Mary Margaret Fallon's Obituary
Mary Margaret Fallon (Reilly) passed into eternal rest on March 2, 2017. Arrangements for her Celebration of life will be made by Palm Beach Memorial Park and Funeral Home.
PalmBeachMemorial.com
Mary Margaret Fallon (Reilly) passed away peacefully at home at 8:45 last night. She was 99 years old, had a wonderful long life, and was wise beyond understanding. She was kind, observant, reflective, considerate, accepting and encouraging. She was funny and open to the universe and always enjoyed a good laugh and a good glass of wine. She had a light that shined from within – was comfortable in most situations - and was the go-to person for the troubled. She always listened and her guidance was spot on!
A quiet country girl from upstate NY – she married a handsome young ballplayer and travelled to NYC, Hollywood CA, Saint Louis MO, the Twin Cities, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. She had 4 children, Nancy Fyfe, (Alan Fyfe), George (Jo), Barbara, (John Schegg) and Jim (Stacy), 8 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She also had wonderful nieces and nephews who were very dear to her. She loved family get-togethers and traditions. When her youngest child entered school, she was offered a very interesting job. She wasn’t sure exactly how she was to do it – but she was fabulous at it and it started a whole new trend. She became the first concierge for the Condado Beach Hotel in San Juan PR. She had a big beautiful desk in the lobby, with fresh flowers on it every day. She helped create tours and adventures for tourists. She made appointments and reservations and helped create wonderful memories for travelers. Before long, all the big hotels had a concierge desk…
In the last 25 years, she vacationed in CT, FL, NC, and Boston, Cape Cod, Plymouth, Nantucket, the Berkshires, Montreal and Quebec City, Savannah, Philadelphia, Providence, and Washington, DC. She loved Broadway and was committed to at least one show a year! At 85 years of age, she travelled to Ireland to learn more about the country her grandparents came from. She loved the people, the land, the pubs! She felt so at home there.
We are so very lucky and honored to have had such a Mom. Our friends all came to visit with her when she came to town. She was always a lady, always a friend, a devoted neighbor, a faithful wife and mother. She had dignity and honor and respect. She had great commitment to her church, her faith, her organizations. She volunteered in hospitals as far back as we can remember.
She was ready to go, believed that God would lead her home, was ready to be reunited with loved ones, but she will be greatly missed here. Last week she said: “I’m going on my last journey” I said: “You are, Mom; Are you ready?” She said: “Will you and Nancy come with me?” I said; “Fraid not, Mom. This is one journey you have to take alone”. She said – “well, I’ll really miss you!”
We will spend the next few days remembering and sharing the wonderful stories and anecdotes from her life.
Wordsworth wrote: “That best portion of a good friend’s life is the little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness, and of love in which the heavy weary weight of this unintelligible world is lightened” and that does describe her. But I like best – a simple poem by Grace S Dawson about friendship. This captures MM’s spirit!
You entered my life in a casual way,
And saw at a glance what I needed;
There were others who passed me or met me each day,
But never a one of them heeded.
Perhaps you were thinking of other folks more,
Or chance simply seemed to decree it;
I know there were many such chances before,
But the others - well, they didn't see it.
You said just the thing that I wished you would say,
And you made me believe that you meant it;
I held up my head in the old gallant way,
And resolved you should never repent it.
There are times when encouragement means such a lot,
And a word is enough to convey it;
There were others who could have, as easy as not-
But, just the same, they didn't say it.
There may have been someone who could have done more
To help me along, though I doubt it;
What I needed was cheering, and always before
They had let me plod onward without it.
You helped to refashion the dream of my heart,
And made me turn eagerly to it;
There were others who might have (I question that part)-
But, after all, they didn't do it!
Rest in Peace, MOM
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Trust Bridge Health. 5300 East Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33407.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?
