Mary Hughes (Hughes) Enright

Mary Hughes Enright passed away peacefully on November 15, 2020.

Born in Chicago to John Patrick and Elise Mary Hughes on August 25, 1937.  Mary was a twin to her brother, Jack and oldest sister to twins Jerry and Gene and sister, Nancy.  Mary’s Hughes family hailed from Claremorris, County Clare in the West of Ireland and she was proud of her dual Irish citizenship.

Mary, known to her family as “Nogu,” attended St. Luke’s grammar school, Trinity High School in River Forest, was a graduate of St Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana, and held a Masterʻs degree in Early Childhood Development from American University.

While at a high school dance Mary met her future husband, Harold “Bud” Enright who was a student at Fenwick High School in nearby Oak Park. Mary and Bud went to South Bend, Indiana to attend college, Mary at St. Mary’s College, Bud at the University of Notre Dame. 

After graduating college in 1959 Bud was commissioned as a submarine officer on the USS Medregal and stationed in Honolulu, Hawai’i.  Mary and Bud’s four children were all born and spent their early years in Hawai’i, something Mary was very proud of. The Hawaiian Culture and the spirit of Aloha enhanced her mid-western, Irish Catholic upbringing to become the cornerstone of Mary’s embrace of a loving and joyful life.

In the mid-60’s the family returned to the Mainland, Bud joined IBM, and he and Mary made their way from California to the East Coast and back (more than once!).  Mary called many cities and states home: San Francisco, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Potomac, Westport, Cambridge, Newburyport and a dozen others though there was no place like home and in her heart like Hawai’i. In fact, many of her friends called her Mary Guava in honor of her love of the islands. Mary’s world will be remembered fondly as full of large tables filled with delicious home cooked food and drink, surrounded by numerous friends (new and old), and family; her coast-to-coast Ohana, who loved her.

Hawai’i was Mary’s special place.  A Hawai’ian at heart and true Kama’aina, Mary loved Hawai’ian music, the hula, kept a hibiscus plant in her home and returned to Hawai’i many times a year. Mary made sure everyone in her Ohana, especially grandchildren, spent time in Hawai’i, knew a Hawai’ian pineapple was superior to any other, had Portuguese sausage for breakfast and Lau Lau for lunch, and read them children’s nursery rhyme books with Hawai’ian characters.  Mary got special pleasure singing Hawai’ian kidsʻ songs and talking about the humuhumunukunukuapua'a to watch a grandchild giggle with laughter.  The North Shore of O’ahu was an especially favorite destination and she loved nothing more than sunset at House Without a Key, sipping a Mai Tai with Bud by her side, watching Kanoe Miller dance. 

Mary and Bud returned to New England and settled in the Newburyport area.  She is survived by her husband, Bud and children, Buddy (Kim), Tim (Vicky) Michael (Sara) and Malia (Brian) and 11 grandchildren; her brother, Jerry and sister, Nancy. Nogu was cherished by her nieces, nephews, and their children.  Thank you for keeping Mary’s spirit of Aloha in your hearts wherever you go and sharing it with whomever you meet along the way.

The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mrs. Enright’s family with her funeral arrangements. Services and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider a donation to the RIE Foundation in her memory: https://www.rie.org/product/donation-memoriam/

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