Mary Margaret Ford née Holihan died peacefully in her sleep on January 21, 2021. She was surrounded by the love of those she loved most in this world: her children. It is impossible to imagine a mother more devoted to her progeny. A devout Catholic, Mrs. Ford was living proof that family, above all else, is the bedrock of a good life. Mrs. Ford was born in Newton, Massachusetts on May 9, 1926, the daughter of Robert H. and Greta Houlihan. (Mary preferred to spell her name Holihan.) She and her brothers, Thomas and Robert, attended St. Bernard's Church in Newton. Mary distinguished herself academically on a full scholarship at Emmanuel College in Boston where she graduated in 1948 and served both as a popular class president and editor-in-chief of her yearbook. It was after graduating from Emmanuel that, while working in the dean's office at Boston College School of Law, she met Paul T. Ford, a law student there who served as a lieutenant in the US Navy. The two fell deeply in love and were married on May 15, 1954. Choosing to move to Amherst, Massachusetts, a growing college town, the Fords later bought what would be their home of almost 50 years at 34 Lincoln Ave. At that address, Mrs. Ford raised her six beloved children, all of whom survive her: Edmond John (Patricia MacMurray), Margaret Mary (Peggy) (John Zimmer), Ann Marie, Paul Theodore Jr. (Kristin Ford), Elizabeth Grace (Sally Clark), and Theresa Alice. Mrs. Ford ensured that her children grew with more than enough love, faith, kindness, and strength to be happy and successful in life. She created and ran a household that was alive with joy, intelligence, and spectacular food. So much so that she was commonly referred to by her children's friends as "Supermom." Spending summers at Masters Island on Meddybemps Lake, Treasure Island on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and later on Cape Cod, Mrs. Ford presided over and organized everything from boat maintenance to a series of family businesses that put all six children through college. Mary loved a good history book or mystery novel. This may explain why, as others settled into retirement, she joined her husband Paul in his title business in Northampton, Massachusetts, sleuthing out the history of properties throughout Hampshire County. For years, she was a virtual institution there, setting up camp at a table in the Registry of Deeds every morning, exchanging stories with the employees, and generally spreading cheer in the municipal buildings. Mary and Paul moved to Venice, Florida in 2001 where they spent the next six years until Paul died in 2007 and she moved back to Massachusetts to be closer to most of her children—and now grandchildren: Peggy's children, Josh and Matt Zimmer, and Theresa's children, Daniel, Katie, and Stephi Lamkin. She is also survived by Paul, Jr.'s children, Esme and Eamon Ford in Seattle.

Services will be held via Zoom on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada). To access the services please click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84964023013?pwd=ZmtaRGlsTWtBZ2x1ZGhQYTh1LzRtZz09 .

If the link does not work the meeting ID is 849 6402 3013 and the meeting password is MaryFord.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to any of the following charities:

Alzheimer's Association

ASPCA

Little Free Library - Please note Mary Ford as honoree