In Loving Memory of Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Ounsworth

Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Ounsworth

Born: Jamaica, NY May 12, 1943

Died: Newton, MA October 6, 2025

It is with deep sorrow and profound love that we announce the passing of our beloved mom and biggest fan, Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Ounsworth (née Fitzgerald), who died on October 6, 2025, after a long journey with Alzheimer's disease. Courageous understates how she faced a diagnosis that no one wants, and how she lived the last 12 years with grace, a smile, and laughter despite everything. She was remarkable, strong, talented, generous, kind, fun-loving and thoroughly devoted to her family and community. We were so lucky to have her as our mother.

Beth was born in New York but was raised in Pembroke, MA, where she was the reigning hopscotch champion. She had an incredibly strong bond with her sisters, Ellen King and Nancy Waddell, who predeceased her. We are sure they are singing, "Sisters, sisters, never were there more devoted sisters," dancing, and laughing together now. She was also predeceased by her beloved brother-in-law of 56 years, Jim Waddell, who visited her faithfully in memory care until he passed away exactly one year ago. He shared many stories that made her laugh, including a favorite about Beth sternly advising him that he needed to "cool it" in the romance department with her younger sister as they drove from Boston to Connecticut in her Karmann Ghia to visit Nancy in the 1960s. She is survived by Jim Ounsworth, whom she married in 1970 and has remained a friend; by her children Meg Steere (Sam), Alec Ounsworth, and Matt Ounsworth (Amanda), her grandchildren, her brothers, nephews, nieces, and a lifetime of memories.

Beth was a true force of nature. She balanced motherhood with her many passions and responsibilities. She could fix a leaky faucet, host a dinner for 30, organize family trips, and still find time to nurture her garden and sing in the community chorus. She cooked like a tempest blowing through the kitchen, pots and pans covering the countertops and sweet potato on the floor - and a gourmet meal as the result. She played tennis regularly and loved to read, to travel and to study French. She was deeply involved in her community in Philadelphia, particularly through volunteer work with the Friends of Philadelphia Parks, Musical Cocktails for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cliveden House, and the Morris Arboretum. She earned her Bachelor's degree at Chestnut Hill College while raising her children—an accomplishment that is emblematic of her grit, determination, and endless love for learning.

She gave her kids a magical childhood. Homemade birthday cakes; handmade Halloween costumes, Cabbage Patch dolls, and Pound Puppies; treasure hunts in Philadelphia's Wissahickon woods. Sweltering Philadelphia summer evenings saw Beth sitting in a folding chair on the sidewalk, gin and tonic in hand, while we kids played. At Christmas, the smell of baking cookies filled our home. She would give them as gifts to neighbors and friends. And she showed up—for every game, every recital, every late-night phone call.

Beth's generosity extended beyond immediate family. Her friendships were deep and long-lasting, a testament to her loyalty and fun-loving nature. Over the years, our family hosted exchange students, many of whom became lifelong friends. When Germany won the World Cup in 1990, who else would our former German exchange student call in the middle of the night to share his excitement? That's how she was. She always wanted to hear about our moments.

Beth was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2013 when she was still young, independent, and involved in many activities in her community and her friends' and children's lives. She had always wanted to be a grandmother and had 5 grandchildren - Samuel, Rosemary, Isabelle, Louisa, and Henry. It is a gift that she was able to know herself briefly as Grammy O and to hold each of her grandkids as babies, though she could not be as much a part of their lives as she wanted or as we had dreamed.

Beth led with her heart - and that endured and became more clear than ever when her head failed her. She built loving relationships in memory care, where the most abiding memories of her feature her big smile, generous hugs, and lots of singing and dancing.

Thank you to the incredible community of friends and caregivers who stood by us all these years. You honored the woman she was by ensuring that all of Beth's years were filled with dignity, joy, and music.

We have learned that the pain of our loss mirrors the depth of our love. In that love, she remains ever-present. Her legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, friends, and all who knew her. We will miss Beth, our mom and friend, every day. And we will always be her biggest fans.

The family is grieving privately at this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (https://curealz.org/) or the Friends of the Wissahickon (https://fow.org/).