Mary Elizabeth Loughlin died peacefully, surrounded by family and her beloved dog Holly, on November 20, 2025 after a brief illness.  She was predeceased 17 years ago by the true love of her life, James, known lovingly to all as Jamie, Big Jim and Poppy.  She leaves behind four children: James “Jim” Loughlin, Jr. (Yvette), Susan Broshek (Peter), Patricia “Patty” Mills (Richard) and Kevin Loughlin; eight grandchildren: Andrew “Drew” Loughlin (Allison), Connor Loughlin (Courtney), Adam Torres, Katie Broshek (Hailey), Kevin Broshek, Daniel “Dan” Mills, John Mills and Julia Loughlin; and six great grandchildren:  James “JD”, Clay, Finley, Ryan, Shane and Elizabeth “Lizzy”.

Born and raised in Litchfield, CT, Mary was one of seven children of Andrew and Susan Fiolek.  At 96, Mary was the last of her generation.

Mary’s loving and outgoing personality touched everyone.  She was truly a force of nature in everything she did.  An accomplished athlete, Mary excelled in every sport she played.  In college, she was a four-year varsity basketball and field hockey player. Mary was an accomplished and competitive tennis player, especially doubles.  While living in Houston in the early ‘70s, Mary served as a practice opponent to the players for the first Virginia Slims Tennis Competition.  In golf, Mary shot a hole-in-one.  And more than once, she bowled a perfect game.  At the Huntington Crescent Club, where she and Jamie were members for almost 50 years, Mary won various tennis doubles championship titles in four different decades.

Mary was a dedicated educator with a passion for working to better the lives of her students and fellow teachers.  She spent more than 30 years in the classroom, always managing her schedule to be present when her own children left for school in the morning, and got off the bus in the afternoon.  Her final years of teaching were at Madonna Heights School for girls in Dix Hills, where she worked with girls who faced emotional, intellectual and developmental challenges.  A fierce defender of equality, Mary launched a protest and strike to demand the formation of a teachers’ union.  Her efforts brought long-overdue improved pay and benefits for these dedicated teachers. 

Mary was, above all, a devout Catholic.  Her lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary was the guiding force in everything Mary did.  Her daily rosaries, attendance at mass, and service as a eucharistic minister for the elderly in local nursing homes were all examples of how Mary lived her faith.  When there was a problem or crisis, people often turned to Mary to request her prayers, noting that no one had a more direct line to God in times of need.

There was nothing more important to Mary than her family. Always present and available to her family in times of joy, as well as periods of challenge, she instilled the importance of love, faith and dedication to each other among her children and their growing families.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Mary with a donation to Trocaire, the St. Patrick parish ministry that supports local families in need, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.