Mary A. Walsh

Mary A. Walsh of Hillcrest, New York passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, after a two-month illness. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Albert J. Millus, Jr., and her son James A. Millus. Mary was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Elizabeth Mary Millus, her father Richard J. Walsh, Jr., her mother Rita (Kelly) Walsh, and her brother David E. (“Dace”) Walsh. Mary is also survived by her brother Richard J. Walsh III and his wife Carol of Bedford, New Hampshire; her sister Elizabeth Hartofelis and her husband Christopher of Manchester, New Hampshire; and her brother Brian Walsh, also of Manchester, New Hampshire. Mary is also survived by her sister-in-law Maryfrances D’Angelo and her husband Laurence of Castle Creek, New York; and her sister-in-law Pamela Millus-Bobinis and her husband Joseph of Youngsville, North Carolina. Also nieces and nephews Lauren Maria D’Angelo, Mia D’Angelo, Chauna D’Angelo, Gregory (Hartofelis) Burgess, Richard J. (“RJ”) Walsh IV, Stephen Walsh, Travis Deschenes, and Ainsley Deschenes, and many cousins and other relatives.

Mary’s family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the W.R. Chase & Son funeral home located at 737 Chenango Street in Port Dickinson, New York. A funeral mass will be conducted at St. Francis of Assisi Church located at 1031 Chenango Street at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2023, followed immediately by a graveside service at the Chenango Valley Cemetery located near the Church on Nowlan Road in Hillcrest.

Mary was born in Manchester on May 14, 1957. She graduated from Manchester High School with Third Honors in 1975. She was very active in multiple programs while in high school, the highlight perhaps being her portrayal of Sally Bowles in the play Cabaret. She graduated from Yale University in 1979, and from Cornell Law School, where we met, in 1982. We were married on September 24, 1983, and have been inseparable ever since. She started her legal career with the law firm of Thomas, Collison & Place in Endicott, New York in 1982, then worked for the Broome County Legal Department until 1984, when she joined the New York State Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General, where she remained until her most untimely death. She developed a statewide reputation as an accomplished attorney, particularly as an expert in the field of trusts and estates.

Mary was the kindest, most considerate, and honest person that anyone ever had the pleasure to meet. She was a devoted and faithful wife and mother, and took James to his Special Olympics events on a weekly basis year ‘round. Mary loved the outdoors. Mary, James, and I walked countless miles on hiking trails together. Unfortunately, Elizabeth passed away at age five in 1998, so she was not physically with us during our walks, but she was virtually always hovering above us in spirit. We never stopped thinking or dreaming about her. Mary was also an avid bicyclist, and exercised on almost a daily basis for many years. She also liked to ski, but freely admitted that she was a permanent beginner from the time we bought a town house at the Greek Peak ski resort in 2000. Mary loved to read and to listen to music, and never skipped the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle (Monday through Wednesday being too easy for her - she was a very smart woman!) There is not enough space to fully describe her virtues. Suffice it to say that she was a perfect person, and everyone that she knew came to love her.

One of her favorite novels was Thomas Wolfe’s “Look Homeward Angel,” introduced to her by her mother Rita. It is about the realities of life, family, tragedy, love, life, and inevitable death. This is the sad but beautiful and poignant preamble to the novel:

“... a stone, a leaf, an unfound door; a stone, a leaf, a door. And of all the forgotten faces.

Naked and alone we came into exile. In her dark womb we did not know our mother's face; from the prison of her flesh have we come into the unspeakable and incommunicable prison of this earth.

Which of us has known his brother? Which of us has looked into his father's heart? Which of us has not remained forever prison-pent? Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone?

O waste of lost, in the hot mazes, lost, among bright stars on this weary, unbright cinder, lost! Remembering speechlessly we seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, an unfound door. Where? When?

O lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports (214 Kent Ave., PMB 261, Endwell, NY. 13760) or Special Olympics Broome-Tioga (C/O Theresa Avason, 1 Walnut Place, Apalachin, NY 13732)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WmRChase.com for the Walsh family.