Obituary of Mary Church Polo

Mary Church Polo, Simpsonville, SC. Mary Church Polo, 92, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, formerly of Stratford, CT died at NHC Healthcare, Mauldin, on February 18, 2022, after a short illness. Mary was a member of the Simpsonville United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of the Bridgeport School of Nursing, CT. She was a dedicated Registered Nurse while being employed, or when on-call to neighbors, family and friends dealing with accidents or illness recovery. Mary was a stay-at-home Mom until her last child started school. She returned to nursing at Yale New Haven Hospital as a post-operation RN, 3rd shift, at Yale’s heart and cancer center in the early 1960’s when heart operations and cancer research was in its infancy. Never afraid to save a life, she was credited by many doctors that when not available overnight, she jumped in to save a heart transplant patient dealing with emergency complications. Mary eventually became Head Nurse at Yale’s VIP unit that provided critical care long term care to those patients that wanted to die-with-dignity. She, along with other nurses and doctors, wanted to extend this care to any patient, and paid by insurance. With her help, Hospice was started 50+ years ago in Wallingford, CT, and now widely available all over the USA. When the Polo family moved to Greenville in 1978, Mary became head nurse at Greenville Memorial Trauma Hospital, now part of the Prisma Health System. Later, when no longer working in nursing, she maintained a very large vegetable garden, regularly canned fruits and vegetables, enjoyed cooking for family and friends, and belonged to several Garden Clubs. Mary volunteered countless hours to Safe Harbor, with its continuum of services for survivors of domestic violence and their children. She also had a passion for travel. Luckily son John had a job position that had him traveling all over the globe, including multiple 2nd homes. Consequently, Mary’s husband acquiesced, and Mary won, enjoying countless trips and vacations throughout the USA, Europe and Mexico for decades. Mary is survived by two daughters and one son. Lynn Dedhiya of Simpsonville, SC, Susan and husband Doug Sheeks of Greer, SC, John Polo of Simpsonville, SC. She is survived by 8 grandchildren, Jason Polo, John Polo and his wife Amanda, Joseph Kostenko III, Thomas Kostenko and his wife Sandy, Joy Perry and her husband AJ, Dina Smith and her husband Patrick, Virginia Sheeks, Dalton Sheeks, and 9 great grandchildren. Mary was pre-deceased by; Carmine Polo Jr, her husband, Thomas Polo, son, Mark Polo, son, Carl Helbig, father, Hilda Helbig, mother, Elizabeth Richards, sister, Mahesh Dedhiya, son-in-law, Rhonda Polo, daughter-in-law. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers: memorials may be made to the Safe Harbor, PO Box 174, Greenville, SC 29602 www.safeharboursc.org Fletcher Funeral Service