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Mary Packard Billings Hummeler, known as Molly by her friends, died peacefully at home on November 6, 2022. Molly was born Mary Packard Billings on December 19, 1922 to Dr. Arthur Eugene Billings and Mary Farnum Packard Billings. Molly grew up in Villanova, PA in the same house where she lived at the time of her death. She grew up close to both sets of grandparents and the extended Packard family and went to local schools, including Agnes Irwin School for grades 7 through 12. The year after she graduated from Agnes Irwin School, she spent a year at school in New Mexico before returning to Villanova. She had several jobs including one working in a law office. She spent summers in the Adirondacks, first at her grandparents’ camp on Upper Saranac Lake and then, just up the shore, at the camp built by her mother, called Camp Innisfree. She met her husband Dr. Klaus Hummeler at a dinner party at a mutual friend’s house. When Molly used a book of matches that said “Camp Innisfree” Klaus recognized the reference from his study of English Literature at Oxford, and they got to know each other talking about the William Butler Yeats poem. Their first date was a visit to Valley Forge which remained a special place to them throughout their lives. Molly and Klaus were married in the late 1950s at the Church of the Ascension on Upper Saranac Lake, New York and had their wedding reception at Camp Innisfree. Molly and Klaus remained married until Klaus’ death in 2002. They enjoyed sailing on Upper Saranac Lake in their boat the “Mary Deare”, and visits to their house in Scotland. Molly also enjoyed visits to see her father’s family in North Carolina. Molly was an avid reader and lifelong learner, taking courses well into her 80’s in such diverse subjects as Organic Chemistry and Advanced German Conversation at universities near Villanova. She was adept at playing several instruments, the guitar being her favorite. She spent many days sketching in and around the parks she and her husband loved. Molly was kind and gentle and unfailingly polite. She was a great lover of the natural world and all the plants and animals that inhabited it. She was active in efforts to conserve land, especially in Villanova. Molly’s beloved nephew Thomas Billings predeceased her. She is survived by her stepdaughter Deborah Dunning and husband Jeremy Dunning and their family as well as Molly’s niece Ann Colony and her husband George Colony, nephew Stephen Billings and his wife Sandra Billings, nephew James Billings and his wife Mary Billings, nephew Thomas Billings’ wife Despena Billings and 11 great nieces and nephews. Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday November 17th. at 11 AM in Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA, with burial to follow in the Churchyard. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Molly’s name may be made to The Lower Merion Conservancy, 50 Lapsley Lane, Merion Station, PA 19066. lmconservancy.org

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Mary Packard Billings Hummeler

December 19, 1922 - November 6, 2022