Mary Lauer Mellgard passed away Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at Helen Porter Rehabilitation and Nursing in Middlebury, Vermont. She was born Aug. 28, 1928, in Painesville, Ohio, to Elizabeth Birchmore Lauer and Willard Wood Lauer. Mary spent her childhood across the United States, due to her family's frequent moves for her father's civil engineering career. Childhood home states included Ohio, Texas, Washington, Alabama, Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1950. Mary married George Edward Mellgard Dec. 26, 1950 in Oakmont, one hour after her older sister Betty Jane married George's close friend and roommate, Jack Mallett. Mary and George raised five children in Shelbyville, Ind., Springfield, Vt., and, beginning in 1960, Fox Chapel, then a semi-rural suburb of Pittsburgh. Their red clapboard farmhouse home was filled with many friends, collie puppies and the occasional crayfish and bucket of polliwogs from the creek behind the house. Mary, George and their children enjoyed summers in Plevna, Ontario, at the family's "Cheerio Hide-a-way" cabin on Mackie Lake. Mary moved to New Hampshire to live with daughter, Betsy, Betsy's husband, Nigel, and their children in 2013 as her declining health began to make an independent life more difficult. She then moved to Weybridge, Vt., in 2020, to be with her daughter, Katie. Mary was an active member of the Altar Guild at Fox Chapel Episcopal Church for decades, and also served for years on the Women's Auxiliary Board at St. Margaret Memorial Hospital in Aspinwall. She served for many years as St. Margaret's volunteer LifeLine coordinator, arranging for countless families the peace of "home in place" technology for their older loved ones. In her younger days, she enjoyed bridge and lunch with her friends and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mary is survived by her children Catherine Mellgard, known as Katie, of Weybridge; Andrew Mellgard (Lisa), of South Dartmouth, Mass., the Rev. Rob Mellgard (Judy), of Ovid, N.Y., David Mellgard (Georgiana), of New York City, N.Y., and Elizabeth, known as Betsy (Nigel) Cotton, of Nashua, N.H. Her 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter live all over the world. Her nephew, Betty Jane's son, John Mallett and wife, Katherine (Keggie), are dear family. Mary was predeceased by her husband, George; siblings, John B., Elizabeth Jane and William and their spouses, as well as an infant brother, Joe. The family wishes to thank the skilled and caring medical and longterm care staff of Helen Porter for their compassion and support during Mary's illness and residence. The family will gather at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Christ Church Fox Chapel (formerly Fox Chapel Episcopal Church). In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Helen Porter Medical or Helen Porter Rehabilitation and Nursing: https://linklock.titanhq.com/analyseurl=https://www.portermedical.org/donate/&data=eJxNjEsKAjEQRE-TLIPMhKiLLARR0IVnyKdxAvZ07PSQ6xtdCbUoHq8qeTe7EN1-OoSjdTp74RI7RJMINXq42XW5PuD8xrtunjgDt61WYlF2h4DEJWD72ewpFmmD_39sfhGpTc0nNV1Geu_mOwdGyCWFlyF-Dp5pDQKjfABf1TKj.