Mary T. Maher

On Monday, December 18th 2023, beloved wife, mother, “Nanny”, and great grandmother Mary T. Maher (née O’Malley), 85, formerly of Nanuet, NY, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family after a long illness. Loving and devoted widow of John J. “Jack” Maher (2019). Mary Teresa O’Malley was born in 1938 to Jeremiah and Agnes O’Malley, the second child of six children in Strake, Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland. Upon graduation with honors from the Mercy Convent in Tuam, County Galway and encouragement from her friend and mentor, Sister Eugene, Mary was stationed to teach primary school for a long year away from family on the remote Inishturk Island off the west coast of County Mayo.

After this arduous year and having lost her mother Agnes, she valiantly emigrated alone in the 1950’s to her beloved Aunt Nora (O’Malley) and husband George Tracey of Rye, NY. Upon her arrival to New York City Mary enjoyed working for and excelling in banking on the floor. During this era of the 1960’s she met the love of her life, John “Jack” Maher of Balla, also of Co. Mayo and rookie patrolman with the NYPD 43rd and 23rd Precincts. They happily married in Eastchester, NY in 1963. As the family grew they bought their first home in Nanuet, NY where they proudly protected and raised their four daughters Clare (Brian) Fitzgerald of Nanuet, Christina Maher of Virginia, Colleen Maher of Pearl River, Tara Maher of Mendham, New Jersey and beloved white German Shepherd, Queenie.

Mary was immensely proud of her two cherished grandchildren and loved being called “Nanny” by her loving granddaughter Nicole (Joe) Sokolowski of Nanuet and Forest Hills, NY and Sean (Meaghan) Fitzgerald of Pearl River, NY. Her most recent joy was her role as loving great-grandmother to Shea, Martin, Myles and Amelia. Over her many years building her family in Rockland county Mary worked tirelessly in the restaurant industry and sustained an injury of permanent vertigo which left her impaired. She never stopped moving as a cure and was devoted to her health. On her day off she spent volunteering in the Nanuet Civic Association where, under her tenure, a security police guard station at the Nanuet Mall was founded.

Mary was also blessed to have a second chance at life at the age of 50 by surviving for 35 years after diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She credits Dr. Martorella, OBGYN with her life and recovery. She faced several medical challenges thereafter with resilience and happily retired with Jack in 1998 to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Renaissance Village in Manchester, NJ where she enjoyed 25 golden years with her family around her, spending summer days in her beloved garden as well as a feisty and avid bocci player, ceili dancer, ladies choir member, canasta aficionado, and most unassumingly, political historian. She was exceptional at her knowledge of politics and American political history. She enjoyed baseball and was a fan of the New York Mets and Yankees.

She spoke her native language Gaelic with her husband in her late 70s and 80s with joy and craic. She most recently lived with her loving daughter Colleen, in Pearl River, NY after suffering a stroke in 2020. She is survived by her brother Charles O’Malley (Strake), Michael O’Malley (Capenagower), John “Joe” O’Malley of Los Angeles, Nora McNamara (Chicago) and predeceased by her beloved sister Philomena of Galway, Ireland. Her devotion to her family, health, country, Irish heritage, as well as her grit, smile, and boundless energy will be missed dearly by her loving family and the extended Maher and O’Malley families. May she rest in peace.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 20th at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home New City, NY. 4:00-8:00 pm. A mass of Christian burial and interment will be held Thursday December 21st at St. Anthony’s Church and Cemetery 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Raso Hospice, New City.