It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that our family announces the passing of Mary Beth DePalma Kenney Condon. Born in Boston Massachusetts and immediately adopted by Michael Angelo DePalma and Madelyn Macleod DePalma who raised her as their own. Mary Beth was unaware of her adoption until recent years. Her life was immediately remarkable as her first two years were marked with clinging to life in the hospital. Mary Beth was the first person to survive with her specific birth defects. Mary Beth’s specific case can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Mary Beth loved the theater and Music. As a child she was active on the stage in Somerville Massachusetts youth theater programs. She was actively involved, singing with local Coffee House events in the Greater Boston area as an adult. Mrs. Condon was also found singing in various homes and kitchens of friends and family as she was singing along with a Karaoke machine or simply singing into a spoon, spatula or ladle. Mary Beth absolutely loved Bon Jovi.
Mary Beth is the mother of five children with a bonus child and many many others who refer to her as their second or other mother. As a young single and overwhelmed mother of four, Mary Beth deeply loved her young children and actively sought help and advice from friends, church and contacted the local Department of Child Services to be sure her children had every possible opportunity in their lives. With very active and impetuous children, Mary Beth often referred to herself as “a spoon mother” as she could be seen with a wooden spoon or spatula sticking out of her back pocket just in case “spare the rod, spoil the child” wisdom of Solomon was needed to be employed. Her older children tell other colorful tales of disciplinary tactics employed by their then young and outnumbered mother. Things involving shoes, walking ahead of the car, and head baseball to name a few.
Mary Beth’s remarkable life is described on social media as loving, kind, confident, courageous, light, overcomer, resilient, confidant, friend, sister, amazing, joy, powerhouse, encourager, loved supernaturally, angel, faithful, beautiful, God Spirited, prayer warrior, cheerleader, therapist, self-esteem booster, generous, sweet, God fearing, trailblazer, none other like you, wife and mother to name just a few. Mary Beth found great comfort from reading her Bible and prayer. She offered such encouragement to everyone within earshot. Her focus was always, love, mercy, forgiveness and grace. Mary Beth saw beauty within and hidden behind that most others missed.
Mary Beth often described herself as an “excellent driver”. Dents in vehicles over the years, insurance premiums, finger imprints on the dash and property damage to other vehicles including the rear of a city bus all work to describe her tale of excellence. If Mary Beth couldn’t encourage someone to pray on their own, she would take them for a ride.
Mary Beth worked as a mortgage processor for a reverse mortgage company. She also took great pride in her work as a Paraprofessional in a Parent Center of a public school. She stood before the Massachusetts legislature discussing her work as a Parent Liaison and the desperate need for the state to continue and increase funding for Parent Centers in public schools. Mary Beth got to share a moment with Maya Angelou during her tenure at the Lowell Public Schools. Maya Angelou might have been describing Mary Beth as she is quoted saying... “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
Mary Beth DePalma Kenney Condon is survived by her husband of 24 years, Christopher Condon of Acworth Georgia; Her son John Kenney and his fiancé Jen Normandie of Westford Massachusetts, daughter Katelyn Harrison and her husband Brian Harrison of Acworth Georgia, son Matthew Kenney of Andover Massachusetts, son Paul Kenney and his wife Natasha Kenney of Lowell Massachusetts, son Nicholas Condon of Acworth Georgia, bonus son Christopher Kenney of San Diego California, second mother to Vanessa Parker and her husband Derek Parker of Kokomo Indiana, second mother to Andrea Kenney of Westford Massachusetts, second mother to Shawna Teague of Lowell, Massachusetts, second mother to Remey Caraballo of Canton Georgia and second mother to countless others. Mary Beth is also survived by six grandchildren and one on the way; Kamryn Texiera, Shane Kenney, Jaedyn Harrison, Fiona Kenney, Piper Kenney and Madelyn Harrison. She is also survived by her brother Michael DePalma and his two children of Greater Lowell Massachusetts.
Friends and loved ones can pay their respects on Wednesday, December 9th from 5pm to 7pm at Georgia Funeral Care and Cremation Services at 4671 South Main Street in Acworth Georgia 30101. Face Masks are required. A Celebration of Life for Mary Beth Condon will take place at the North River Church of Christ in Marietta Georgia sometime in 2021 once the Covid-19 crisis is resolved. A second Celebration of Life and burial will take place in Massachusetts on a later date in 2021.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary Beth’s name to charities supporting Foster Care or to “Haiti Health Ministries” – haitihealthministries.org
