Mary Gillin Williams, 62, social worker

Mary Gillin Williams, 62, of Warrington, who fought back from a series of illnesses beginning in 1972 to live an active life as a social worker, teacher and mother, died Friday, May 15, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital of complications after a liver transplant.

Born in Mayfair, Mrs. Williams grew up in Upper Darby and graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in 1971.

While attending Villanova University in 1972, she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. After treatment, she went into remission in 1976. Although the leukemia never returned, she was left physically weak.

Despite her health challenges, she graduated from Villanova magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1976. She was a geriatric caseworker with Catholic Social Services in 1977 until moving out of the area in 1982. By then, she had earned a master's degree in counseling and human relations from Villanova.

In 1979, she married Frank Williams, a Coast Guard officer whom she had known since the fourth grade. His career took the couple to several cities before the two settled in Warrington in 1986.

Despite a doctor's warning against having children, she and her husband had four of them, all healthy.

Mrs. Williams stayed at home until 1996 when she became a teacher at St. Paul's Preschool in Warrington, a post she held until 2001.

In 1992, an illness she had contracted from an earlier blood transfusion was reclassified as hepatitis C. The ailment compromises the liver.

"Despite her deteriorating condition, she was determined to live a normal life and not be handicapped by her illness and told no one of it except a handful of her closest friends," said her husband.

In 2002, she became a home-based agent for Pearson Book Suppliers. She also worked as a substitute teacher's aide in the Bucks County schools.

Finally, in December 2013, she went on the liver-transplant list at Jefferson Hospital but continued to plan for the future. She took country drives and went to the Jersey Shore, Williamsburg, Va., and Chincoteague Island. She spent time with her grandson, mapping out family genealogy, and watching horses in any setting.

"She had hoped to go back to Ireland to visit relatives, but she never made it," her husband said.

On Dec. 4, 2014, Mrs. Williams received a liver transplant, but her condition never really improved; she returned to Jefferson twice with serious complications, and lapsed into a coma May 7. She regained consciousness for a moment to tell her husband: "I love you."

"She will be remembered by family and friends as one of the toughest, most determined people they have ever known," her husband said. "She is a shining example of how to not give in to a condition in life and how to never stop fighting."

Besides her husband, Mrs. Williams is survived by sons Sean F., Brendan P.A., and Patrick G.; a daughter, Maureen T.; a grandson; two brothers; and a sister.

Services were May 21.

Contributions may be made to Catholic Social Services, 222 N. 17th St., 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.