Mary Elizabeth Nordwall
Mary Elizabeth Nordwall
Mary Elizabeth Nordwall passed away on November 25, 2024, at the age of 81 in Heritage Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Gerry, NY. She grew up in Falconer and graduated from Falconer High School in 1960. Mary then earned her degree in elementary education from Fredonia College, graduating in 1964. During her time at Fredonia, she was a member of Kappa Delta Phi, served as Editor in Chief of the 1963 college yearbook, The Fredonian, and played violin in the A Orchestra. Mary worked as an elementary school teacher at MJ Fletcher Elementary School in Jamestown, NY, before deciding to start a family.
Mary married Kent Edward Nordwall on July 1, 1967. Together, they raised three children in the home they built on Cowing Road. Mary was deeply rooted in her Christian faith and was an active member of Zion Covenant Church until her illness. She had a passion for stamp collecting and cherished her Swedish heritage, enjoying traditional foods like Korv, Tom and Jerries, cardamom bread, and Kuba cookies. As a child, she liked to play with the family pets, play with other kids in the neighborhood, and ride horses. Mary loved traveling with her husband and family to destinations such as Iceland, the Amazon River, Italy, Alaska, Florida, Disney World, Martha’s Vineyard, Charleston, and on cruises around the world, with extended stays in Hawaii. Her grandchildren remember that she would always bring a bag full of the best books to read together when she visited. As a grandmother, she was always the “teacher” to her grandchildren. Mary resided and was cared for at Heritage Village in Gerry, NY prior to her death.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Kent Nordwall, in 2023, and her parents, Harold and Lucille Terry Hayes.
She is survived by her brother, James (Susan) Hayes of Florida; her three children, Melissa (Steve) Harter of Endicott, NY, Mark (Stacey) Nordwall of Jamestown, NY, and Jennifer (Harman) Stinson of Amesbury, MA; and her four grandchildren, Ryan Nordwall, Regan Nordwall, Finn Stinson, and Hayes Stinson.
A celebration of life for Mary will be held at later to be announced. Family and friends are welcome to gather to share memories and honor Mary’s life.
Memorials may be made to The Association of Frontal Temporal Degeneration: https://www. theaftd.org/.