MARY BUDAI

MIDDLEBURY — Mary Budai of Middlebury, Vt., died peacefully Aug. 10, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., at the age of 101, after a short battle with T-cell lymphoma.

She was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Feb. 3, 1924, one of five children born to Mary and Anson Sears. She graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1941 and worked at DeLaval. In 1949 she married John Budai. He worked at IBM and was among the first employees to transfer to Vermont in 1956. Mary raised her family in the new north end of Burlington. Some of her fondest memories, which she recounted joyfully, were of skiing and camping with her family. For many years she enjoyed sewing, golf and bridge. She was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. During the pandemic she made over 1,000 masks to give away.

More recently, she spent her time as a greeting card and protest poster creator. She sent out about 50 greeting cards that she designed and made for every holiday and made posters for local protests as recently as this June. Mary lived in Camp Hill, Pa., after her children were grown until John retired from IBM. They returned to Vermont, first living in Burlington before settling in Middlebury. Mary was determined to be independent — she was proud that she was able to live alone in her own house until her recent illness.

She is survived by her brother Bill Sears. She is also survived by her daughter Sue Rowley (Bill) Pembroke, Maine; son John Budai (Kathy) Bristol, Vt.; daughter Jan Fraga (Fran) Lincoln, Vt.; and son Tom Budai (Suzanne) Ringwood, N.J. She leaves five granddaughters, Rebecca Brown (Ben), Laurie Corbett (Joe), Jill Fraga (Jay), Shelby Chapman-Hale (Will) and Laura Budai; and eight great-grandchildren, Hannah Corbett, Caroline Corbett, Jack Corbett, Maddie Brown, Graham Leonard, Lila Leonard, Wyatt Chapman-Hale and Liam Chapman-Hale.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, John in 2006; her parents, Mary and Anson Sears; brothers Dick Sears, Bud Sears and Bob Sears; and a granddaughter, Sarah Budai. Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Mary will be buried in a family plot in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Her family will celebrate her life at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.◊