Mary (Molly) L. Manley, 89, of Hingham, Massachusetts died on September 15 at Pat Roche Hospice House after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born in Norwich, Connecticut in 1936 and second daughter of George and Rosamond (Chapman) Hollingworth, she graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1954 and Central Connecticut State Teachers College in 1958. Molly began her long career as a full and part time English teacher at Norwich Free Academy in 1958, and later in the Hingham Public Schools. After devoting a large part of her life to raising her three sons, Molly turned her attention to co-authoring several children’s books, which were amongst her proudest accomplishments. A devout Episcopalian, Molly was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Church in her adopted hometown of Hingham. She sang in the church choir for many years and volunteered on numerous occasions for many activities in the parish community. Molly was an active member of the Hingham Garden Club and took much pride in helping to maintain its plantings in the multiple traffic islands throughout town. She was also instrumental in selecting the artist for the statue in the Garden Club’s park in Hingham Square. Most summers, Molly could be found at Point Breeze on the Thames River in Connecticut, and for over 45 winters, she was a regular at Stanley’s (later, Tony’s) beach bar in Cane Garden Bay on the island of Tortola.
She was the husband of the late Richard (Dick) Manley for 41 years and sister of the late Agnes (Hollingworth) Moseley and Suzie (Hollingworth) Glendon. She leaves behind three sons, Richard Jr. (Rick) and his wife Deborah Fanton of Weston and Chappaquiddick, George and his wife Gloria De LaCerda of San Antonio, Texas and John and his wife Kerrie Manley of Hingham. Molly was also blessed with 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren whom she cherished greatly.
Burial will be private and a memorial celebration of life will be held at St. John’s church in Hingham at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Downing Funeral Chapel in Hingham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be kindly made to Allerton House in Hingham, MA or the Pat Roche Hospice House in Hingham, MA. For more information and online guestbook go to www.downingchapel.com