Mary L. (McGettigan) Sanderson, 90, died peacefully on December 30, 2017, at Acton Life Care Center, after several years of declining health. Previously a 50-year resident of Carlisle, MA, she was predeceased in 2008 by her husband of 59 years, Albert E. Sanderson.

Mary was a 1949 graduate of Mass College of Pharmacy, and pursued a career as a retail pharmacist, including many years at Bedford Pharmacy, while raising her four children. She was a devoted wife and mother, enthusiastically supporting her husband in all his ventures, including assisting in his business of Inventronics, after retiring from the pharmaceutical field.

She joyfully presided over many family gatherings, with an abundance of good food and good cheer. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and she was known for her fun traditions, including many silly gifts and singing along to carols at the player piano. She had devoted friends in her bridge club of 20 plus years, and in later years with husband Al in the Piano Technicians Guild. Her love of music carried over to the nursing home, where she could remember all the words to sing along to 40's tunes despite her issues with short term memory.

Mary was born on December 23, 1927, in Berlin, NH, as the daughter of the late Francis and Florence (Hazzard) McGettigan. She leaves one sister, Catherine M. Currier of Concord, NH and is predeceased by another sister, Beatrice Bartlett.

She leaves four children and their spouses: David Sanderson and wife Karin Williamson of Concord; Linda Sanderson and husband William Dwyer of Hadley; Kathryn Fox and husband John of Upton; and Paul Sanderson and wife Wendy of Westford. Also, 11 grandchildren: Joshua Sanderson, Elisabeth Calvelli, Jessica Taylor, Sarah Watkins, Daniel Dwyer, Allison Emory, Michael Dwyer, Melissa Fox, Claudia Gordon, Adam Sanderson and Dana Sanderson, along with 6 great grandchildren.