Mary J. (Marino) Marino

Troy - Having lived a long, rich, and adventurous life, Mary J. Marino (neé Maria Giovanna Marino) passed into eternal life on Tuesday, February 17, while in rehabilitation at Daughters of Sarah Senior Community. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Vincent Marino, Sr. and Mafalda Polverino Marino of Troy.

 “Aunt Mary,” as she was affectionately called by many, graduated from School 14, Troy High School and Mildred Elley Business School. While at Troy High School, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Purple Parrot School newspaper. In addition to her formal education, she was a licensed beautician, completing that technical training at Beauty School of Troy. With her cherished sister, Anna, Mary volunteered during World War II as a nurse’s aide, giving many hours of care to those in need at Samaritan Hospital. 

A lover of beauty in its many forms, Mary and her brother-in-law, Bob, owned and operated Sambrook’s Flower Shop in Troy. It was clear that Bob was the designer and Mary was the boss. She was employed for 42 years at the Watervliet Arsenal as a Property and Supplies Supervisor, and, through her work  there, earned an Associate degree in business.  It was here that her love for travel was nourished. She visited 45 countries on all continents except for Africa and South America. She delighted in treasured artifacts that prompted fond memories and wove colorful stories in her home.

Aunt Mary took great care in the details of every aspect of life, fastidiously attending to everything from personal style to yard care. An avid gardener, Mary could be seen clipping roses in her yard, tending flowers in the spring, and meticulously arranging her heirloom geraniums. A hallmark of her garden was the beautiful array of “grandma’s zinnias,” carefully seeded each year from the previous year’s abundance. Well into her senior years, Aunt Mary single-handedly trimmed the hedges, mowed the lawn, and did her own snow removal. In winter, after snow blowing her driveway and walkways, she could be seen hanging from the second floor window shoveling snow from the porch roof. She even did her own masonry work!

She was an enthusiastic reader and a devotee of music (especially opera). She loved family gatherings, particularly those summer picnics at Lake George where she enjoyed swimming with her nieces and nephews. She also loved horse-back riding in her younger days. 

Of all her treasures, family was her crown jewel. A devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and cousin, Aunt Mary never missed an event in the lives of her 13 nieces and nephews. Hers was the first Christmas card to arrive in the early days of December, carefully chosen from the Hallmark display to reflect just the right words for “favorite niece” or “special nephew.” She remembered all of her family members’ birthdays and anniversaries, from her siblings to their children and grandchildren, numbering 36 in all. Her unique gifts were meticulously wrapped with beautifully coordinated paper and colorful ribbons. One of the ceremonial events of our lives, made special by Aunt Mary, was turning two: she taught all of us how to ice skate, using the same pair of double-bladed skates handed down from her first nephew, Bobby. She made each “sweet sixteen” a memorable event, adding an exceptional treat or trip to mark
the occasion. 

With Aunt Mary’s passing, a generation is gone and we are privileged to cherish the rich legacy of tender care and steadfast fidelity that shaped her life. In addition to her parents, Aunt Mary was predeceased by her siblings, Anna St. John, Vincent Marino, Jr., and Pasquale Marino, and her nephew, Robert St. John, Jr. She is survived by her favorite brother-in-law, Robert St. John, Sr., her sisters-in-law, Theresa Marino and Carol Marino Delano, and her 13 cherished nieces and nephews: Christine McKeever, Vincent St. John, Vincent Marino, Michael Marino, Sister Patricia St. John, CSJ, Patrick Marino, Maria Nering, Ann Marie St. John-Grover, Debra Levy, Gerard Marino, Joseph Marino, and Eugene St. John. Mary was the proud great aunt of 12 nieces and nephews, and 3 great grandnieces and nephews, as well as Godmother to Mari-Anne Pisarri, her devoted Godchild. Finally, Mary is survived by many good friends and generous neighbors who were the recipient of her graciousness. 

Ann Marie and Sister Patricia wish to express their deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to Michelle Fornino, special friend and aide, to the Sisters of St. Joseph (Sisters Care) for their tender care and companionship, to the staff at Clare Bridge Memory Care facility where she resided for the last four months, and to the staff at Daughters of Sarah, all of whom extended profound compassion to her. Finally, a special note of thanks is offered to Dr. James Walders for his outstanding patience, kindness and care of Aunt Mary for decades.

Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.  276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Friday, February 20, 2015 from 4-8PM. 

Funeral service will be held Saturday at 9AM at the funeral home and at 9:30AM at Our Lady of Victory Church Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Randall Patterson, Pastor. 

Interment will be in  St. Mary's Cemetery Troy.

Those wishing to make a donation in Mary’s memory may do so to Carondelet Music Center, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Latham, NY 12110 c/o Sister Patricia St. John, CSJ or to The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Rd., Latham, NY 12110 c/o The Development Office.   

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