Mary grew up in the Northeast section of Philadelphia. She attended high school at the very prestigious Nazareth Academy. Upon graduating Mary was hired by ARCO Chemical, as she had decided to pursue a career in business. While working full time at ARCO, she also enrolled in evening business classes at Temple University. Mary was extremely successful with her career at ARCO, becoming a Senior Manager. She had a “corner office”, with a window which looked directly over at The William Penn statue atop City Hall and retired early after working for them for 35 years.
While having a wonderful business career, Mary also developed a deep love for family. Even though she lost her own Mother when she was a young girl, Mary found a “new” loving family which she became a part of. Mae Gravuer became her adopted Mom and taught her the essential skills needed to build a warm, secure, and loving home.
Mary’s deep love of the seashore started when she met her first love, Richard Bender. Richard’s family had a house on the bay in Somers Point, New Jersey. Mary and Richard shared more than twenty five joyful years at that shore house. She learned how to sail a boat and they enjoyed catching blue point crabs together in the bay.
Mary and Robert Krivitsky became partners over 25 years ago and lived in the woods in beautiful Chester Springs. They truly loved the area and enjoyed taking long drives through Chester County, exploring the natural landscape. Whether it was seeing riders on horseback chasing after fox, or waving to people in hot-aired balloons just above the trees, or hearing animals from the neighboring farm, they delighted in the unique experiences that their home in the woods offered them.
Mary was a lover of all animals, but had a soft spot in her heart for dogs. Her Ashley, came with the purchase of the house on Horseshoe Trail, and was a beloved companion and family member for the rest of her life. She adopted her second beloved dog, Berkeley "Berkie", and Mary gave her the home that she really needed at the time.
She had a range of interests and loves - from playing the piano, to gardening, to cooking, to music, to decorating the house for Christmas, to travelling to places with friends and family like Bermuda, Canada, Florida, Alaska and exploring local places like Maryland and Delaware.
She became a great teacher as an ESL volunteer through the Exton Library. She was assigned to teach Kokilathas (Thas) Sadadcharam English, history, democracy, current events and eventually helped him to become a U.S. citizen. Thas was more than just a student to Mary - he became an adopted son to her and a lifelong friend.
Mary leaves behind many friends and family including her partner, Robert Krivitsky, his children, Michael Krivitsky, Kristy Krivitsky, Keri Krivitsky, Mike Bass, and grandchildren, Francesca Krivitsky, Gillian Krivitsky, Lana Krivitsky, Sabina Krivitsky, Addison Bass, Ella Bass, Izzy Bass, Greyson Bass, and her honorary family, Thas Sadadcharam, his wife, Imayavalli Sadadcharam, and their children, Aagaran Sadadcharam and Ahana Sadadcharam.
Mary was one of the most generous, kind and thoughtful people in the world. She had a great sense of humor too. If you were fortunate enough to have shared a part of her life, you are immeasurably blessed.
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