Mary "Merry" Rose

Mary “Merry” Conerly Rose, 38, died at Brookdale University Hospital on December 23, 2023, from sepsis resulting from a pneumonia infection. Mary was born in Gaithersburg, Md., to Carolyn Dearman Rose and George Backus Rose on July 13, 1985. Mary is survived by her mother, her siblings, Sara (Chris Langley) and Charles, and her nephews, Charlie and Cade Langley-Rose.

Mary was a self-described “audio-visual Swiss army knife.” After graduating from Gaithersburg High School in 2003, she cultivated her creative talents at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Mary graduated cum laude from MICA with a bachelor of fine arts degree in 2010. She moved from Gaithersburg to Queens, N.Y., in 2015, where she worked as a video production manager for the New York Post in addition to doing freelance video production work.

A prolific artist, Mary used a variety of media for her creative endeavors, including actual spider webs. Mary also created beautiful and meaningful pet portraits for her family and friends. Most recently, she displayed her art at the Globe Tavern in Queens.

Known both professionally and to her friends as “Merry,” she loved to play pinball and belonged to the International Flipper Pinball Association. She competed regularly as a member of the Solid State and Belles and Chimes NYC pinball leagues. Her love of pinball started at an early age, playing “King Rock” on a pinball machine in her parents’ basement.

In addition to pinball, Mary loved travel and animals. She rode horses regularly as a child and worked with alpacas in her teens. She also traveled extensively, including spending a semester abroad in Germany while in college.

Mary is remembered by her family and friends as a loving daughter, sister and aunt and by her friends for her generous and creative spirit.

A memorial service for Mary is scheduled for Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 1 pm at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home in Pittsburgh, Pa., where her mother and siblings reside.