Mary L. (Moore) Rice

SHREWSBURY - Mary Louise Moore was born on May 24, 1931, in Worcester, one of six children to the late John and Mary Catherine (Lynch) Moore. Raised in Worcester, she graduated from Commerce High School and married Peter R. Rice. Widowed at a young age, she easily mastered the roles of being a mother and father to their two daughters. She worked as a laborer at Worcester Pressed Steel and later as a lab technician for Elkay Products. Mary worked hard to provide education and a good upbringing for her daughters.

Mary’s kindness was often expressed in quiet, thoughtful ways. In retirement, she volunteered countless hours with Worcester’s Meals on Wheels program. Her move to Shrewsbury allowed her to take an instrumental role in raising her granddaughter, Laura. As a Shrewsbury resident, she became affectionately known as Gram to friends of all ages. She loved living at Francis Gardens, and later, as age and health warranted change, she moved to Christopher Heights in Worcester. A subsequent transition to Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Worcester, she quickly became a much-loved resident by staff and others. 

Mary died Friday, November 1, 2024, with her daughters by her side. She was 93. The family offers words of thanks to the wonderful and caring staff of Holy Trinity for all their support these last three years. 

Mary was quick-witted, her humor peppered in with some feistiness; she will be remembered as a good woman who quietly took pride in raising strong women and later helped shape three strong and successful granddaughters. She loved technology and gadgets and enjoyed keeping up with nieces and nephews on her iPad. Mary loved the read of a good book and the comfort of knitting in her chair. 

In addition to her husband, Peter, she was predeceased by her siblings, Robert, John and Russell Moore, Shirley Moore, and Beverly Mason. 

She leaves her daughters, Mary M. 'Peggy' Hilton (Raymond) of Kennewick, Washington, and Ann L. DeBiasio of Shrewsbury; her granddaughters, Christine Coble of Denver, Colorado, Tracy Hilton (Rick Miller) of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and Laura DeBiasio of New York, New York; nieces and nephews. 

Family and friends will honor Mary's life by gathering for a morning wake on Saturday, November 16th from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury, followed by her funeral Mass celebrated at 11:00 a.m. A private family burial in Saint John's Cemetery, Worcester will follow on Monday.

Expressions of sympathy may be made by donation to Juniper Outreach Foundation, P.O. Box 91, Paxton, MA 01612. This foundation is focused on distributing food through local schools to students and families who are most in need.

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.