Mary E. Fishbeck
July 25, 1945 - December 07, 2005
Mary E. (Musselman) Fishbeck, 60, of Teddy Drive, Avon, died Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. She was the fiancé of William J. “Bill' Freitas, with whom she made her home.
Born on July 25, 1945, in Lansing, Michigan, she was a daughter of Elizabeth G. (Swogger) Musselman, of Michigan, and the late Melvin H. Musselman. She was raised in Lansing, and lived in North Attleboro for over 25 years, she also lived in Norton for 8 years. Mary lived very happily in Avon making her home for the last 3 years with her fiancé Bill Freitas, and his son William “BJ” Freitas.
She was a graduate of Lansing Everett High School, Class of 1963. She received her Bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1967. She later received her Master's degree in Educational Administration from Providence College in Providence, RI. Mary taught for a year in both Michigan and Iowa before moving to Massachusetts. She was a 30-year veteran of the Attleboro school system. She taught in the Attleboro elementary schools for 17 years, and then served as principal of the Willett & Hyman-Fine Elementary School for 13 years. Following her retirement from the Attleboro school system, Mary held a post as a Professor of Education at Bridgewater State College for several years.
Mary was the current president of the Massachusetts State Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international teachers organization. She was a former member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She was a member of the Class'y Jewels of the Greater Attleboro area of the Red Hat Society.
Mary treasured the many friendships she developed with those in the greater Attleboro community, and especially those with her co-workers. She took special enjoyment in being a member of the “Breakfast Club”. The “Club” is an informal, close-knit, group of educators who have met every Friday morning for breakfast during the school year since 1978.
Among her many hobbies, Mary enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives and was a gourmet cook in her own right. She enjoyed preserving memories in creative ways by her work on various scrap-booking projects.
Together with her fiancé, Bill, Mary was the co-founder and co-owner of Custom Tours, Inc. a company that provides tours to many areas and points of interest in the Greater Boston and New England area. She was also the co-owner of the Learning Link Educational Materials store in Plainville.
In addition to her fiancé Bill, her mother Elizabeth, and Bill's son “BJ”, Mary is survived, two sisters, Carol Brannan, and her husband Sam, of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and Barbara Connor, and her husband, James of Battle Creek, Michigan, several nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
Funeral Information
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend her funeral service Monday, December 12, 2005 at 4:00 pm in the Centenary United Methodist Church, 39 North Main St., Rte. 152, Attleboro. Burial will follow at a later date in Michigan.
Calling hours will be Sunday, December 11, 2005, from 1:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm in the Foley-Hathaway Funeral Home, 126 South Main Street, Rte. 152, Attleboro.
Donations Information
Memorial donations in Mary's memory may be made to the, Mary Fishbeck Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Attleboro Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1666, Attleboro, MA. 02703.