Mary Trainor

Madison - Mary Trainor was lovingly welcomed by her parents, William and Elizabeth Trainor, and her 14 year old sister, Patricia, on July 18, 1952. She was raised in Astoria and Woodside Queens, New York City. Her parents values and the ethnic, religious and racial diversity of the communities around her impacted her sensitivity to others and cultural differences.

Fortunate to come of college age when the taxpayers of New York City provided free tuition at the City University of New York, Mary graduated from Queens College, CUNY in 1974 with a Bachelors degree in psychology. She moved to Madison and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1977 with a Masters degree in Social Work. While she expected to do social justice social work, she surprised herself by working primarily as a clinical social worker. Her social work credentials included a license as a Clinical Social Worker, a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and Board Certification as a Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. Mary was grateful for and had no regrets when she witnessed the profound healing and growth of the individuals with whom she worked.

Mary gained a great deal of spiritual strength from the work of Eckhart Tolle and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) of which she was a member. It was at the Madison Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends where she met and married Peter Sample in 1993. They were both thrilled at the birth of their child, Nathaniel in July 1994. While Mary enjoyed being a social worker, she loved being a mother to Nathaniel.

Peter died in 2001 of prostate cancer, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and metastases to her bones in 2014. Both times she pursued alternative medicine maintaining her health for many years. She passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at her home, surrounded by loved ones.

Mary leaves her beloved son; and many self made family members including Susan Spencer, Celeste Robins, Beth Gullickson, Rachel Potter, Julie Shaull; as well as the Sample family. She is preceded in death by billions of people, some she knew, and some she didn't. There will be a Memorial Meeting for Worship at the Madison Friends Meetinghouse, 1704 Roberts Ct, Madison, WI 53711 on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. A green burial will be at the Natural Path Sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rosenberg Fund for Children, the Religious Society of Friends and/or plant a tree.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434