Mary C. Stewart

Mary C. Stewart (née Lathrop) died on August 22, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert B. Stewart, her sister Joan Hamilton, six children (David Stewart, Michael Stewart, JC Stewart, Maureen Walsh, Patricia Ashleman, and Thomas Stewart), 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Daughter of Robert Lathrop and Catherine Murphy, Mary was born in Danbury, Connecticut on October 25, 1932. A child of the Great Depression, she was born with no inheritance to speak of but an Irish gift of gab (which propelled her to speak of everything else). She translated her genial bedside manner into a career in nursing, which was put on hold in 1954 when she married Robert Stewart in Kansas City. It was a Catholic ceremony (he converted for her) officiated by Mary’s two priestly uncles. Mary and Robert went on to become active parishioners at Church of the Nativity in Pleasant Ridge for over 50 years.

Their union produced seven children in nine years, during which time they settled in Cincinnati, where Robert plied public relations for Procter & Gamble. As a skilled nurse and wife of a PR man, Mary could charm a grizzly bear. Her storytelling and ability to connect with strangers were her greatest talents, and she would warmly recall acquaintances decades after their last encounter.

As Mary’s children grew, she returned to nursing in the neurosurgery unit of Cincinnati General Hospital. At the age of 46, she earned a master’s degree in occupational health nursing from the University of Cincinnati, going on to teach the subject after stints working at Western Southern Life and Merrell Dow.

An avid gardener, skier, golfer, and tennis player, Mary remained active into her later years, traveling extensively and keeping up with her sprawling family. She never lost her zest for conversation, even when her memory began to falter. Undaunted, she charged ahead, armed with a smile and a quiver full of witty anecdotes.

A private family service will be held on Tuesday, September 1st at 4:00pm . In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations in her name be sent to The Church of Nativity of Our Lord ( 5935 Pandora Ave. Cincinnati, OH  45213 ).