Mary Frances Reynolds
United States Army Nurse Veteran
Age 73, passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
Mary was born in Wilmington, Delaware. She was the daughter of the late Laurence F. and Mary G. (Conway) Reynolds. She attended Corpus Christi Grade School and High School, graduating in 1966. She graduated from the Nursing School at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore in 1969 and became a registered nurse. Following graduation, Mary joined the Army Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant, and was stationed in Long Binh in Vietnam.
After serving her country, Mary may have singlehandedly created the traveling nurse program. She worked throughout the country, including Alaska, California, Colorado, and Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. She returned to Wilmington in 1975 and ended her gypsy ways. After stops at a few other regional hospitals, she began what would be a long career at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, PA. At Crozer, Mary was a neo-natal ICU nurse, where she expertly and lovingly cared for the tiniest and most vulnerable babies. She retired from Crozer in 2008.
Mary had many interests throughout her life. She enjoyed travelling, camping, gardening, making pottery, photography, baking, and cooking, especially her Chicken ‘n Dumplings, a recipe which she perfected, prepared, and selflessly shared with her very large family. Mary was the go-to babysitter for all of her 23 nieces and nephews, which was a gift she gave to her siblings and a blessing to those children.
In recent years, Mary thoroughly enjoyed taking classes at the University of Delaware Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Her days there were fulfilled by the classes she took and the new people whom she got to know.
Mary’s faith was central to her life, and she was a devout Catholic. Mary lived a life of service to her country, in her career, and to her family.
In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her brothers, Michael, Jimmy, and Danny. She is survived by her siblings, Margaret Schlatter (Karl), Larry Reynolds (Beth), Terry Reynolds (Susan), Patti Daly (Dan), John Reynolds (Claire), Steve Reynolds (Carolyn), and Sr. Frances Catherine, LSP; 23 nieces and nephews; and 17 great-nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to the Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, February 22, at 11:00 am at St. Ann R.C. Church, Union Street & Gilpin Avenue, Wilmington. A visitation will take place at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, on Tuesday morning from 9:30-10:30 am. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 185 Salem Church Road, Newark, DE 19713.
Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home
302.994.9614