Mary Winifred (Lawrence) Cook, 95, of Franklin died peacefully June 15, at Serenity Hill Nursing Home in Wrentham.
Mary was born April 4, 1922 in Concord, the daughter of the late Harland and Christina(Cullinane) Lawrence.
She lived in Concord until the 6th grade. She moved to Franklin for a year and then moved to the oval next to the Norfolk Prison in Norfolk, because her father was the head warden at the prison.
She graduated from Walpole High School with the class of 1941. Under her picture in the yearbook it says “Here is the girl whose eyes are brown whose spirit you can not down”.
Upon graduating from Walpole High School, she worked for the Telephone Company in Walpole. After she was married she continued working for the phone company until her oldest son was born. She would ride the train from Franklin Center to Walpole Center.
On April 4, 1942, her birthday, she married the love of her life, Ralph W. Cook, Jr, a farmer from Franklin. They were married for 71 years until his death in 2013.
Mary was the last of the owners and operators of Cook’s Farm, one of the oldest family farms in Franklin. She lived most of her married life on the farm until October 2011 when she and Ralph moved to Forge Hill Senior Living. Mary and Ralph were inseparable. They worked side by side for over 70 years on the farm.
Mary worked hard all her married life. She drove the trucks, tractors, spray rig and helped feed the farm animals. She managed the farm stand, graded apples in the orchard and did the book keeping. Mary was a jack of all trades.
Mary was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was a perfect lady who was quiet, reserved and a perfectionist by nature. She was organized and immaculate. You could always find her dusting, vacuuming, sweeping and cleaning her house and farm stand.
She as an active member of St. Mary’s Church in Franklin. She taught CCD and was member of the Catholic Women’s Club. Mary always said her prayers every night.
She was a member of the Mother’s Auxiliary Committee of Troop 99 Boy Scouts. Mary enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading and camping.
She is survived by her children, Ralph W. Cook III and his wife Cynthia of Norfolk and Harland L. Cook and his wife Barbara of Walpole.
She was the sister of the late Anne E. Hazlett, Christina Travers, Arthur F. Lawrence and Harland B. Lawrence.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ralph IV, Eric, Kimberly, Harland Jr, Jennifer, Jeffrey and Douglas, and her 24 great-grandchildren and 1 great great grandson.
Her funeral will be held on Friday June 23 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main Street, Franklin at 10:15 followed by a funeral mass in St. Mary’s Church at 11:00.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4-7 p.m.
Donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.