ORONO – Mary (Nardi) Pullen, 92, died peacefully June 16, 2010, surrounded by her children at a Bangor hospital. Mary was born Aug. 29, 1917, in Ithaca, N.Y., the daughter of Michael and Annita (DePetris) Nardi. She was happily married for 53 years to the late Winston E. Pullen. She graduated from Ithaca High School in 1934 and from Cornell University in 1938, where she met her husband. Mary worked as a secretary at Cornell University, 1938-1943, and during World War II as a stenographer at Bremerton Naval Yard, Bremerton, Wash. After the war, she moved to Orono when her husband accepted a teaching position at the University of Maine. She was a member of Orono Women’s Club and served a stint as treasurer. Mary was an assistant teacher at Orono Community Nursery School, 1970-1974, and worked as secretary in the Work Control Center of the Department of Physical Plant at the University of Maine, 1978-1982. During her retirement, Mary served on the board of Orono Health Association and also as a volunteer driver for the elderly. Later, she enjoyed her volunteer work at Orono Thrift Shop. After her husband’s death, Mary served on the steering committee for the Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine. In Mary’s retirement years she loved spending time with her family, attending university concerts and sporting events, and cheering on her adopted Boston Red Sox or hometown NY Yankees. Her beautiful flower gardens brought her great pleasure. She was a master at crossword puzzles and shared her passion for them with her children and grandchildren. Mary was a loving presence, gentle soul and a great joy to her family. Mary is survived by five children, Michael and Nancy Pullen of Old Town, Janet (Pullen) and John Searles of East Greenwich, R.I., Rita (Pullen) and Brian Smith of Charlottesville, Va., Ann (Pullen) and Ray Connolly of Peabody, Mass., and Richard and Susan Pullen of Plainfield, N.H.; seven grandchildren, Cristin (Searles) Bilodeau, Erin (Searles) Montes, Jonathan Searles, Abigail Smith, Courtney Smith, Annie Pullen and Lindsay Pullen; great-grandchildren, Ava Ruth Montes, Sofia Mary Montes, Stella Jan Montes, Alice Mary Bilodeau and Leo Winston Bilodeau; three sisters, Rose George of Silver Springs, Md., Clara Nardi of Ithaca, N.Y., and Rita Kissel of Samsonville, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews. Friends may call 5-7 p.m. Sunday, June 20, at Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, June 21, at Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Newman Center, Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel, 83 College Ave., Orono. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. Gifts in her memory may be made to Winston E. Pullen Carriage House Fund at the Page Farm and Home Museum, care of University of Maine Foundation, 2 Alumni Place, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
MARY (NARDI) PULLEN
