Mary B. (Irons) Varunes

Mary Beatrice Irons Varunes, of East Haven passed away June 4, 2022 in Yale New Haven Hospital- St. Raphael Campus with her children by her side. Born in New Haven on July 16, 1947 daughter of the late William (Billy) Irons and Mary Doolan Cannon Irons. She spent most of her life in the New Haven area, growing up in West Haven and Orange. One of her favorite spots was the beach at West Shore. She eventually settled in East Haven where she raised her two devoted daughter, Jessica and Kristin. She also became a fixture in the community as an educator and a volunteer.

Mary was a lifelong advocate for the well-being of young children. From her years as a student at Vermont College in Montpelier, VT. where she graduated in 1969 with a degree in Early Childhood Education to her last position, before retirement, as Director and Head Teacher of the East Haven Family Resource Center at D.C Moore Elementary School, she strived to ensure that children had the best experiences possible. 

During her retirement, she kept active as a member of the East Haven Youth Service Commission. She later worked for the St. Bernadette After School Care Center. Mary also enjoyed volunteering at the Christ & Epiphany Soup Kitchen and with the Mutti-Grees program. 

Her pride and joy was being the co-owner/director of Magic Year Day Care Center. She loved and adored the years she spent there and would talk about it with anyone who would indulge her in a conversation about it.

Mary always had a smile and kind word for everyone she met and she will be missed by her countless friends, some even from childhood, and her extended family. Besides her daughters, Mary is survived by her sister, Kathleen (James) Harper and her loving companion, her little dog, Oliver.
 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday June 11, 2022 at 10:00AM in St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish at St. Bernadette Church, 385 Townsend Avenue in New Haven. Burial will follow in Orange Center Cemetery. The Monahan, Cox, Smith & Crimmins Funeral Home, Inc. is in care of her arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter 11 Cherry Hill Rd. Branford, CT 06405.

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