Mary Belle Northrop (nee Rocks), 77, of Danbury, passed away peacefully while in hospice on April 24.

Mary was born in Binghamton, N.Y., the daughter of Philip P. Rocks and Hilda G. Smith on November 25, 1948.

Mary graduated from Chenango Valley High School in Binghamton in 1966. She then attended Broome Technical Community College and graduated with a Secretarial degree. After college, she worked for the New York State Department of Transportation and later for Boehringer Ingelheim in Connecticut.

She married Robert L. Polhamus, Jr in Binghamton, N.Y., in 1971. Before divorcing in 1981, they had three children together. She married John K. Northrop in Bethel, in 1982, and they remained married until his death in 2016.

A longtime Sandy Hook resident, Mary especially loved to plant flowers and make little gardens. She would often say her love of gardening came from her grandfather, Philip Jacob Rocks, Jr, who had a beautiful garden where he lived near Syracuse. Mary was a great friend with a kind and sweet personality who cared deeply for her family. An amateur historian, she kept diligent notes through photo albums and family records. She also loved to write letters and corresponded over the years with many pen pals.

Remaining to cherish Mary's memory are her brother Philip, her daughters Cynthia (Mike), Amy (Colin), and Michele (Rodney), stepdaughter Pearle, stepson Jason, and many grandchildren.

Preceding Mary in death were her husband, John, stepson, John Jr, and her parents, Hilda and Philip.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4 pm, at Honan Funeral Home in Newtown. Interment will be at Tully Cemetery in Tully, N.Y.

Online condolences may be shared at honanfh.com.