Mary was born November 29, 1933 in the Bronx, NY to Walter and Annie Connolly.
Mary led a very full life and will be remembered by all for her kindness, generosity and zest for life. Her bright smile ensured she never met a stranger who didn’t leave a friend. Family, friends and faith were her everything. Mary was an avid sports fan, cheering for the Yankees, Knicks and her adopted North Carolina Tar Heels. She loved to travel and was a firm believer in retail therapy, finding immense joy in taking her grandchildren for lunch and shopping dates.
Mary took a part-time job as a salesperson at B. Altman & Company and worked her way up to manager of the White Plains, NY store in 1986, becoming the company’s first female store manager. After B. Altman, she spent 10 years working for the Archdiocese of New York at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spring Valley, NY and other parishes.
Mary was so proud to follow her grandchildren to college and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at age 70.
In addition to her parents, Mary is predeceased by her husband, Walter Hays, in 1987, and her four older brothers, James, Patrick, Walter and Phillip. She is survived by her four children: Eileen (George) Hodges, Colleen (Bill) McKenna, James (Caroline) Hays and Patrick (Rossina) Hays. Her seven grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy: Erin (Doug) Naumann, Kelly Hodges, Colin McKenna, Christian Hays, Quinn Hays, Angela Cipriano and Alessia Cipriano. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren (Connor and Charlotte Naumann) and many nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly.
Family and friends will honor the life of Mary at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home, 113 Lake Road, Congers, NY, on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral mass will be held Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 10 am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 82 Lake Road, Congers, NY. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery in Congers.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601, or Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.
Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm St. Chapel has the honor of assisting the Hays family with the Greensboro arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18