MARY ISLE Obituary

BELLE ISLE, Mary Jean (Rogers) Beloved Wife, Mother A Licensed Physical Therapist, who cared for patients, in a career that spanned 50 years, died suddenly, on the morning of Sunday, July 27, 2025. She was 81. Mary is survived by her husband of 59 years, Albert P. Belle Isle of Andover, MA; her son, Paul P. Belle Isle and his wife, Amy, of Franklin, MA; her daughter, Nicole G. Belle Isle of Mariposa, CA; her sister, Rita (Rogers) Whitney and her brother-in-law, Thomas Whitney, of Bolton Landing, NY, and their children and their families; and the daughters of her late brother, Michael Rogers and their families. Born on February 13, 1944, in Albany, NY, to Francis and Helen (Dunphy) Rogers, Mary was grounded from the start by a strong sense of right and wrong and a quiet determination that shaped every part of her life. She graduated from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, with a BS in Physical Therapy, earning her PT license in 1965 and beginning her career at Berkshire Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield, MA. She married Al in 1966 and together, they raised two children while supporting each other through relocations, career milestones, and challenges. Mary adapted her professional path to ensure her husband could successfully pursue his PhD and professional growth in engineering, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship, moving their family from Pittsfield, MA to Syracuse, NY, and eventually to Andover, MA, all while advancing in physical therapy and bringing up their son and daughter. Her work would come to focus on acute care, pediatrics, and geriatric rehabilitation, and she was known by colleagues and patients alike for having a "spine of steel," always putting the welfare of those in her charge above all else. She held senior roles including Chief Therapist at Lawrence General Hospital and retired in 2015, after many years at Lahey Clinic. Mary was devoted to her family, and fiercely determined that her children would have every opportunity to succeed. She encouraged curiosity, resilience, and hard work, values that helped shape their lives and careers, and she was proud of the people they became. Mary was a caring sister, and a loving aunt to Rita's six children, Daniel, John, Thomas, Michael, Catherine, and Margaret; as well as Michael's three daughters, Michelle, Julia, and Valerie, each of whom treasured her and will miss her dearly. Mary's quiet personality was full of surprises. She had a devilish sense of humor, a deep affection for the succession of four golden retrievers that lived with her and Al, and a spirit open to adventure, learning to ocean sail alongside her husband and taking on new challenges with determination. Her parting words to anyone setting out: "Be careful," were less warning than quiet protection, a reflection of how deeply she cared. Mary and Al's nearly six-decade marriage was a true partnership of mutual support, rooted in shared values and sustained by deep, true, and enduring affection. They lived a life of shared experience, walking in the woods near their home, exploring restaurants, sailing and traveling, cooking gourmet meals, reading, watching movies, and above all else, being together. Mary and Al were the centers of each other's worlds, and her passing has closed the 60-year love story that shaped both of their lives. Visiting Hours: Funeral Services will be privately held.

View the online memorial for Mary Jean (Rogers) BELLE ISLE