Mary Alice Demo, 93, Massena

MASSENA -- Mary Alice Demo, age 93, formerly of River Drive in Massena, passed away peacefully on Tuesday the 18th at St. Mary’s Nursing Center in Maryland where she had been a resident for the past three years.

Family and friends are welcome to call at the Phillips Memorial Home on Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 12:00 pm until the time of funeral services beginning at 2:00 pm with the Rev. Mark Reilly officiating.

A burial will be held at a later date in Calvary Cemetery, Massena at the convenience of the family.

Mary Alice was born in 1931, in Massena, a daughter of the late Glenn and Alice (O’Driscoll) Barbour.

She attended Massena Schools graduating from Massena High School and continuing her education at Potsdam College, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in education in 1953.

She began her career teaching in Rochester, NY, and then returned to Massena, where she taught junior high English.

She met her husband to be, Rodney J. Demo, and they married on August 4, 1956, enjoying 50 years of marriage together. They started a family, and Mary Alice later returned to teaching, working for many years as a substitute teacher in Massena. She ended her career working at Norwood-Norfolk Central School, retiring in 1994.

After her retirement, she and Rodney spent many winters in Florida. She also volunteered with Massena Meals on Wheels, Massena Senior Citizens, Massena Memorial Hospital, and Saint Vincent De Paul, now the St. Peter’s Parish Outreach. She was a lifelong communicant of Sacred Heart Church.

Mary Alice is survived by her loving and devoted daughters and sons-in-law; Margaret (Robert) Green, Ellen (Marshall) Burt and Patty (Marc) Derouchie, all of Massena, NY; Jane (Kal) Weller of Lusby, MD and Katie (Brian) Glines of Moon Township, PA. Mary is also survived by her grandchildren, Erinn (Justin) Tredo of Massena, Megan (Micah) St. Thomas of Chase Mills, NY, Christopher Weller of Arlington, VA, Carole (Zachary) Starrin of Lusby, MD, Sam Glines of Moon Township, PA, Max Glines of Millbrook, NY, Kate Derouchie of Massena, NY, and Matthew Derouchie of Hanover, NH; and great-grandchildren, Henry, Benjamin, and Lillian Tredo, Mason and Marlee St. Thomas, along with many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her husband, Rodney in April 2007, and her brothers and sisters; Robert Barbour of Plymouth, MI, Ralph Barbour of Indianapolis, IN, Charles Barbour of Greensboro, NC, Dorothy Kirkey of Las Vegas, NV, and Marcia Archambeault of St. Louis, MO.

Mary loved talking and meeting people, and cherished the time she spent with her family and friends, especially at her home on the St. Lawrence River. This love was evident even during her long illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association; 5015 Campuswood Drive, Suite 102, East Syracuse, NY 13057 or Massena Meals-on Wheels; 70 E Hatfield St, Massena, NY 13662.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories, condolences, and photos online, by visiting www.PhillipsMemorial.com.