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178 Winter Street
Fall River, Massachusetts
Mary Ann Wordell, age 78 of Fall River, died Tuesday, December 26, 2017 in Charlton Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Fall River, daughter of the late Clyde A. and Alice (Boulay) Wordell, she was a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School and the former Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as RN head nurse/nurse manager at the former Truesdale Hospital and at Charlton Memorial Hospital for 35 years until her retirement in 1995.
Mary Ann had a wide range of interests from the history of Fall River and Steep Brook, to genealogy, birding, gardening, traveling and arboriculture. Upon retirement Mary Ann gathered a group of friends and Fall River Garden Club members to organize the Fall River Street Tree Program, Inc. in 1996. That organization has planted thousands of trees in the city, established a Memorial Grove at North Park to honor all Veterans, promulgated the formation of a city tree ordinance and the first tree commission in Fall River. Mary Ann became an activist for urban forestry and received several awards on the state level for her commitment to the planting and care of trees. In 2013 the city's first tree farm was named in her honor.
Mary Ann was an active member of the Truesdale Hospital Nurses Alumnae Association serving on various committees as a board member. For many years she was the editor of the Alumnae newsletter. Her love for friends, co-workers and classmates from Truesdale Hospital and the Truesdale Hospital School of Nursing never waned and inspired her to organize two major reunions, doctors and employees that brought Truesdale Hospital "family" together years after the hospital closed as a health care facility.
She was a member of the Friends of Oak Grove, Green Futures, Greater Fall River Land Conservancy and the Fall River Garden Club. Mary Ann served as Fall River Garden Club president, secretary and environmental chair plus six years as a representative from Fall River on the state Environmental Committee of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.
She is survived by beloved daughters, Jennifer Dias-Rezendes and her husband Ronald and Kristin Martins and her husband Terry; five cherished grandchildren Sierra Alice, Nicholas and Sophia Rezendes, Brennan and Bennett Martins and a brother, William Wordell all of Fall River; cousins, Penny Phillips and Alice Garvin and her dear friends, Joyce Emmett Aylward and Mary Lapre Bennett.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 12pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 10am to 12pm prior to her service. Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River. Flowers are welcome or please consider making the world greener by donating to a fund that helps provide to Fall River's environmental advocacy organization Green Futures, PO Box 144, Fall River, MA 02724 or to the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program Inc., c/o Nancy Fell, 68 Bigelow St., Fall River, MA 02720.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Waring Sullivan Cherry Place Funeral and Cremation Service.
January 4, 2018
Cindy Tardif
Mary Ann, my nursing classmate and long time friend. Many fond memories, especially my wedding in California. Always present when Judy Mosher gathered our class together for luncheons in our later lives. May her trees be healthy and bring fond memories to those who were present at their planting. You will always be with me. Thanks for the memories.
Love, Cindy
January 3, 2018
Sandra Brown
Mary Ann will be missed by many in the vast community she touched. I met Mary Ann in 1970 and at the time she was my mentor and charge nurse at Truesdale. She assisted with my admittance to Fall River School of Nursing. She was also one of my instructors. We had stayed in touch all these years with email and cards. Shared pics of kids and grand children. I will miss her dearly. Jenn, Kristin and family will be im prayers.
Sandy Brown
January 2, 2018
Judy, Lisa, Jackie, Michelle
Mary Ann, our shining star, a precious gem. My very good friend, I will carry you forever in my heart. You were a devoted " auntie " to my girls. So many good memories. My condolences to Jen, Kris and family. May peace be with you.
January 2, 2018
Bill Camara
Kristin and Jennifer My thoughts and prayers are with you today and always at the loss of your Mom
She and I were friends since we first met, over 67 years ago at Morton and we always kept in touch
May she rest in peace Bill Camara
January 2, 2018
Michael LePage
My thoughts and prays go out to the Wordell family. Mary Ann will be missed. She was a great lady who loved nature. Please plant a tree in her memory.
January 1, 2018
Jo Ann Johnson
To Mary Ann's family, my deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved Mother and Grandmother. I was lucky to meet MaryAnn, through her dear cousin Alice.We shared many fun nights playing cards with the "girls"! Mary Ann always had a joke or two to share and,she would begin to laugh before the punch line. How I will miss that voice and laugh! We did have a lot in common, books, music, gardens, we enjoyed a few bus trips together and were hoping to visit Utah in the spring. I am so glad to be called friend by her and grateful for the times we spent together. Love and miss you always, my dear friend. Jo Ann
December 31, 2017
Susan Hathaway
My condolences to the family. It's never easy to lose a parent, much less so given the time of year. Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers.
December 31, 2017
Michelle Lotz
Your amazing caring, intellect and determination will always be carried forward . May you rest in peace. I love you
You were my mentor in the nursing field. Heaven can't wait .
