JLP Remembers Mimi Buckley

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Mary Louise Buckley “Mimi” (nee Buckingham), age 71, of New Rochelle, NY, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2008, after a 10 month battle with cancer.  Mimi was the devoted wife of Bob Buckley for 47 years, and loving mother to her four children and their families. She will be dearly missed by many relatives, friends, and neighbors, all of whom have been touched by her generosity, kindness and hospitality. A 42-year resident of Pelham, Mimi was an integral member of the community. When her children were younger, Mimi spent Saturday mornings lining soccer fields as a co-founder of the first youth soccer program in Pelham, now known as Pelham Recreation Soccer.Among her many volunteer activities as a long time member of The Junior League of Pelham; she co-authored A Historical Perspective of Pelham, a well known map which dates every building in the town, created to help celebrate the Bicentennial in 1976. This was the beginning of a life long pursuit of Pelham’s history. After she helped co-found the Pelham Historic Society, she served as Pelham deputy Town Historian, then Pelham Town Historian until 2002. While she continued to volunteer with the Historian’s office, she also worked with the Town of Pelham Assessors office and the Westchester County Board of Elections. She was an active member of many Pelham organizations including The Manor Club, The International Garden Club and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and was an avid fan of her regular Tally Bridge and Mahjong games.Mimi was born in Flint, Michigan. She attended the Cranbrook/Kingswood School, followed by the University of Michigan (’58) where she was a sister in Delta Gamma. Upon graduation, she moved to Long Beach, CA, where she taught and met her husband, Bob Buckley. The family relocated to Pelham, NY, in 1965. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her four children, Jeanne Peloso (Bill) of Stamford, CT., Waite Buckley (Maria) of Pelham, NY, Katie Stevens (John) of Pelham, NY, and Timothy (fiancü¾Ž–”¼e Dale Haysom) of Washington, DC. “Gramma Mimi” was also devoted to her seven grandchildren, Sarah, Brian and Julia Buckley, Erin and Harrison Peloso and Riley and Meghan Stevens. She is survived by her two sisters, Susie Ring of South Pasedena, CA, and Betsy Carta of Palm Desert Springs, CA.Visitation will be June 24, 2-4PM and 7-9PM at The Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Ave., Pelham, N.Y. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on June 25 at 10am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Pelham Manor. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to The Pelham Preservation Society, Ltd., in support of The Pelham History Guild c/o Barbara Bartlett, 314 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803.