Mary Stewart Trageser

Mary Stewart Trageser passed away peacefully, on August 29, 2024, at the age 102. She was at her home in Auburndale, Massachusetts, surrounded by family. Up until the end, Mary maintained her grace, compassion, gratitude and love for those around her.

Mary was born in Hamburg, New York in 1922 to Florence (Fields) and Rowley Stewart. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1943 and went to Washington D.C. to work for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). She worked in the London office as a clerk during the summer of 1944 and after Victory in Europe Day, traveled to Wiesbaden, Germany on official business. She next worked at the Department of State in the Secretary of State's Office, where she signed up to work on the Marshall Plan. Mary then worked in Paris in 1948 for Ambassador W. Averell Harriman.

In 1949, Mary married David A. Trageser and moved to Wayland, Massachusetts. She raised four children and began working for the Wayland Public Library in 1965. Mary was an avid traveler, reader and extremely active member of several communities, continuing to volunteer for the library after her retirement and attending the First Parish in Wayland, a Unitarian church, where she volunteered in the church archives and for the annual rummage sale.

Mary is survived by her four children, Alice Trageser, Charles Trageser and his wife, Mary Lang, Molly Humphrie and Katy McNiff; as well as seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded by her husband; as well as her sister, Ann Stewart Trageser; and brother John Stewart. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their children who are also part of the large Trageser family.

Her Service will be Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10 a.m. at First Parish, in Wayland. Donations to the First Parish in Wayland and the Wayland Public Library in her name are appreciated.