Mary Gentry
June 2, 1924 — April 15, 2017
Mary Gentry
Mary Elizabeth Hoban Gentry of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away April 15, 2017. She was born June 2nd 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri to Richard Matthew and Virginia Elizabeth Hoban. She was a graduate of Mt. St. Mary Academy in Little Rock and graduated from St. Louis University where she earned her degree in nursing which was her childhood dream. She served as head nurse of labor and delivery at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock and later held the position of head nurse of the Oncology Department upon its establishment. Mary played a large role in working with cancer protocols in the early days of Oncology and cancer care and made sure patients were loved and cared for under her supervision and leadership.
Books, books, and more books. Mary loved to read. So much so that after her retirement from nursing she took a part-time job selling books. On the side, she would house sit for friends, or soon to be friends around her neighborhood, but traveling was her passion. Mary loved to travel the world. She circled the globe at least three times, always with a friend by her side, rushing off to new adventures. She had often said that her idea of a perfect death would be in a hot air balloon ride while drinking a glass of wine over the vineyards of Northern California; but after she survived the ride with no crash or death, she was said to have felt cheated; that was just Mary's humor.
A loving wife and mother, Mary raised a family with poems written on lunch bags and made up answers to homework questions to which she didn't want to admit she didn't know the answer. Yes, that is who she was. After her retirement from nursing she took a wine class, learning the in-depth process of the grape and region of a good wine and fancied herself a sommelier, but in reality, she loved her box wine and never let "wine time" get passed her. She spent many afternoons with her friends sipping a glass of wine, discussing books and sharing stories.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew and Elizabeth Hoban; husband, former Attorney General Thomas J. Gentry; son, Richard; daughter, Julia; brothers, Lt. General Richard Hoban and William Hoban. Survivors include her daughters, Marsha Weinstein (Keith) and Virginia Hanson; sons, William Gentry and Andrew Gentry (Tricia); grandchildren, Louise Weinstein, Clay Harrison, John Hanson and Augie Gentry; great-grandchildren, Linny Harrison and Ada Jo Harrison.
Mass and Christian burial will be Thursday, April 20th at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. with Father John Marconi officiating.
The family would like to express its gratitude and thanks to the members of Hospice Home Care in Little Rock for their exceptional support, love, and guidance through this journey. A special thanks goes to Ms. Christy Jackson who exemplified what true compassion for end of life care is. She is truly an angel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Academy, Catholic High School for Boys, and Our Lady of the Holy Souls Monsignor Allen Trust and Development Fund.
So as they say in the country of her family's birth, "I leave ya, I love ya, God bless ya".
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205 (501)224-2200. Mary's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
1003 N. Tyler St.
Little Rock, AR, 72205
Books, books, and more books. Mary loved to read. So much so that after her retirement from nursing she took a part-time job selling books. On the side, she would house sit for friends, or soon to be friends around her neighborhood, but traveling was her passion. Mary loved to travel the world. She circled the globe at least three times, always with a friend by her side, rushing off to new adventures. She had often said that her idea of a perfect death would be in a hot air balloon ride while drinking a glass of wine over the vineyards of Northern California; but after she survived the ride with no crash or death, she was said to have felt cheated; that was just Mary's humor.
A loving wife and mother, Mary raised a family with poems written on lunch bags and made up answers to homework questions to which she didn't want to admit she didn't know the answer. Yes, that is who she was. After her retirement from nursing she took a wine class, learning the in-depth process of the grape and region of a good wine and fancied herself a sommelier, but in reality, she loved her box wine and never let "wine time" get passed her. She spent many afternoons with her friends sipping a glass of wine, discussing books and sharing stories.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew and Elizabeth Hoban; husband, former Attorney General Thomas J. Gentry; son, Richard; daughter, Julia; brothers, Lt. General Richard Hoban and William Hoban. Survivors include her daughters, Marsha Weinstein (Keith) and Virginia Hanson; sons, William Gentry and Andrew Gentry (Tricia); grandchildren, Louise Weinstein, Clay Harrison, John Hanson and Augie Gentry; great-grandchildren, Linny Harrison and Ada Jo Harrison.
Mass and Christian burial will be Thursday, April 20th at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. with Father John Marconi officiating.
The family would like to express its gratitude and thanks to the members of Hospice Home Care in Little Rock for their exceptional support, love, and guidance through this journey. A special thanks goes to Ms. Christy Jackson who exemplified what true compassion for end of life care is. She is truly an angel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Academy, Catholic High School for Boys, and Our Lady of the Holy Souls Monsignor Allen Trust and Development Fund.
So as they say in the country of her family's birth, "I leave ya, I love ya, God bless ya".
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205 (501)224-2200. Mary's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.
Funeral Mass
APR 20. 11:00 AM (CDT)
Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church1003 N. Tyler St.
Little Rock, AR, 72205
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