Obituary: Mary Leigh Pell Whitmer, 84, of Fairfield

Information and photo via Spear-Miller Funeral Home

Mary Leigh Pell Whitmer, 84, of Fairfield, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 24th with her 3 sons by her side. Born in Wilmington, DE she was the daughter of Rev. Walden Pell II and Edith Minturn Bonsal Pell. She is survived by her sons Robert Foster Whitmer IV and his wife deLancey Funsten Whitmer, Walden Pell Whitmer, John Love Whitmer and grandchildren Jenna Michelle Whitmer and Garrett John Whitmer. She is also survived by her nieces Evie Burlinson, Abbie Spires, Lissa Thomson, Alison Helms and Sarah Stires. Her husband, Robert Foster Whitmer III predeceased her in 2015. Her sister, Melissa Pell Thomson predeceased her in 1992. Her brother, Stuyvesant Bonsal Pell predeceased her in 2007. Lili attended The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr Pa and Smith College in Northampton Ma. She worked at J Walter Thompson and The Tonight Show with Steve Allen in NYC.

Lili was a major contributor at Operation Hope, an agency for those in need of shelter and food. She was a Board Member for The Episcopal Church Foundation for many years. A member of the Fairfield Beach Club, Quogue Beach Club and the Quogue Field Club. She was loved by many and will be missed.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday September 22nd, 11am at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 4670 Congress Street, Fairfield, CT. A memorial service and internment will be held on Sept. 29th in Quogue, NY. Gifts in her memory may be made to Operation Hope, 636 Old Post Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Spear-Miller Funeral Home here.