Mary Butler (Hannon), age 64, longtime resident of Salem, CT, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on June 25, 2023.

Born June 11, 1959 in Manchester, CT to William and Shirley Hannon (Yuscavitch), Mary grew up in Enfield, CT, graduating from Enrico Fermi High School in 1977. During her time at Fermi, she met the love of her life, Tom. They married in 1979 and spent forty-three loving years together, filled with vacations on Cape Cod, sunsets at Rock Harbor, and long hikes in nature. In 1990, they settled in Salem, where they raised their son Will, who Mary affectionately called “jigs.” Mary and Will shared a special bond, going on walks every Friday to catch up and talk about life. Mary loved her family, remaining exceptionally close with her parents, who she called each morning to start the day.

A born again Christian, Mary fervently followed the teachings of Jesus. She attended Calvary Chapel in Uncasville, CT, but was a member of numerous churches, prayer groups, and bible studies over the years. Never missing an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus, Mary consistently sought opportunities to connect with people from all walks of life. Her guiding wisdom was to “love God and love people.”

Consistent with her heart for serving others, Mary chose to pursue a career in dental hygiene. Mary spent nearly forty years in the dental field, starting out as a dental assistant before receiving her Dental Hygiene degree from Tunxis Community College in 1987. Early in her career, Mary spent time in Haiti providing dental services to the people of Port-au-Prince, a trip she always credited for changing her life. Over her long career, Mary touched countless lives through her infectious smile and compassionate nature.

Retiring from dental hygiene in 2020, Mary refound her childhood talent for painting. She shared her passion with Tom, who would often capture scenic New England landscapes with his camera for her to paint. Mary’s artwork was featured at fairs and art shows around eastern Connecticut and will be treasured by her family and friends for generations.

In addition to being an avid painter, Mary made a habit of going on walks everyday. While she sometimes walked alone, she was happiest when sharing the activity with others. Mary could spend hours walking and engaging in conversation with the people she loved.

Mary will be remembered most for the love and kindness that she showed to everyone she met. Always an empathetic listener, she had a special way of making people feel valued. Whether at work, church, or a coffee shop, her affable demeanor found her constantly forging new friendships. Even in the waning days of her life, she shared smiles and laughter with the doctors and nurses attending to her. Mary’s family will forever miss her steadfast love and encouragement as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

The Butler and Hannon families offer their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Middlesex Hospital and Masonicare Home Health & Hospice for the love and care they showed to Mary.

Mary leaves behind her husband, Tom Butler of Salem, CT; son Will Butler of Hartford, CT; mother Shirley Hannon of East Orleans, MA; and sister Susan Hannon of Barrington, RI. She is also survived by beloved uncles, aunts, and cousins. Mary is predeceased by her father, William Hannon.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Mary’s life on Wednesday, July, 12, 2023 at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd, Colchester, CT. Calling hours will be from 6pm to 7pm followed by a memorial service from 7pm to 8pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

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