RALEIGH, N.C. – Mary Searles, 80, passed away on Thursday afternoon, August 17, 2017. She was born on October 12, 1936 in Caribou, ME to Herbert & Marguerite Hanley.
Mary raised 3 children in the suburbs of Chicago, where she simultaneously owned a hair salon and attended college – graduating with top honors and a B.A. in French in just 3 years.
After a later move to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and upon retiring from AT&T after over 20 years of service, Mary joined Air France Airlines in order to facilitate her love of travel, especially to Paris and the South of France. She was thrilled to have been a passenger on one of the last Concorde supersonic flights to Paris.
Moving to Raleigh, NC in 2004 to be closer to her daughters, Mary got her real estate license and worked as a relief agent in new home sales for Fonville Morisey and as a Realtor with Northside Realty.
She enjoyed travel, crossword puzzles, card games, and reading. Also a big part of Mary’s life was her involvement at St. Luke the Evangelist, volunteering in the office and singing in the choir. She loved the Church and considered its members as her extended family.
Mary is survived and will be deeply missed by her children Cathy Brady (Richard), Bob Pikoulas (Linda), Connie Adams, grandson Chris Pikoulas, sister Judy Duprey (Roland), and her two nieces and their families.
A funeral mass was held at St. Luke, the Evangelical Catholic Church, Raleigh, NC, on August 26th.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Luke’s Choral Society, c/o Peg Beaudoin, Parish Secretary, 12333 Bayleaf Church Rd., Raleigh, NC 27614.
Committal services will be held at 10 AM on September 30 at Old Holy Rosary Cemetery followed by a gathering in her memory at the Caribou Country Club on Sweden Rd., Caribou.
