Mary

SALT LAKE CITY/ATHOL - Mary M. (Smith) Erali, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017, at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mary was born in Athol on June 9, 1923 to Dominick and Nellie (Azubalis) Smith. She married Dominic “Nick” F. Erali on November 26, 1942 and they were together for 71 years until Dominic’s death on March 20, 2014. Mary and Nick will be affectionately remembered and missed by their daughter, Maria Erali of Salt Lake City and their son, Christopher and his wife, Nancy of Jefferson. They also leave two granddaughters and their spouses, Jessica and Mark Milazzo of Las Vegas and Natalie and Anthony Daigle of Ipswich. They are predeceased by an infant daughter, Christine who passed in 1947, and an infant son in 1948. They were also preceded in death by Mary’s sisters Anne Robisauckas and Nellie Taylor, and her brother Stanley Smith. On Nick’s side, they were preceded by his 7 sisters and 4 brothers. Mary served as the Assistant Town Clerk for 8 years before becoming the first woman ever elected to the office of Town Clerk in Athol. During her time in office, Mary was proud to play a role in the conversion from a paper ballot voting system in Athol to a machine-based one. She was also integral in adding the first computer system to the Town Clerk office. Prior to serving in that office, Mary worked at the Union Twist Drill, New Salem Academy, Cetto Insurance Agency, and the former First National Bank of Athol. Mary was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Worcester County Town Clerk’s Association, and the Retired State County and Municipal Employees Association. She was also a member of the Athol Cultural Council, AARP, the Golden Agers, and the Athol Historical Society. She enjoyed art and oil painting and was a member of the Deerfield Valley Art Association and the Petersham Art Center. Mary enjoyed gardening, was an avid and excellent bridge player, and read voraciously. Dominic F. Erali, affectionately called Nick, was born on November 5, 1922 to Antimio and Francesca (Ferraia) Erali in Whitingham, VT. He graduated from Athol High School and married Mary, his high school sweetheart, on November 26, 1942. Dominic served in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Alnitah (AK127). After graduating from Fitchburg State College, Nick taught for 28 years at both New Salem Academy and Athol High School. He was a member of the Athol American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Ellinwood Country Club, and the Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association In his spare time, Nick could be found playing a round of golf with his friends or spending time hunting and fishing with Chris. Mary and Nick were members of Our Lady Immaculate Church, until moving to Salt Lake City in 2005. There they continued to be devoted fans of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. In celebration of Mary and Nick’s lives, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Friday, May 19, at Our Lady of Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Rd., Waltham, MA 02452. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. To offer a condolence or share a memory, please visit the "Guest Book" on this page.