Mary Matilda Shaughnessy

Mary Matilda Shaughnessy (née Everett) passed away peacefully at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy of love, family, and hard work. Born on January 8, 1924, in Baltimore City to Gussie Virginia Carter and Robert Gordon Everett, Mary grew up in Parkville, Maryland. She attended Towson High School and later the University of Maryland, setting the foundation for a life marked by dedication and resilience. In 1940, Mary married James Augustus May, and together they raised eight children. After their marriage ended, she found love again with John Shaughnessy of Baltimore, a World War II veteran and retired Baltimore City detective. They married in 1963, blending their families and building a life full of purpose and achievement. Together, Mary and John founded Chesapeake Moving & Storage in Baltimore, a successful business they operated for 28 years. Following their retirement, they moved to Florida in the 1980s and eventually settled in St. Michaels, Maryland, where they spent their later years. John passed away in 2015, and Mary continued to be surrounded by the family and community she cherished. Mary is survived by six of her children: Emily Hammontree of Grand Junction, CO; Mary Lapides of Cockeysville, MD; Richard May of Sparks, MD; Robert May of St. Michaels, MD; John May of Fallston, MD; and Michael May of Brooklandville, MD. She is also survived by two stepchildren, Michael Shaughnessy of California and Barry Shaughnessy of West Virginia. Mary was predeceased by two sons, James May and William May, both of Baltimore. Her proud and enduring legacy includes 24 grandchildren, 61 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren, each a testament to the strong and loving family she nurtured throughout her life. Mary will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her deep ties to every community she called home. Her life was a blessing to all who knew her, and her memory will be treasured always. The family will receive guests and friends on Friday, May 2nd from 9:30 until 10:30 at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, Easton, MD. A funeral service will follow at Christ Church St. Michaels Parish, 301 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels MD, beginning at 11am. Interment will follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Mary’s memory are encouraged to do so to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Ave. Easton, MD 21601.

Mary Matilda Shaughnessy

January 8, 1924 - April 25, 2025