Mary K. Rounds

On August 15, 2024 Mary K Rounds passed from her world of darkness and confusion to one of everlasting life, love and light. There to greet her, was her grandmother Kathryn (Kitty) Foley, parents Thomas W. Sr. and Mary Rounds, Siblings, Thomas W. Rounds Jr., Charles & Janet Rounds, Irene Rounds, Suzanne Nugent, Niece Erin Nugent, Nephew Brian Rounds, Sister-in-law Lorraine Brown and special family Carol Austin and Sally DuBrava. 

Surviving Mary are Siblings Patricia & Edward Bendert, Gerald Rounds, and brother-in-law Donald Brown. Also surviving is her only daughter Sandra (Joseph) Stoeckel, grandchildren Theresa (James) Gavin, John (Maria) Stoeckel and Sarah Stoeckel. Great grandchildren Christopher, Nathaniel, Lucas, Elizabeth, Parker and Elleana. Also, many nieces and nephews who were always special to her. 

Mary lived a full life. She graduated from Catholic Central. She cared for her family, worked for Singer-Link Aviation until she retired, and then moved to Georgia and worked for Panasonic until she retired again. She worked diligently, 1 course a semester to complete her associates degree in business and achieved her goal in 1987. Mary moved many times, she loved the challenge of finding the possibilities in all her new homes, and every home she left had been improved during her tenure. Mary enjoyed time with her grandchildren, she spent many happy hours with them in her home and in theirs. She always was willing to share stories from her childhood about her family and growing up on the southside of Binghamton.  She loved music, singing, silly jokes, bowling, crafting, cards, and laughter. She was always ready to take on a challenge, and her favorite saying was “necessity is the mother of invention”.  

Mary was a member of the LAOH Division II for many years and served in different offices including president. She was very proud of her Irish Catholic heritage, and shared it with her family whenever she could. Mary was also very creative, always looking for a new craft to try especially Christmas crafts. She spent countless hours patiently teaching those around her, family and friends to embrace their creative nature and how to create beauty on a budget. After receiving her driver's license in 1979 she became a social butterfly. She loved to travel in her “rainbow car.” She traveled with friends and attended many spiritual retreats, craft shows, festivals and family functions. She participated in and facilitated Teen seminar, Alanon, ACOA. She taught elementary religious education at St Catherines for a few years, and found joy in working with the kids.  She gave her time to Samaritan house, and many other volunteer venues that help others.  

Much more can be shared about Mary, but the important things are this: She was a loving, generous, rational, and fair, mother, grandmother, sibling, aunt and friend.  She stood up for what was right, and what she believed and almost always cheered for the underdog.  She was honest, loyal, spiritual, kind, funny and stubborn.  We are all better for having had her in our lives and she will be missed every day, until we meet again. 

A thank you to the staff of Brookside Terrace at Vestal Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their care and compassion. I would especially like to thank Maria, who treated my mother with respect and patience while helping her find something to giggle about.   

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 at St Cyril and Methodius Church 148 Clinton Street Binghamton, NY.   The mass will be at 11 am with visitors welcome before the service from 10 am to 11 am. 

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to: American Macular Degeneration Foundation, PO Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, www. macular.org/want-to-help/donate OR Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave, 16th floor, New York, NY 10001, https://Act.alzfdn.org/donate, in Mary’s memory. Help us protect others from the darkness and confusion. 

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