Obituary of Mary MacLeod Herion

MARY MACLEOD HERION

October 4, 1926–March 28, 2023

Mary MacLeod Herion, 96, passed away on March 28, 2023 after several months of declining health. Mary was born in Cape North, Nova Scotia, Canada, the daughter of the Reverend M. D. MacLeod of Wreck Cove, Nova Scotia and Mary MacDonald MacLeod of Caledonia, Prince Edward Island. She had many fond memories of growing up in Cape Breton and PEI, where her father, a United Church of Canada minister, served numerous congregations. In June 1945 she graduated high school from Sydney Academy in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

In March of 1946 she entered the nursing program at Victoria General Hospital in Halifax, graduating with an R.N. degree in June 1949. She served on the Victoria General staff until 1952, when she moved to Boston to work at the New England Baptist Hospital.

There she met a young Harvard medical student, John C. Herion. They were married in Boston on October 2, 1953, and moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where they raised all five of their children.

In her later years, she and John travelled to Canada, Alaska, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, John; her two older brothers, Allan J. MacLeod of Halifax and D. Gordon MacLeod of Sydney, Nova Scotia; and her nephews David MacLeod and Jeffrey Deal.

Mary is survived by her five children: Gary Herion of Durham, NC and his wife Carol; John M. Herion of Wilmington, NC and his wife Robin; Diane Herion Bell of Asheboro and her husband Clark; Carol Herion Buckner of Cary, NC and her husband Kenn; and David W. Herion of Chevy Chase, MD.

She is also survived by her ten grandchildren: Melissa Herion Bonilla and her husband Alberto of New York City; Sam Herion and Daniel Herion of Durham, NC; Caroline Herion Montes de Oca and her husband Joan of Chicago; John T. Herion and his wife Annie of Wilmington, NC; Robert Herion and his wife Stephanie of Wilmington, NC; Blakely Bell of St. Thomas, VI; Rebekah Bell of Asheboro, NC; and Mary Buckner and Stephen Buckner of Cary, NC.

Mary is also survived by three great-granddaughters: Yelena Carol Bonilla, Eleanor Victoria Herion, and Lucia Robin Montes de Oca.

She is also survived by her two sisters-in law, Elizabeth (Libby) Herion Deal (and husband Claude) of Durham, NC, and Sherry Herion of Matthews, NC, as well as by many beloved nephews and nieces and their children.

A memorial service celebrating Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (300 E. Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill 27514) with reception to follow at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made either to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (memo: “Spring Special Appeal”); to UNC Hospice (https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/care-treatment/hospice/make-a-gift/); or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be sent to the Herion family by visiting www.walkersfuneralhome.com.