Mary C. Walden

Mary Clare Jermyn Walden, 88, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mary was born on December 4, 1934, to Eric and Clare Jermyn (née Anningson) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She grew up in Saskatoon and Toronto with her younger siblings Joanne and Peter. In high school, she met the love of her life, Alan, while she was playing cello in the orchestra at Humberside Collegiate Institute. They married in 1955, and their marriage lasted over 60 years until his death in 2016. Their shared love of travel and culture took them to many places, from Ontario to Belgium to Cincinnati, and finally to Green Bay, where they put down deep roots and became Packer fans. In Green Bay, Mary taught for many years, primarily at Franklin Middle School and Doty Elementary, where she shared her love of reading and intellectual curiosity with a generation of Green Bay youth. She was a creative and dedicated teacher whose students still remember her fondly. The love of learning she instilled in others was exemplified in her own life, as she completed her Master’s degree in Education at the UW-Oshkosh and her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto and Xavier University (Cincinnati). Mary’s life centered around family, music, education, and service. She was a longtime member of Union Congregational Church, where she and Alan sang in the choir for many years. Both she and Alan were members of the Dudley Birder Chorale, and one of their favorite memories was performing with the Chorale at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was also active with Chapter DE of PEO, a philanthropic and educational organization that brought together her commitment to both education and service. A voracious reader, Mary enjoyed many fiction genres, but most especially mysteries. Her monthly book club meetings were a place to share stories, books, and tea with friends. In addition to her rich life in Green Bay, Mary loved spending time in Door County, where she and Alan built a home on the shores of Green Bay. They spent many happy years there with their beloved dog Dickens, and Mary could often be found drinking tea, with a good book in her hand, supervising the waves. Mary leaves behind many who love her and will miss her. She is survived by her three daughters: Susan Goes (Jim), Sandi Walden, and Judy Walden (Michael Ream); her grandchildren Christopher Goes, Matthew Goes, and Sofia Ream; her brother Peter Jermyn (Diane); and many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews in Canada. She was predeceased by her husband Alan, her sister Joanne, and her son-in-law Neil Whitesell. The family would like to thank all Mary’s caregivers at Home Instead, Woodside Lutheran Home, and Unity Hospice. Gathering of family and friends will be held from 12:00 P.M. (Noon) to 2:00 P.M. on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Union Congregational United Church of Christ 716 S. Madison Street. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Bridget Flad Daniels. If you would like to honor Mary’s memory with a charitable contribution, donations may be made to Union Congregational United Church of Christ, the Dudley Birder Chorale, or the PEO Scholarship Fund.

Mary C. Walden

December 4, 1934 - November 27, 2023