Mary Edith (Tooley) Gadway, R.N., a 50 year resident of Melrose died on Friday, March 3, 2006, at her home in Melrose following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 75 years old.
Mary was born on October 29, 1930 in Waterbury, CT, and grew up during the depression between Connecticut and New York States. Mary began her nursing career in 1952 when she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Children’s Hospital School of Nursing in Boston. Early in her career, she was a Staff Nurse in Pediatrics at Melrose Wakefield Hospital. During this time she went to Salem State College and graduated with her B.S.N. in 1989. This was the beginning of a long and loved career working with mothers and newborns. She was a woman before her time because in 1958 she had her husband Alfred present in the delivery room during the birth of one of thier children. While at Melrose Wakefield, Mary taught childbirth and lactation classes for many years to expectant mothers. Mary also counseled new mothers following the birth of a child. When she left Melrose Wakefield Hospital in 1983 she was the Head Nurse of Pediatrics. Mary then went on to work for the Melrose V.N.S.,of Melrose, Middlesex Home Health Care,of Malden, and Medford V.N.A,of Medford, where she created programs at all three agencies in maternal child health care. In 1986 Mary worked for the Middlesex Home Health Care,of Malden, as a Maternal Child Health Coordinator and Clinical Director. In 1991, she left Middlesex Home Health Care,of Malden, and went to work for Health Care at Home,of Stoneham, and held the positions of Maternal Child Health Manager, Maternal Child Health and Psych Nursing Manager and Team Leader. Upon her retirement in 2003, Mary worked for Hallmark Health, V.N.A. of Malden, as a visiting nurse caring for people at home. All the positions Mary held were in the infant and child care field, pioneering many programs. Mary taught numerous parenting classes at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and also taught at homeless shelters. Mary was also involved in the publication of “Home Visits to the Well Expanding Family” and “Importance of Play”. Through her extensive career, Mary valued hands on nursing.
Mary was a member of the Maternal Child Health Coordinators for Mass V.N.A.’s; Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society; Northshore Perinatal Nurses Association; past member of the Child Abuse and Neglect Committee, DSS Malden; Mass Perinatal Association; past Board Member 1988; Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Task Force, Malden, MA; Friends of the Fells; active with Most Blessed Sacrament Church CCD Program; Lecture at Most Blessed Sacrament Church and Eucharistic Minister; Board of Director of Children’s Hospital School of Nursing; and the Appalachian Mountain Club .
Mary is the wife of the late Alfred L. Gadway. She is the devoted mother of Lois Tow of San Francisco, CA, Kathleen Gadway of Berkley, CA, Alfred Gadway, Jr., of Ashby, Roderick Gadway of Dover, NH, Christopher Gadway of Portland, OR, and Carolyn Gadway of Melrose. Mary is the loving grandmother of Roderick, Alfred, III, Joshua, Jennifer, Emily, Joseph, Davis and also her great grandson Arthur. She is the beloved sister of Lois Flavin of Boulder, CO.
Mary’s Funeral will be held from the Carr Funeral Home, 1159 Main Street, Melrose, on Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at 9 a.m. followed by her Funeral Mass in the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main Street, Wakefield, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held for Mary on Monday, March 6, 2006, from 4 – 8 p.m. Burial will take place at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make memorial donations in Mary’s name to either the Children’s Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae, c/o Diane Farraher-Smith, 63 Walden Pond Avenue, Saugus, MA 01906 or Hallmark Health V.N.A., 100 Hospital Road, Malden, MA 02148.