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Mary Frances Janvrin LaGuardia, a resident of Las Vegas, NM since January of 1965, died in Albuquerque, NM on October 11, 2002, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Mary was born in Boston, MA on May 18, 1920, the daughter of Bertram T. and Frances Webster Coburn Janvrin of Hampton Falls, NH. Mary grew up in Hampton Falls and attended schools in Hampton Falls and Hampton. In 1933 she attended the Northfield School for Girls in East Northfield, MA and graduated June 14, 1937. She started College in September 1937 at Pine Manor in Wellesley, MA and graduated in June of 1939. From September of 1939 to June 1941 she attended Barnard College in New York City. While in New York City her interest in music continued with special music courses at the Julliard School of Music and Columbia University. Mary loved music and singing and studied piano and organ in Boston and studied voice at the Boston Conservatory of Music. She continued her music career and was known for performing many solos at various churches, businesses and social functions. During the war, she performed many musical programs for the benefit of the U.S.O. and the National War Fund. In order to help the war effort in the Hampton Falls area, she also participated in patrolling the streets and the beaches to ensure that no lights could be seen during the"blackout period". On December 25, 1943, Mary was married at the Hampton Falls Baptist Church to Lionel G. LaGuardia, then Vice Consul at the American Embassy in Panama. They lived in Panama and Lima, Peru until settling in Hampton Falls in the early 1950's. In January 1965, Mary and her three youngest children move to Las Vegas, NM. At the age of 45 she returned to college and obtained her B.A. degree from Highlands University in June of 1968. She obtained her M.A. degree from Highlands University in June of 1969 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. Mary began her teaching career in the fall of 1968 at Paul D. Henry School in Las Vegas where she taught 4th and 5th grade. In the fall of 1978 she began teaching at Legion Park School where she taught 4th grade and Chapter I Reading. Following Highlands University, she became a Certified Reading Specialist. Mary retired from teaching in 1988 after 20 years. Her teaching career, her fellow teachers and the hundreds of students she was fortunate to know over the years were a constant source of pride to her. Following her from teaching, Mary continued educating people and became a tutor in the Literacy Volunteers of America Program. She was a charter member of the Santa Fe branch of the Educational Fraternity of Phi Delta Kappa. Mary was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Las Vegas and took pride in her church related volunteer work at the Southwest Senior Center in Las Vegas. Mary's life long love of music continued with her participation in various concerts at Highlands University and the United World College in Montezuma, NM. Mary is survived by her three sons, Gary and family of Miami, FL, Tom of Albuquerque, NM and Allen and family of Contoocook, NH and daughter-in-law, Dolores LaGuardia of Bedford, NH. Mary is also the true mother of and survived by two daughters, Maria LaGuardia and Nina LaGuardia, both of NH. She is also survived by six grandchildren, two nieces, two nephews and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her three brothers. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 16, 2002, 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 715 National in Las Vegas, NM. Services will follow at the Remick/Gendron Funeral Home in Hampton, NH with interment in the Janvrin family plot at Brookside Cemetery in Hampton Falls, NH. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund or Stained Glass Fund at First United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by French Mortuary -
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