Mary Van Buren of Manchester, beautiful mother, daughter, sister and friend, passed away on Thursday March 27, 2014 at the age of 59 following a sudden illness. Mary was born in Greenwich, CT and graduated from the University of Massachusetts before embarking on a career spent supporting equality and justice in Connecticut. Most recently, she served as a Communications Specialist with the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges. She is survived by her mother Jean Van Buren (Naples, FL), her son Tyler Wilkinson and his fiancé Lindsay Grimes (Manchester, CT), her brother Peter Van Buren and his wife Susan Van Buren (Baltimore, MD), her sister Sally Schramm and her husband Bob Schramm (Salt Lake City, UT) and their families. She is preceded in death by her father, Martin E. Van Buren. Mary was fun and adventurous, compassionate and kind. There would be no more fitting a tribute than to embrace those traits in our own lives, in her honor. Memorial calling hours will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014, from 5:30pm - 8pm at the Watkins Funeral Home 142 East Center St, Manchester, CT. A celebration of Mary's life will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 11am - 12noon in the Fireside Commons Room of Manchester Community College. 60 Bidwell St, Manchester, CT. In lieu of flowers, her family has requested a contribution in Mary's name be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (www.ccfa.org), the National Park Service (www.nps.gov), or a . To leave a message of condolence please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com

Published in The Hartford Courant on Apr. 3, 2014