December 31, 2017
Michelle Lotz
I am so sad to hear of the passing of Maryanne. She was my first head nurse in my career and I learned so much from her. She gave me the foundation to be the nurse I am today. I will always love her. May she rest in peace . I know she will be caring and taking charge in heaven
December 30, 2017
Donna & Cliff Morrel
The FRSTP is Mary Ann's finest hours. It melds her nursing of humans with nursing of the earth. I truly am at a loss for words. Cliff and I enjoyed working on the planting team. And that is what we are, a team. So sorry for your loss Wordell family. I enjoyed Mary Ann's stories about the history of Fall River.
December 30, 2017
Joan Huck
RIP Mary Ann I remember you from Truesdale worked their and you were wonderful. Glad I got to chat with you on Facebook. Condolences to the family and you have many wonderful memories of this wonderful person.
December 29, 2017
Nancy Arcikowski
My deepest sympathy to Mary Ann's family.
A wonderful person ! We attended Truesdale Nursing School together & reconnected through the Alumni Association! She was such a delightful person! May she Rest In Peace
Prayer to her family
December 29, 2017
Carol Chretien
So very sorry to hear about Mary Ann's death. She was a wonderful Nurse and a sincere and lovely person. I loved knowing her and working with her, especially the golden years at Truesdale Hospital. Prayers go out to her family.
December 29, 2017
Donna Waters Freitas
She was a great nursing school instructor! I learned a lot from her. She held us to high standards , but did it with humor.
December 29, 2017
Lois Spirlet
So sorry to hear of Mary Ann's passing. She was a well respected nurse leader at Charlton. Always willing to go the extra mile for her staff and her patients.My sympathies to the family.
December 29, 2017
Blanche Aguiar
Prayers for family at this difficult time. Worked at CMH with Mary Ann as the charge nurse. Was a priviledge to work as a RN under her professional guidance.
December 29, 2017
Donna Raposa
I am so sad to read of Mary Ann's passing. She was such a good nurse and mentor to me! My deepest sympathy to Mary Ann's family. Will always remember her beautiful blue eyes and her smile. Rest In Peace Mary Ann!
December 29, 2017
Angie Amarantes
So sad to hear of Mary Ann's passing. My deepest sympathy to Mary Ann's family - we were classmates at Durfee High and recently served on our 6oth class reunion committee.
December 29, 2017
Harvey Chafitz
My deepest condolences to Mary Ann's family. We were classmates at Morton and at Durfee. We reconnected at a Durfee
Reunion and have been in touch via emails on a regular basis. I will miss her.
December 29, 2017
Paula Kaylor
My deepest sympathy to Mary Ann's family, cousins, and friends. May her memory be eternal.
December 29, 2017
I'm so sad about Mary Ann's passing. She was not only instrumental in the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, but a dear friend to me and my family as well. Our condolences to her family.
Torrey Adams (Fall River)
December 29, 2017
Eleanor Mercier
To Mary Ann's family - my deepest sympathy. Classmates at Morton Jr. High School and then at BMC Durfee High school. I remember her as being a polite and cheerful person full of ambition. So sorry to hear of her passing.
Eleanor (Souza) Mercier
December 29, 2017
Patricia McDonald
Dan and I are saddened to hear of Mary Ann's passing, she was a devoted nurse and a force behind the Truesdale Hosputal Nurses Alumni Association, along with her devotion to making Fall River a greener place. she will be sadly missed by many. Sincerely
Pat Wilson McDonald Class of 1962 From Truesdale
December 29, 2017
Carolyn O'Brien
So sorry to hear of Mary Ann's passing. Condolences to her family and friends. Always enjoyed lunches with her and ML. Proud of her accomplishments especially with the FRSTP..........RIP friend
December 29, 2017
Louise Berube
My sincere sympathy to Mary Ann's family. Mary Ann was a nurse I always admired while working at both Truesdale and CMH. She had a great smile and quiet , compassionate way about her. May memories of happy times spent with her bring you comfort at this very sad time.
December 29, 2017
So sorry to read this. I knew Mary Ann from working at the hospital. She was a kind woman and wonderful nurse.
Tricia Silvia
December 28, 2017
Pauline Sardinha
I am so sad to read of the passing of Mary Ann i so looked up to her as a student and had the privilege to work with her as a new grad.she was one of a kind and respected by all .❤
December 28, 2017
Sharon Levesque
Mary Ann and I "found each other" a couple of years ago through ancestry. Mary Ann was my deceased mother's first cousin (Boulay), so she was my first cousin, once removed. I was thrilled to get to know her...but I guess time just ran out on us....I'm just grateful to have had a chance to meet this dear soul.
It was a real privilege to spend time with her. One day we drove around Fall River, and she pointed out trees that her group planted. What a wonderful time that was! I am a tree-lover, too, so we had a ball! Oh my dear, dear cousin...I will miss you!
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Waring Sullivan Cherry Place Funeral and Cremation Service178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA 02720
Jan
2
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Waring Sullivan Cherry Place Funeral and Cremation Service178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA 02720
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Waring Sullivan Cherry Place Funeral and Cremation Service178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA 02720
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