MADISON, WI- Mary E. (Biggins) Taft, 63, entered her Eternal Rest March, 23, 2016 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, WI, in the loving care of her transplant team and surrounded by family.

Born to the late Eleanor Rose (Wasgatt) Biggins and Thomas Joseph Biggins, Jr. in Worcester, MA on January 31, 1953. Mary was the oldest of their six children. She graduated Cathedral High School in Springfield, MA and then Framingham State College (1975) with a degree in home economics education. On a blind date during her time in college, Mary met Donald Allen Taft. The two courted via daily, written correspondence while Don served as a lieutenant in the Army Corp of Engineers. On January 5, 1974, while he was on a weekend pass from Fort Meade, Mary and Don married.

Mary was a natural-born teacher and perpetual advocate for children. She taught home economics professionally in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, MA, and in St. Louis County, MO. She taught avocationally as a CCD instructor for over 25 years. She lent considerable efforts to parent teacher organizations in New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The true passion of Mary's life was her family.

A supportive sister, Mary was a confidant and friend to all of her siblings, especially filling in where she could after their mother passed away. She constructed her sister's wedding dress. She went out of her way to attend family weddings and baptisms. Mary cultivated intimate and meaningful relationships with her nieces and nephews. Hand-crafted gifts, significant visits and personal nicknames were commonplace. She became a special "Mimi" aunt for one of her brothers' children. Last autumn, for another niece, Mary altered her sister-in-law's vintage wedding dress.

In her roles as wife and mother, Mary derived her greatest joy. Motherhood began for Mary with the birth of her twin sons, Benjamin and William. Her family grew to include Nathaniel and Eleanor. She and Don worked hard and took great pride in the kind of people their children became, children who organized neighborhood kickball games which included every child, children who valued honesty over self promotion, children who could win a game of checkers on their own terms. As her children grew into adults and married, Mary welcomed each of her children's spouses into the family with warmth, friendship and unquestioned love. Family gatherings were exuberant, joyous celebrations and it is no exaggeration to say the love Mary imbued into the food she made for these gatherings was known to evoke joyful tears. Mary's was a home brimming with love.

In 2007 Mary became a Nana, a title for which she had longed all her life and a role in which she excelled. She had a gift to help each grandchild understand how uniquely beloved they are. She never tired of reading them stories, answering their questions, showering them with millions of kisses, or cuddling them to sleep when she visited. Mary lovingly made handcrafted gifts for all her grandchildren, from delicate, heirloom baptismal gowns to now threadbare blankets. Mary expressed her love for each grandchild through these gifts and through them her love for her grandchildren will endure.

All who knew Mary will miss her joie de vivre. She was a woman who bubbled when she laughed, which she did often and freely. She liked driving fast and rooting for the good guys. She delighted in eating crispy fries and celebrating with treats of ice cream. She was outgoing and caring, never missing an opportunity to smile at a baby or to make a genuine connection with a stranger. She was a gifted storyteller and lifelong theater-lover, taking as much pleasure from a broadway musical as she did from middle-school plays. But most especially everyone who knew Mary will miss the beautiful sparkle in her eyes; no one's eyes radiated love more than Mary's did.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Eleanor Rose (Wasgatt) Biggins.

She is survived by her most beloved, best friend and husband, Donald Allen Taft of Brandon, SD. She was the loving mother of four children, Benjamin N. Taft and his wife Natalia of Racine, WI, William B.Taft and his wife Jessica of Madison, WI, Nathaniel N. Taft and his wife Elise of Mt. Horeb, WI and Eleanor Mary Dickinson and her husband Jacob of Sioux Falls, SD. She was the greatly beloved "Nana" of seven grandchildren Norah McKenzie, Lydia Morgan, Gabrielle Zella, Evelyn Mary, Zebulon Donald, Micah Benjamin and Louisa Simone.

She is also survived by her father, Thomas (Doris) Biggins of Toms River, NJ and siblings Thomas (Donna) Biggins of Sudbury, MA, Robert (the late Christine) Biggins of Rockland, MA, Daniel (Lynn) Biggins of Worcester, MA, Ann (Randy) Hulette of Falls Church, VA, Joseph (Kerrie) Biggins of Acton, MA and many nieces, nephews and life long friends.

The Taft Family invites friends and family to celebrate Mary's life at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street in Holden on Friday June 3, 2016 from 5:00-8:00 PM. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday June 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Our lady Of the Angels Church 1222 Main Street in Worcester.