Mary Elizabeth Dunn Hayes

Mary Elizabeth Hayes of West Chester, Pa

It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Elizabeth (Dunn) Hayes announces her passing. Mary was 91 years old and resided at Crosslands Residential community when she passed away on August 12, 2018. Her family was with her. 

Mary was born on September 6,1926 in Pottstown, Pa. to Francis and Martha (Kuser) Dunn. Mary lived her whole life in and around the Chester County area.

After Mary graduated from Reading Catholic High School in Reading, Pa., she received her nursing degree from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing. She completed further training in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Mary worked as a civilian nurse at Valley Forge Hospital, becoming the first civilian head nurse at the hospital. She later went on to work at Chester County Hospital and retired from nursing when she met and married her beloved husband of 40 years, William C. Hayes. Mary then devoted her time and energies to caring for their growing family. 

Mary’s husband was a native of West Chester and a lifelong member of St. Agnes Church. While raising their family, Mary was active in volunteerism in the West Chester Community, including serving the homeless at the Day Room at St. Agnes, and later devoted much of her time to volunteer work at Chester County Hospital with the Women’s Auxiliary. She also established a scholarship fund at Bishop Shanahan High School for St. Agnes graduates. 

In her spare time, she was an avid reader and a member of her book group for 40 years. Mary and Bill enjoyed traveling, but their true joy was spending time with their friends and family at their vacation home in Avalon, New Jersey. 

Mary is survived by her brother Thomas and his wife, Betty; her sister-in-law, Kate; her four children, William C. Hayes Jr. and his wife, Phyllis, Mary Ladany and her husband, John, Anne Hayes and her husband, Russell Iannuzzelli, and Christopher G. Hayes and his wife, Elizabeth; 10 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William C. Hayes; her brothers, David and Joseph Dunn; and her beloved granddaughter, Katie Ladany. 

There will be a funeral mass on Thursday, August 16 at 11:00 am at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 233 W Gay St, West Chester, PA 19380. The family will receive friends starting at 10:00 am.

The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bishop Shanahan High School Scholarship Fund, 220 Woodbine Road Downingtown, PA 19335, in Mary’s name. 

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com