Mary Liffers

Mary Rafferty Liffers of Davidson, North Carolina (formerly of Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff, New Jersey) passed away  on June 20, 2017 at home with her family.

Mary was born on May 28, 1931 in Union City, NJ to the late Martin and Genevive Rafferty.  She graduated Holy Family High School in 1948 and was subsequently employed in the finance departments of American Can Co., Sears Roebuck, and Ballantine Books in New York City.

She married William A. Liffers in 1953 and they embarked on a 40 year joint odyssey in international business with American Cyanamid Company. She started travelling overseas in the late 1950’s and in 1961 the great adventure began with their transfer to Hong Kong. They set sail that year on one of the last pre-war passenger ships (S.S. President Wilson) from San Francisco, an adventure in itself with newborn twins and a three year old in tow. Twenty five days later their new life began.

Amid chronic water shortages and oppressive sub-tropical weather, typhoons etc., quality of life adjustments had to be made quickly. However, the positives of gracious living far outweighed the negatives.

Mary was very active on the Hong Kong scene serving as a volunteer for the U.S, Navy during the Vietnam War buildup. She was also involved with the Maryknoll mission, the American Women’s Association and a number of local charities. On the adventure side she will never forget her evacuation in 1963, from Saigon, Vietnam, during the chaos following the overthrow of the Diem regime and  after having dinner with the newly inaugurated president—“Big Minh.”

Mary loved her life in the Far East and re-visited Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, frequently, the rest of her life

In 1966, a new life beckoned and the Liffers family again set sail, this time for Europe, where her husband took up a new assignment with American Cyanamid Company in Zurich, Switzerland. The timing was right for their children’s next phase of education including trading chopsticks for knives and forks.

Mary continued her community activities in Zurich as a member of the American Woman’s Association and various local charitable organizations.

Then in 1968 the inevitable happened. When her husband announced “Mary we are going home” she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but like a true international wife packed up again in time to sail home to America from Genoa, Italy.

On returning to the U.S.A., the family resided in Franklin Lakes for over thirty years before moving to Wyckoff. Mary was active in the community as a thirty-five year volunteer at Kurth Cottage at Valley Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the Franklin Lakes Women’s Club, and various bridge playing groups. She continued to travel extensively during her lifetime, logging in over two million miles to over one hundred countries, visiting old friends and familiar places in all parts of the world. With her vivacious personality, she left everybody she met with a joke and a smile.

Mary’s proudest role was as mother and grandmother.  In addition to her husband of 64 years, she is survived by her son Steven and his wife Adele, and twin daughters Wendy Liffers and her partner Barbara Welsh, Linda Sabedra and her husband Rick, and her six loving grandchildren include Maxwell, Caitlin, Amanda and Brendan Liffers and Ryan and Tyler Sabedra.  She is also survived by her sister Anne Garrity of Rivervale, NJ and extended family.  Steven, Wendy and Linda and their families all moved to North Carolina to be with Mary and Bill in her final years.

A catholic mass and memorial will be held On Saturday June 24 at 10:00 am at Raymer-Kemper Funeral Home, 16901 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC, 28078. Off of Interstate 77, exit 25 (Huntersville) on the corner of Old Statesville Road and Highway 73.  Plans for interment at George Washington Cemetery in NJ will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary’s Name to Valley Hospital Foundation (indicate “for the benefit of the Valley Hospital Auxillary”), 223 N. Van Dien Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.