Marion T. (Sullivan) O'Brien

TROY, NY - Mary “Marion” T. O’Brien, 96, died Monday, February 17, 2025, at Day Brook Village in Holyoke, Massachusetts after a lengthy illness.

Born in Troy, New York, she was the daughter of Michael J. Sullivan and Kathryn “Kit” (O’Donnell) Sullivan and the beloved wife of the late M. Raymond “Ray” O’Brien.

Marion was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy, NY, and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1950 from St. Rose College in Albany. She was proud to have received five holy sacraments over the course of her long life at Sacred Heart Church in Troy.

Marion shared many fond memories of her childhood growing up on the East Side (a.k.a. Albia) of Troy. She and her neighborhood friends ice skated, sledded, jumped rope, swam, roller-skated, and walked everywhere. In high school, Marion continued to be adventurous. She took horseback riding lessons and forged her father’s signature so that she could learn to fly a plane. At sixteen, Marion flew solo over her house and Catholic Central High School,  where she buzzed her classmates. During the summer, she was a camp counselor at Marian Lodge in the Adirondacks. After college and their wedding in 1950, Marion and Ray moved to Alexandria, Virginia where she worked for the Pentagon and then the CIA, while he finished his military service.

Marion and Ray raised their nine children in Troy; they were the focus of her life until grandchildren came along, and she became “Nana.” Marion was an excellent cook and baker and emphasized the importance of faith, family, education, and patriotism to her children. She had a sharp sense of humor, was determined, loyal, and proud of doing the Sunday “New York Times” crossword in ink. Marion and Ray enjoyed sixty-four years of marriage, summers at Taconic Lake, two trips to Ireland, and one to Lourdes, France. For the last four and a half years of her life, Marion lived with, and was cared for, by her daughter, Katie, and family.

Survivors include her children: Michael O’Brien, John P. O’Brien, M.D., Mary T. O’Brien (Tom Kennedy), Tom (Mary) O’Brien, Anne O’Brien-Sullivan (Shawn Sullivan), Martin (Sharon) O’Brien, Katie (Mike) Barcomb, and Matthew (Melissa) O’Brien; grandchildren: Eamon and Liam O’Brien, Conor (Christina McLaughlin) Kennedy, Sean (Jazmine Hurley) Kennedy, Lauren (Andrew) Fortune, Jennifer (Tim) Reeves, Bennett O’Brien, Erin (Scott) Beaulac, Meaghan (Alexander Winterton) Sullivan, Matthew (Cassie Raffi) Sullivan, Elizabeth (Dakota Durbin) Barcomb, John Barcomb, and Alexandra and Evan O’Brien; great-grandchildren: Bennett and Annie Fortune, Murphy and Connor Beaulac, and Lillian Reeves; honorary grandchild, Rachael Boardman-Yellin, daughter-in-law, Mary Kate (McLean) O’Brien, devoted niece, Kittie (Sullivan) Ryan, and many other nieces and nephews. Marion was predeceased by her husband in 2015, their son, Joe, in 2024 and her two brothers, Joseph and Donald Sullivan.

Relatives and friends may call at Bryce Funeral Home Inc., 276 Pawling Avenue, in Troy on Friday, February 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 22 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 310 Pawling Avenue in Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, with the Rev. John Yanas, Pastor, officiating.

A private interment will be held on Monday, February 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Marion O’Brien to Sacred Heart Church. To sign the guest book, light a candle, view the video or for service directions, visit brycefuneralhome.com.

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