Mary Lawler, who was recently recognized for her years of volunteerism at Monadnock Community Hospital by being named Granite Stater of the Month by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, has died at the age of 86.

Lawler died April 23 at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, following a prolonged illness.

Lawler, a Jaffrey native, began her career in nursing at Monadnock Community Hospital, and later served at the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield. After 45 years in the field, Lawler continued her life of service after retirement, as she helped develop the state’s CNFI program at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitiation Center, volunteered at blood drives and was a nurse volunteer in the human resources department at Monadnock Community Hospital, a role she served in for the past 12 years.

In addition to her working life, Lawler was married for 48 years to her husband, Don Lawler. She had two daughters and nine stepchildren from Don’s previous marriage. She leaves behind 32 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

“If I could think of one word to describe Mrs. L it would be devoted,” said Mary Farnsworth, who worked with Lawler in MCH’s human resources department. “No matter what I asked her to do, she did it. There was nothing she didn’t do.”

The other word to describe her, Farnsworth said, was “kind.”

“She was always bringing me either something she had baked for me, or something she had bought for me in the hospital’s gift shop. She would just give out random little gifts to people, bracelets, soaps, candies. She was a bright light in my life, and I truly miss her,” Farnsworth said.

John Sansone, vice president of human resources at MCH, said that gift-giving was a well-known trait, both with her work colleagues and in her personal life.

“She would tell me about friends and acquaintances who were sick and having troubles and how she would visit them. Personally when I faced a couple of health challenges, I would find a small book of inspirational quotes or a favorite candy she know I liked on my desk,” Sansone said. “I perform in theater and I would always find clippings she would cut out of the paper for me.”

Even as her own health declined within the past year, Sansone said Lawler always took the stance that “others have it worse.”

“Mrs. L was a force of nature, and she will be truly missed,” Sansone said.

Toni Gildone, the volunteer coordinator for MCH, said Lawler “lived to give.”

“She spent her life caretaking and giving her time and love to everyone she encountered. Whether they were family, friends, colleagues or people she met throughout the day, her generosity was unlimited, her smile unfailing,” Gildone said. “She touched so many lives – her spirit radiates out for generations.”

MCH President and CEO Cynthia McGuire said that Lawler’s dedication to the hospital was exemplary.

“Mrs. Lawler has been an incredible pillar of dedication and service to our MCH family. Her spirit of volunteerism will forever echo in the halls of our organization, and her legacy of compassion will certainly live on. She will be missed by so many,” McGuire said.

A service for Lawler was held on May 2 at the St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey, with the Rev. Wilfred H. Deschamps officiating.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @ AshleySaariMLT.