Mary Lourdes (Wells) Papapetros

Mary Lourdes (Wells) Papapetros 74, of Latham, New York, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home surrounded by her children on Monday, June 17, 2024.

Born January 28, 1950, in Troy, New York to the late Margaret Lourdes Bouchard and Albert Francis Wells, Mary’s life was defined by an indomitable spirit and unwavering devotion to her family. Mary’s proudest role in life was as a mother to Georgia Papapetros, Demitrios “Jamie” Papapetros, and Gregory Papapetros, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.

Mary graduated from Beverly High School in Beverly, Massachusetts, class of 1968, and Mildred Elley Business College in Albany. She worked as a medical receptionist for more than 20 years for several medical practices in the Capital Region, but she is most fondly remembered for her years at JCPenney in Latham. Mary had an impeccable sense for fashion and detail, often sporting a new blazer or jacket and matching headband.

When she was not working, Mary could often be found in the kitchen preparing one of her famous meals or desserts as she always wanted everyone well fed and taken care of. Whether it was her famous lasagna, pancakes, or Funfetti cakes, Mary was a master chef. When it came to caring for herself, it was an extra-large coffee from Dunkin’.

Mary was also passionate about animals, adopting pets and taking in strays that gravitated to her doorstep. Most recently, Mary was the proud mom of Ms. Valentine, a Jack Russell Terrier mix, and Mr. Screech, a black-and-white tuxedo cat, who could often be found sleeping on her chest or beside her head. The Sylvan Avenue neighborhood will fondly remember 25 years of Mary walking by with one of her dogs, waving and stopping to check in, with Stanley, the cat, trailing behind her.

Mary was an avid reader with an affinity for Danielle Steel romance novels. She enjoyed watching her favorite soap operas, “The Young and The Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and she fell asleep nightly with the comfort and laughs of “The Golden Girls.” To her family, Mary resembled Sophia Petrillo from the iconic show, as she stood only 5 feet tall, and, like Sophia, she made up for it with a feisty and never-quit attitude. That feistiness carried her from her childhood as one of seven, through marriage and motherhood, to the milestone of buying her first home and rebuilding it after a house fire.

Mary’s resilience helped her to overcome cancer, a challenge that amazed her team of healthcare professionals. While Mary faced a number of health challenges in recent years, her zest for life never wavered. She cherished opportunities to visit with her sisters and extended family for birthdays and other special occasions in her hometown. She also relished the chance to visit with her childhood friend of more than 50 years, Brenda Walker Hallion, and to attend high school reunions.

Mary and Brenda, whose families lived side-by-side in a large duplex in Beverly, spent many of their afternoons as young children and teenagers picking up snacks from the local store, Plummer’s, after school and rushing to watch their favorite TV shows, “Edge of Night” and “Secret Storm.” Mary and Brenda stayed in touch as their lives took them in different directions, and they continued to be there for each other during life’s most precious and challenging times.

“Family like branches of a tree, we grow in different directions, but our roots remain as one.” This quote hung over Mary’s bed and is the value by which she lived. If there is a life lesson that Mary could pass on, it would be to never give up, to cherish family and friends, and, in the words of Dorothy Zbornak, “The bottom line is, if you take a chance in life, sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen, but, honey, if you don’t take a chance, nothing happens.” To all those who crossed paths with Mary, “Thank you for being a friend.”

Mary is survived by her two children, Georgia Papapetros and Demitrios “Jamie” Papapetros, and predeceased by her youngest child, Gregory Papapetros. She is also survived by her former husband and the father of her children, George Papapetros of Athens, Greece, and by her sisters, Peggy Wells-O’Keeffe of Poughkeepsie, Kathy (Wells) Buff of Guilderland, Anne Glynn Baldwin of Glendale, Arizona, Ann Q. of Beverly, Massachusetts, and numerous cousins. Mary was predeceased by her brothers, Jim Wells and John Wells, of Beverly, Massachusetts, sister Judy Davis of Highland Mills, New York, and aunts Mary Hill and Madeline Sapone.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Shaker Ridge Country Club, 802 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Attn: Donations, 3 Oakland Avenue, Menands, NY 12204 in memory of Mary.

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