Greenfield- Mary (Samal) Legere, 94, was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Sunday afternoon, 8/20/17, following a brief illness.  Born on May 25, 1923, she was a daughter of Nickolas and Pauline Samal.  She lived her entire life in her family’s home on Deerfield Street, and was a graduate of Greenfield High School, Class of 1942.  

Mary worked in the clubhouse at the Mohawk Meadows Golf Course for her brother, Dave Samal, for several years. She was later employed by the Greenfield Public School System, working in the High School cafeteria for ten years until her retirement in 1993.

Mary was an excellent golfer, playing the game she loved until age 90.  The Meadows was her home course and she was one of the original members of the Tuesday Night Ladies League.  Until last Sunday, she could be seen driving her golf cart around the yard tending to her gardens.  

Mary was an expert knitter, mittens were her specialty and she loved to crochet.  She braided many rugs over the years, passing them on to her children and grandchildren.  In her early years, she was active with the Ladies Auxillary of the VFW and was a volunteer at the VA Hospital in Northampton, logging more than two thousand hours over forty years. She loved gardening and always had large vegetable and perennial gardens.  Mary was also an avid reader, often reading 2-3 books per week.  Many might remember her as a member at the Body Shop, working out on the Nautilus machines or participating in group exercise.  She loved to travel with her sister Olga and together they ventured to Russia, Italy, Florida and took many bus trips.

Surviving her are her children, a son, Raymond Legere and his wife Valerie, daughter, Polly Hillman and her husband Doug, and daughter, Sally Malloy and her husband Dan, all of Greenfield.  Mary also leaves her six grandchildren, Gregory, Angela, Chelsey and her husband George, Michael, Jonathan, Janae and her husband Steve; three grandchildren and a nephew Steven.

She was predeceased by her son, Edward in 2004, her parents, her sisters Nadejda and Olga and brothers, David, Adam and Nikolan.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 11am until 12:30pm at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal Street, Greenfield, followed by a graveside service at 12:45pm at the Green River Cemetery in Greenfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Voluntary Services at the VA Medical Center in Northampton, 421 North Main Street, Leeds, MA 01053.

Sympathy message available at www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.

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