Marie C. Mahar

East Greenbush- Marie C. Mahar Marie Antoinette Mahar passed away peacefully at home on April 9, 2021 at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas A. Mahar. MomMom, as she was affectionately known, was devoted to her children and provided unceasing support and love. She was a rock of strength and for years was the force that kept together a large and geographically dispersed family. She is survived by her devoted children, Marie Ann Sheldon of Deer Park, Texas, Kathleen Mahar of East Greenbush, Timothy Mahar (Jean) of Riverside, CA, Michael Mahar (Karen) of Slingerlands, Marleen Gosh (August) of East Greenbush, Terrence Mahar (Tracy) of Watertown, CT, Matthew Mahar (Madeleine) of San Diego, CA, Noreen Matthews (Randy) of Zionsville, IN, Laureen Collins (Edward) of Oswego, NY and Francis Mahar (Renae), of Dallas, TX as well as her 25 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She is survived by her two sisters, Theresa Joy Huott of Queensbury and Carina Mahar of East Greenbush. Marie was born on November 7, 1927 in Bronxville, NY to Lilly (Granatelli) and Vincent Cagnina. She was proud of her Sicilian (not Italian) heritage and enjoyed telling stories of her family gatherings. Marie attended New Paltz State Teachers College where she met and married Tim and graduated in 1949 earning a Bachelor of Science in Education. Following the premature death of her husband in 1968, Marie taught for many years at St. John’s Elementary School in Rensselaer and at Green Meadow and Red Mill School in the East Greenbush Central School District where she touched the lives of thousands of children. She was a skilled pianist with a love of music and singing and was a long time member of the Capitaland Chorus Sweet Adelines. She was President of St. John’s Academy Mothers Club and a member of The East Greenbush Central Schools Education Foundation. MomMom loved her animals and for years was never without a pet - or two or three - to keep her company at home. The family would like to thank Dena, Amanda, and Hospice Nurse Grace for the loving and compassionate care they provided for our mother over this past year. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 14th, from 4 to 7 pm at the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave, Rensselaer, NY. A funeral mass will be offered on Thursday, April 15th, at 11 am at the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights, East Greenbush, NY. Interment will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rensselaer, NY. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society located at 3 Oakland Ave, Menands, NY and Rensselaer County Community Hospice located at 295 Valley View Blvd, Rensselaer, NY.