Mary L. "Sisson" Verock

Mary Louise (Sisson) Verock, born May 13, 1947, passed away on March 7, 2026. A longtime resident of Athol, Massachusetts, and formerly of New Salem, she was known for her generous spirit and loving heart.

Mary spent many years hosting Ladies Tea Breakfasts, where she shared the loving promises of Jesus with women and people of all ages. As a teacher at North New Salem Christian School, she served as an encourager and guide to many. She cherished her friends, including those she affectionately called “the posse”—Sylvie Thilbeault, Nancy Gerry, and Glenda Beeler—and found special joy in spending time with her beloved grandchildren. In her earlier years, she helped shepherd her nieces and nephews. Those who knew Mary knew she kept them on her prayer list, as interceding for the needs of others was deeply important to her.

She loved singing show tunes, playing the piano, and sharing laughter. Mary often surprised people with small, thoughtful gifts that lifted their spirits.

She is survived by her sisters-in-law Diane Sisson and Mary Ellen Sisson; her daughters Ruth-Ellen Verock and Emily Verock-Isrow and their husbands Brendan Hoffman and Eric Isrow; her grandchildren Zoe and Joey Lehtomaki and their father Jeremy Lehtomaki; her great-grandson James Grasso; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, including lifelong companions Sally Davis Tarara and David Tarara. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Michael Verock, whom she cared for through more than 20 years with Parkinson’s Disease, and by their son Jesse, who passed away at the age of 16. Mary will be remembered as a woman of deep faith whose greatest hope was to be reunited with her loved ones in heaven, where she will once again sing and dance with Michael and Jesse.