July 24, 2021 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Mary B. Houtmann of Chadds Ford

Mary B. Houtmann, 92, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully on July 21, at home. Born and raised in Blackstone, Mass., she livd for the past 22 years in Chadds Ford, residing in Chester Heights for over 40 years.

She graduated from Blackstone High School, Class of 1946, where she was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, scholastic achievement, and patriotism in her community. She was also a graduate of the Hill School of Business in Woonsocket, RI. In her earlier years, Mary worked for the family engineering business of G. D. Houtmann & Son.

Devoted to her faith, she was a member of the Mothers Club and volunteered throughout her 40 years as a parishioner of St Francis de Sales Parish, and more recently a member of St. Cornelius Catholic Church. She loved taking trips to the beach, especially Cape Cod, gardening, cooking, and family gatherings. Most of all she enjoyed taking care of her home and being with her children and grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Noel and Mabel Dwyer Beane, Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Edouard N. Houtmann who passed in 1994, and three brothers: John, William, and Gilbert Beane.

She is survived by six children: Edward Houtmann, Martha (Joseph) Provanzano, Matthew (Nancy) Houtmann, Jane Houtmann, Gustave (Barbara) Houtmann, and John (Margaret) Houtmann, brother, Harold (Corrine) Beane, 15 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

The family offers special appreciation to Mary’s caregiver for the past five years, Darrie. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 9:30-10:45 a.m. at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 35 New Road, Lenni, PA, followed by a funeral mass at 11. A private interment will be held at Media Cemetery, Media.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.paganofuneralhome.com

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Library groundbreaking planned

Local News Kennett, Local News, Local News Pennsbury

The Kennett Library Board of Trustees will host a groundbreaking for the new Kennett Library and Resource Center on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. It will take place at the location of the new building, the corner of State and Willow Streets in the Borough of Kennett Square. All are welcome to attend.

“For over 20 years community members have planned, worked, and dreamt about a new regional library and now in 2021 that dream will become a reality, said Board President Jeff Yetter in a press release. “The Kennett Library is both a knowledge sanctuary and a community center. It is the soul of our community. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background, the library welcomes you and has something for you.”

The Kennett Library serves as a literacy center for everyone from infants to seniors. In addition to the core services of any library, there are storytimes, in both English and Spanish to entertain and promote early literacy; there are ESL, U.S. Citizenship, and GED classes. In the last two years, the library helped 24 community residents become U.S. citizens.

The Kennett Library has served the community for more than 125 years in just two buildings. The current building, built in 1961 is outdated, has a basic lack of space for both materials and activities, the facility’s antiquated core systems — utilities, parking, access, storage, etc. — are seriously deficient.

Highlights of the new building include a 110-seat auditorium; Bayard Taylor Conference Room; children’s maker space; adult maker space; two classrooms; one multipurpose room; four tutor rooms; quiet and reflection room; computer carrels; several quiet reading areas; and an outdoor terrace.

Thanks to a core set of volunteers, many of them who came before us, we are now in the early stage of building a new library that will serve the community for another 50 years and longer. Thanks to our donors and supporters, both past and present, the Capital Campaign has raised 60 percent of the $20 million-goal needed to build the state-of-the-art library and resource center.

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