Marion (Chick) Connelly Vaughn was born to Joseph and Mary (Harte)

Connelly at their family home in Medford on August 20,1925. Her heart never

left Medford. She met her soul mate Thomas Vaughn (deceased), in Medford. He

grew up in the old Medford Hotel, now J & R's. She went to work in the

Medford Post Office after graduating from Bellport High School at the age of

16, and married Tom in November 1946, after he returned from serving in the

Navy during World War II. They raised four children together: Sharon Ellis (Al)

of Medford, Kathleen Pedatella, (deceased) (Anthony) of East Patchogue, Thomas,

Jr., (Myra) of Manorville; and Patrick (Kim) of Triangle, Va.

After raising her children, she worked for Blackman's in Medford.

Many of her descendents and much of her extended family still reside in

Medford, including her sister "Winnie" Mulderig, and brother Edward. Of her

surviving siblings, only John lives out-of-state.

She died on December 16, 2013, in her long-time home where she

raised her children on Jamaica Ave., a block from her birthplace. The home was

built by her father, husband and other members of the family.

Marion was known to all as "Chick," a name her father coined from

the time she was very young, playing with the baby chickens in their yard. Many

friends never knew her birth name.

She was baptized, married and on Thursday, December 19, will be

laid to rest from St. Sylvester's Church in Medford. A life-long member of the

church, she had strong ties to St. Sylvester's. Her father once expanded the church

as the local congregation grew. She always looked forward to the Christmas Eve

service when her extended family would join her at the church, filling three

entire pews.

With a husband and brothers active in the Medford Volunteer Fire

Department, Chick, too, served her community. She was a 50-year member of the

Ladies Auxiliary.

Patrick, her firstborn grandson, uses three words to describe his

grandmother: family, loyalty and service. Her family was the first and most

important ingredient in her life. When she was hospitalized in November, a

steady stream of her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews filled her

hospital room. She appreciated each and every one of them. They brought joy

into her life, just as her presence enriched their lives. Later, when in rehab,

it was Zeus, a boxer and loyal companion, whose visits were most comforting.

She couldn't wait to get home to her sofa, that she shared with Zeus. Chick

died there in her sleep on December 16.

In addition to her siblings and children, she is survived by 13

grandchildren: Patrick (Julia) Vaughn, Anthony (Lisa) Pedatella, Jeff (Heather)

Ellis, Tracy (Roger) Berner, Amy Pedatella, Heather Guida, Scott (Kim) Ellis,

Thomas Vaughn, David Vaughn, Steven (Elizabeth) Ellis, Patricia (Matthew) Millheiser,

Lindsey Vaughn, and Jonathan Vaughn; as well as 13 great grandchildren, and one

great-great grandson.

The family will receive friends at the Medford Firehouse, 171 Oregon Road, Medford on

Thursday, December 19, from 2 to 4PM and 7 to 9 PM. A Funeral Mass will be

celebrated on Friday, December 20, at St. Sylvester's, Medford, at 9:30 AM.