Cover photo for Mary Elizabeth Billingham's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Billingham Profile Photo
1938 Mary 2017

Mary Elizabeth Billingham

January 17, 1938 — April 9, 2017

Mary Elizabeth Billingham was born in Boston, MA, on January 17, 1938, the first child of James P. and Bridget A. (Connors) Billingham. Mary was a lovely little girl and grew into a beautiful young woman, winning the title of Miss L Street Beach 1952, at the age of 14. Mary attended Gate of Heaven High School in South Boston and graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Jamaica Plain, MA, in 1955. At St. Thomas High, she was active in many activities from science fairs to student theater. Mary was a stalwart of the girls’ basketball team and played in their league championship games.
After graduation, Mary joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston in September of 1956. As Sister Catherine James, she devoted the next 22 years of her life to the goals of the community, teaching at grade schools in Quincy, Medford and Lynn, MA, and teaching high school classes at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Brighton, MA. Along the way, Mary earned her B.A. from Regis College, Weston, MA, in 1967 and followed up with a M.A. in Education from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
In the late 1970s, Mary’s interest turned to nursing. She was accepted into the School of Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital and began her new career. She loved every minute of her studies, even though she was often the oldest student her class. One teacher asked the class who had had the measles. Mary was the only one who raised her hand! She graduated in 1981 and was given a standing ovation from her classmates at the graduation ceremony.
While in nursing school, Mary separated from the Sisters of Saint Joseph and went on to new chapters in her life. She began work as a R. N. at Mass General shortly after graduating and found the work she was always meant for. Mary worked at MGH for many years and made strong and lasting friendships with her coworkers.
Mary met the love of her life, David Etchison, while traveling with friends. They kept in touch and Mary eventually moved to Indiana, David’s home state. They were married in Indiana on October 28, 1989. Mary and Dave moved to Florida after Dave’s retirement from Firestone, but MGH exercised a powerful pull and the couple moved to Massachusetts in 1999. Mary returned to work at her beloved hospital and continued to work there into her seventies.
Mary began to show some early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in her mid-seventies. In 2012, Mary and Dave returned to Dave’s home town of New Castle, IN, where they were surrounded and supported by Dave’s family.
Mary was much loved by her students from her teaching years and also by the many patients who received her care. Although she had left the Sisters of Saint Joseph, she maintained close and loving relationships with many members of the community and the bonds she made with her co-workers at MGH lasted the rest of her life. She was a unique person with a tremendous love of life in all its aspects from literature, cinema, sports, politics and especially, people. She could be counted on to support any project or activity that improved conditions for those with special problems who were often overlooked by society and for mankind in general.
Mary succumbed to complications related to Alzheimer’s on April 9, 2017. She was predeceased by her parents and her loving husband, David. She is survived by her step-daughters, Nicki Schuler and husband, Frank; Andi Helm; and Renée Sloan and Renée’s daughter, Leigh Sloan. Mary’s survivors also include her brother, James S. Billingham, wife, Nancy and daughter, Amy; sister, Anne Brophy and husband Charles; and sister, Jean and husband, Mark Sutro and Jean’s son, Matthew Nickens. Mary will also be missed by many dear friends, especially Robin Herrman. A memorial service in Mary’s honor will be held in Boston, MA. Details of which will be published at a later date.

Mary will be solely missed by all those who came in contact with her. Requiescat in pace.

You may express condolences or share a memory of Mary at www.hinsey-brown.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Elizabeth Billingham, please visit our flower store.

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