Mary Lou Gray

May 19, 1943  -  October 31, 2025

Mary Lou Gray departed this life surrounded by family, October 31, 2025, after a brief illness. She was born on May 19, 1943, the daughter of the late Clement B. Gray and Dorothy FitzPatrick Gray.

Mary Lou grew up in Natick, Massachusetts and graduated from Natick High School in 1961. She like, all of her family, was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Natick and a woman of life-long, deep faith.

Mary Lou, her parents and siblings, spent multiple memorable long summers in East Dennis. Many family stories focused on the wonderful times they shared there. Mary Lou’s youth focused on music. She was a classically trained pianist and enjoyed playing Debussey, Bach, Beethoven and Chopin – much to the delight of her nieces who gathered around the family piano to listen to her renditions.

Mary Lou worked her way through college attending evening classes at Boston College and then attending and receiving a Baccalaureate Degree from Regis College in 1977 where she majored in German. She also spoke French, and her language abilities played an important role during her long career at Polaroid Corporation. Mary Lou served as an executive assistant to the CEO and a variety of vice presidents, including the Vice President of International Marketing Operations and often accompanied Polaroid’s leaders to Europe on business trips. Between business and her own enjoyment of travel she visited Germany, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Ireland and Italy. Her favorite trip was of that to Rome and Vatican City.

Mary Lou moved to Falmouth, MA in the 1970s. And lived there until 2024. She enjoyed sailing, beach walks, entertaining family in the summer and most of all downhill skiing with friends and family. She famously preferred a “cold” vacation skiing to tropical vacations. A woman of faith, Mary Lou was a long-time parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Falmouth where she served on various committees. Her favorite contribution to the Church was the creation of a “Mary Garden” in honor of Our Lady. After retiring from Polaroid in 1996, Mary Lou continued to work at or volunteer for a number of Catholic organizations in Southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape.

In 2024, Mary Lou moved to Wakefield, RI to Brightview Commons to be closer to her nieces. She participated as a member of the Resident Council and enjoyed planned activities and outings. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Brightview Commons for the care they took and love they extended to our aunt. Also a heartfelt thank you to Cindy Arnold for her loving companionship and Heidi Arnold for her visits and care.

Mary Lou leaves her nieces Katharine Alexander and Maggie Gray, and sister in-law, Mary Anne Gray all of Tallahassee, FL; her niece Laura Linnell Browne (Joseph), great-nephews Harrison and Jesse Browne and her niece and god-daughter, Deborah Linnell (Karen) all of Rhode Island. Besides her parents, Mary Lou was predeceased by her brother, Robert Gray and sister Gail Gray Linnell.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in St. Patrick Catholic Church, 44 East Central St., Natick, MA. Her burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Pond St., Natick, MA.