Mae L. (Moynahan) Pettengill, 82, entered the gates of heaven on Saturday, May 28 after a courageous battle with cancer the way she wished – at home, among family, and at peace. Born in Holyoke on June 19, 1933 to Harold J. and Katherine A. (Pasquinucci) Moynahan, Mae was a life-long resident of South Hadley. Educated in South Hadley's grade schools Mae graduated from South Hadley High in 1950. She attended Fitchburg Teachers College where she met her husband James C. Pettengill. Shortly thereafter she embarked on the career of a lifetime – her family. Mae was the loving mother of seven children, Elizabeth Pettengill of South Hadley, William and his wife Paula of Guilford, VT, James and his wife Pam of Wilbraham, David and his wife Karen, John and his wife Connie, Michael and his wife Alecia, all of South Hadley, and Karen and her husband Guy Vidal of Los Angeles. In addition, Mae was blessed with fifteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mae devoted her passion and energy to creating a strong, loyal and loving family. She made sure to pass on her strong moral character, indomitable spirit, and work ethic to everyone she met, forming the basis of many life lessons that will be carried on for generations to come. Mae had many favorite ways to spend her "free" time; when the kids were growing up; she volunteered in several youth organizations. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Patrick's Church, and practiced her religion faithfully. She loved to read and visited the Public Library as often as possible. She was a huge fan of the movies, especially the Hollywood Classics, and music - listening to Neil Diamond, Andrea Bocelli, and Celtic Women as much as possible. However, her greatest joys were the simple things that life brought during her time spent with family: the birth of a child, graduations, weddings, holiday gatherings, week-end rides. All helped to create the base of many conversations that began with her favorite phrase "to make a long story short."! Through all of this, Mae maintained her feisty spirit and red hair until the end. Mae was predeceased by her husband, Jim, a brother, Harold J. Moynahan Jr., and sisters, Ann (Moynahan) Adams, and Frances Moynahan who died during infancy but remained as an angel throughout her life. At Mae's request, a celebration of life and Mass will be held privately for immediate family members. Our family would like to thank the many caregivers that helped make Mae's final days as compassionate and comfortable as possible. Father James Nolte of St. Patrick's Church, the offices of Dr. Boyce, and Dr. Rockwell, and the nursing staff of the Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Patrick's Church, 30 Main Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, Cooley-Dickinson Hospice, 168 Industrial Avenue, Northampton, MA 01060 or the Western Mass Elder Care, 4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040.