NORWICH – Mary Antoinette Lawton, 73, life-long Norwich resident, passed away late Sunday night, Sept. 28, 2008, in the Wilson Regional Hospital in Johnson City, after a brave battle with cancer.
Born in Norwich in June of 1935, Mary was the daughter of Dominic and Mary Grace Spinella. She attended Norwich High School and later studied nights to earn her GED. A great cook whose most requested dish was her fabulous macaroni and cheese, Mary was a hard worker who spent many years in the food industry in Norwich - as a waitress at the Driftwood Diner, a cook in the Perry Browne School cafeteria, and manager of the cafeteria at NBT. She was a good hearted woman with a winning smile who loved children, whether or not they were hers, and found the time to volunteer for the Chenango Memorial Hospital. On April 12, 1952, in Norwich, she married Jack Lawton.
Mary is survived by her husband of 56 years. Jack Lawton of Norwich; by her children and their spouses: Francis and Gail Lawton of Ohio, John and Donna Lawton of St. Petersburg, Fla., Marie Wilbur of South Otselic, Virginia Vail of Rochester, Jamie and Thomas Norwood of South New Berlin, and Tony and Michele Lawton of Syracuse; by 19 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and her extended family. She had been predeceased by her infant daughter, Jacqueline Marie, in 1953.
Funeral services for Mary will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday from the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The Rev. Charles Taylor, pastor of St. Matthew’s Church of South New Berlin and St. Andrew’s Church of New Berlin, will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to this American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY 13790.