SCHENECTADY — Beloved family matriarch, nurse and Schenectady resident Mary. E. Daverin celebrated her 99th birthday Sunday.
Daverin recently turned 99 and celebrated her milestone birthday with more than 50 family members at a party held in her honor in Scotia.
Daverin thanked her family for the surprise party and told them she, “is truly blessed.” Much of Daverin’s life has been about family and caring for others. She has had seven children, 30 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren and 18 great-great grandchildren.
“All the fussing I did to get here, and all the running I did to get here, I am really enjoying it all,” Daverin said.
Born Oct. 24, 1924, Daverin has lived in Schenectady for the past 52 years.
Daverin attended nursing school, and received her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree from 1971-1973. She worked as a nurse at O.D. Heck, and as a private duty nurse with a number of different agencies, while she simultaneously took care of adults with special needs in her home.
Daverin was also the caretaker of her mother, Mary Edwards, until she passed away at 91 in 1991.
In 1993, Daverin’s love of children led her to convert her home into a nurturing daycare, which she ran from 1993 until she retired in 2007.
Mary Daverin became a distinguished member of the Rose of Sharon Elks Club, in the Brooklyn New York Chapter, and was honored as the Past Granddaughter Ruler.
Daverin’s contributions to the community were honored at her birthday party, with proclamations from Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy’s office, which declared Oct. 29 Mary Daverin Day in the city of Schenectady, and the office of State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara’s, D-Rotterdam.
