

Parker Gregory; Kaley Gregory

Mooers — Parker and Kaley Gregory, infant son and daughter of Matthew and Laurie (Dutil) Gregory, died at birth Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

They are survived by their parents of Mooers; their maternal grandparents, Linda and Denis Dutil of Champlain; their paternal grandparents, Donald and Lynnette Gregory of Mooers Forks; their maternal great-grandmother, Rose Dutil of Champlain; their maternal great-grandfather, Arvil Moore of Mooers; their paternal great-grandfather, Robert Gregory of Rouses Point; their paternal great - grandmother, Anna Meseck of Mooers Forks; their aunts and uncles, Leslie and Luke Ero of Champlain, Eric and Karen Dutil of Mooers and Heather Gregory of Mooers Forks; and five cousins, Luke Ero Jr., Lance Ero, Larissa Ero, Jenna Dutil and Brendon Gregory.

There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Whispering Maples Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Ellenburg Depot.

The E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Mooers is in charge of arrangements.

Plattsburgh — Mrs. Anna Dupra, 81, of Romeo Circle, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Riverview on Jan. 10, 1922, daughter of the late Edward and Evelyn (Brien) Soucy.

Anna was a loving wife to Harold and a special aunt to her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards. Anna loved life and lived every minute of it!

Anna is survived by her husband Harold, whom she married Sept. 28, 1974; five sisters, Alfreda Ashline of Plattsburgh, Evelyn Lemieux of Peru, Rena Latour of Plattsburgh, Margaret Latour of Plattsburgh and Rita Raab of Florida; and countless nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her "baby," Princess.

She is predeceased by two sisters, Bernadette Soucy and Lena Farrell.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at 10 a.m. from St. Peter's Church in Plattsburgh. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.

Masses may be said in her memory.

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