Obituary of Mary Genevieve Whipple

Mary Genevieve Atkins Whipple passed away January 28, 2025, in Kissimmee, FL at the age of 90.

Mary was born and raised in Bloomingdale, N.J. in 1934, and graduated from Butler High School in 1954. She married H. Douglas Whipple in 1955 and they had seven children together.

She was first employed by N.J. Bell, and later by Parsippany Municipal Court for 21 years.

She was very active in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Parsippany, N.J. where she worked bingo for 21 years, was President of the Rosary Society, a member of the Sisters of the Church, the Catholic Daughters of America, and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She was also President of both Ladies Auxiliary of Lake Hiawatha Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary of Firemen of the State of N.J. She was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts of America for St. Peter the Apostle, Knollwood, and Lake Hiawatha elementary schools.

After her husband passed in 1993, she spent her later years in the companionship of Michael Reffie, who passed in 2011. She moved to Kissimmee, FL in 2022 where she lived out her final years.

Mary was also predeceased by her twins, Gerald Douglas and Gerard Theodore, prematurely born in 1957, as well as her parents William F. Atkins Sr. and Elizabeth Struble Atkins, and brother William Atkins.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Diane Jastram O’Connor of Clarksboro, NJ and her four loving sons (and daughters-in-law), Douglas and Diana Whipple of Millsboro, DE, David Whipple of Cambridge, MD, Daniel and Ana Whipple of Parrish, FL and Darrin and Christine Whipple of Kissimmee, FL., six grandchildren, two great-granddaughters, three step-grandchildren, and seven step-great-grandchildren. As well as a sister, Mary Ann Agront of Lewes, DE, and brother, Thomas and wife Mary Lou Atkins of Hopatcong, NJ; in addition to many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to call Monday, February 3, 2025, from 4-8pm at Stephen J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Rd., Lake Hiawatha. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 4, 2024, 11:00am at Saint Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, Parsippany, NJ. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the parish web site at http://saintpetertheapostle.org. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Butler, NJ.