Mary (Cooney) McKeown, 54, of Concord and Nantucket, formerly of Bermuda, San Francisco, CA, New Canaan, CT, Brooklyn, NY and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida died Wednesday April 19, 2017 in the tender care of the medical staff at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was the beloved wife of 28 years of Christopher R. McKeown. She lived a full life with so many blessings, paramount among them were her five children: Quinn, Clare, Thomas, Clementine, and Teddy. Her life's work, her children are imbued with Mary's strong sense of fairness, purpose, self-reliance, and generosity. Born in Short Hills, New Jersey on May 5, 1962 she was the daughter of the late Raymond J. and Jane (Givens) Cooney. She spent her early years in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where her father worked for Westinghouse. When she was ten years old, she and her siblings moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and her formative years there nurtured her life long love of the seaside. Mary benefited from a catholic education, and graduated from Bishop Kenny High School, in Jacksonville, FL in 1980. She was a perfectionist from an early age, earning high grades and unflinchingly seeking answers to her many questions about faith and life, being taught by the nuns "asking questions is a sign of intelligence." She took this skill with her to Auburn University in Alabama, where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Journalism in 1984, an apt choice for a seeker of truth with her unflinching inquisitiveness. She minored in Accounting, on the advice of her ever-practical parents. Her love of the English language also led her to tutoring many of the Auburn athletes of that era. With her degree in hand, Mary made the impetuous decision to move to Bayonne, NJ, in order to pursue her passion for the literary life; a decision that would change the course of her life, to the ever-lasting betterment of her future husband and children. Mary worked at Crown Publishing, a division of Random House, when she met her future husband. In 1987, he proposed, an event forever cherished by Mary because the first congratulatory kiss was from Jimmy Stewart the actor. During her time at Crown, and then at the Jean Naggar Literary Agency, Mary developed a keen eye for literary talent, and helped publish books by authors famous and not so famous. In everything, she brought her critical eye and love of a good story. In 1993, she retired to start a family, and what a family she created. Since 1994, Mary has raised her children with infinite love and caring. She was very active in all of her children's activities throughout the years, even succumbing to being known as a "Hockey Mom." Mary welcomed long-lost friends and newfound acquaintances alike to her house and table with style and warmth. To say she enjoyed cooking would be an understatement. She created beautiful meals every day of her life, seemingly effortlessly, and often hastily, for her family and those who gathered at her table. Whether in Concord or Nantucket, Mary always wished to create an elegant and comfortable surrounding for her family and friends. Every guest was the beneficiary of Mary's unstinting and tireless attention to detail; she cared deeply that all felt loved and welcome at her table. She did so with an ease and elegance that seemed second nature, and hopefully created lasting memories for all who shared her loving home and hearth. She is survived by her brother, Ray Cooney and his wife Victoria of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, her sister Jane Cooney of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, her sister, Kathy (Cooney) Hawkins and her husband Steve of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and her brother, Robert Cooney and his wife Wendy of New York, NY. She is the loving daughter-in-law of Maureen McKeown of Chelmsford, MA and the late Jim McKeown; dear sister-in-law of Mark McKeown and his wife Sue of Woodbury, MN, Michele Fisher and her husband Christian of Concord, Valerie Coursen and her husband Jeff of Narberth, PA, and Pamela Murray and her husband Steve of Chelmsford. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and innumerable friends and friends of her children. Visiting hours will be held Friday, Apr. 28th from 4 to 8 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, CONCORD CENTER. Funeral will be held Saturday, Apr. 29th at 9 am from the Dee Funeral Home, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. All are welcome to attend a reception immediately following at the Pierce House, 17 Weston Road, Lincoln. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Tomorrow Fund, R.I. Hospital Campus, 593 Eddy St., Providence, RI 02903-4947 (www.tomorrowfund.org).