Mary E. Voos

Mary E. Voos, 98, a longtime resident of Alford, Ma died Sunday, September 4, 2022 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Ireland in 1924 to John and Mary Kelly. Mary was the youngest of seven children. Mary was educated with the Sisters of Mercy. She left Ireland to work in London at age 18.

Mary’s first job was assistant to the Headmistress at a boarding school. She also worked at private clubs in London. During her time in London she met many dignitaries especially during the coronation. She also met Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who climbed Everest! The club she worked at sponsored the climb and they hosted a dinner to honor the group. Her work in the hospitality business afforded her to travel, which she loved to do. It was London, Toronto, California before coming to the Berkshires in 1966 to marry her old friend, Charles Voos (chef), she met and worked with at the Reform Club in London. Together they owned and operated the Elm Court Inn, in North Egremont, MA, and then the Kildara House Restaurant in Great Barrington, MA for many years and catered for the Koussevitzky Super Club at Tanglewood in their semi-retirement.

Mary and Charles may not have had any biological children, but they definitely helped shape the lives of so many young people over the years. Many grandnieces and grandnephews spent their summers in the Berkshires working with them. They opened their home to teenagers, and that’s no mean feat!!! Mary always stayed close to her family in Ireland and England and made many trips home to “the old sod!”

Mary volunteered for many years at the local VNA shop and at Tanglewood during their summer season. She was an active member of the Thursday Morning Club, the Alford Garden Club and her Simon’s Rock swimming group. She loved to knit and many of us have warm feet and heads thanks to her.

Mary had a great sense of humor! She often recited poetry while having a cuppa tea with family and friends. We can only hope to be blessed with the same determination and stamina that she has been blessed with. She is one of a kind!

Mary is survived by her grandniece, Anne Stosiek (Christopher Stosiek) and great grandnephews Conor, Gavin and Garrett of Hillsdale, NY, grandniece, Brid Bennett (Tim Bennett) and great grandniece Amanda Bennett of Cary, NC, grandniece, Amanda Ringrose (Aidan Ringrose) great grandniece Ella, and great grandnephew Rees, of Laytown, Ireland, grandnephew, Mark Manning of Donabate, Ireland, grandnephew, John Manning, great grandnieces Shannon and Hayley, great grandnephew Jordan of Dublin, Ireland, grandnephew, Patrick O’Brien (Suzanne O’Brien) great grandnephews Luke and Liam O’Brien of Swampscott, MA, niece Mary White (David White), grandniece Clare Bedford and grandniece Louise Jennings of Yately, England as well as many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews in the U.S, Ireland, England and around the world.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles, on December 22, 2000.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington, conducted by Rev. William P. Murphy.  Burial will be private.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Mary may be made to either HospiceCare in the Berkshires, Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association or St. Peter's Church Restoration Fund directly or c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230.  To send remembrances to her family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com