A beloved Hernando County school teacher has passed away after battling cancer.

Mary Goswick died July 7 after fighting cancer since last August.

  • Mary Goswik, 41, passed away July 7
  • She's survived by her husband, Terry, and the couple's two young daughters

Beautiful. Giving. Amazing. These are all words family and friends used to describe Mary, an educator who touched the lives of many, both in and outside of the classroom.

“She had one of the worst, most aggressive cancers,” said her husband, Terry. “But throughout the entire fight and journey, she lived.”

Mary taught at Winding Waters K-8 in Weeki Wachee.

From school rallies to ‘hope fountains,’ even the smallest of faces rallied behind her.

“It was hard to not tear up,” said Misty Laushot, a friend and colleague. “Even one part in our dance, the music stopped, but everybody just did what we would do for Mary and we pulled together and we sang it out loud without any music and finished the song.”

“She was bold, strong, adventurous and I always just pictured her like the grander version of me,” said Goswick’s sister, Natasha Heath.

Being strong was one of Mary’s high points. She lived four months longer than expected.

“She lived life to the fullest, to the last day,” added Terry. “She never gave up and she never made an excuse.”

Mary passed away on July 7, but loved ones are still searching for the right words to describe her.

“Courageous, bold, strong, loving," said Goswick’s 9-year-old daughter, Talia.

Goswick is survived by her husband Terry and her two daughters, Mia and Talia.