Mary Lou Kerr, 83, Stamford Resident Worked As Nurse

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Mary Lou Kerr, 83, died Tuesday, March 10.

Kerr was born Oct. 14, 1931, in Stamford to the late George and Loretta Murphy Farrell and was a lifelong Stamford resident.

She was a founding member (1963) of St. Bridget's RC Church. She worked as a registered nurse for more than 30 years at St. Joseph Medical Center, having served as a staff development supervisor, floor supervisor and as director of the LPN school.

After her retirement from St. Joe's, Kerr worked as a nurse for Community Health of Stamford Hospital. She graduated Stamford High School in 1949 and the Stamford Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. She later earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Iona College. Kerr was a devoted nurse and friend having served and helped many people throughout the years.

Kerr was active in the Stamford Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, The Stamford Women's Club, The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Stamford and the St. Leo's Senior Center. Her specialty was making crafts and centerpieces for Christmas fairs and other holidays for these groups.

She is survived by her sons, George Farrell Kerr and his wife Janet of Monroe, and Michael J. Kerr and his wife Carla Gutierrez Kerr of Stamford; three sisters, Alice DeFrancesco, Dorothy "Dottie" Nestor and her husband James of Stamford and Lorraine Farrell of Stamford. Her four grandchildren, Jessica Patenaude, John Kerr, Michael Kerr and Diego Kerr, and her great-grandson Derek Patenaude, as well as several loving nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

She was was predeceased by her husband Matthew J. Kerr, Jr., sons, Matthew J. Kerr, III and Douglass Kerr and  sister Elizabeth "Betty" Brown.

Family and friends may call at the Cognetta Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. Friday. A funeral procession will leave Cognetta at 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, at 10:15 a.m. Saturday and proceed to St. Bridget's RC Church, 278 Strawberry Hill Ave., Stamford, for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at St. John's RC Cemetery, Darien. 

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