Mary Candlen

Mary "Pat" Candlen, 89, of East Greenbush passed away on February 6, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Pat was born June 27, 1935, in Albany, NY and was the daughter of Francis "Mac" and Betty "Bessie" (Gitto) McMahon. Pat was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, James J. Candlen, Jr. Sister of Carmela (Portella) Cooper and her late husband Howard of Delmar and Frank McMahon and his wife Nancy of Loudonville. Mother of Steven F. Candlen (Jess Shaver) of Saratoga, Laura M. (Candlen) Balogh (Joe Scotti) of North Greenbush and Timothy P. Candlen of East Greenbush. Grandmother of Jaimie Eaton (Nate) of North Greenbush, Kevin Balogh (Meagen White) of East Greenbush, Maxwell Candlen and Adam Candlen of Wynantskill. Great-grandmother "Nonna" to Sloane Eaton, Tenley Eaton, Selene Eaton and Emelia Balogh. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Pat's life was full of adventure and loved to be with her family and friends, especially her four great granddaughters that she was blessed with. As a young child, Pat loved to figure skate at the North Albany Ice Rink and attending the local ball games with her father on weekends, leading her to becoming an avid Yankee fan, always letting you know the "game was on". At the age of 14, Pat was coaxed by her schoolmates to enter an amateur singing contest at the Albany Palace Theater resulting in her bringing home her own recorded 45 record version of "Don't Cry Joe". Graduating from Vincentian Institute she then married the love of her life, James "Jimmy" Candlen, Jr. on November 21, 1953.

Pat began her career as a ticket agent with Eastern Airlines on S. Pearl Street in Albany until she started a family and moved to East Greenbush, NY. To be home with her children, she left the airline and worked from home transcribing court proceedings for the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles for many years. Once the children were old enough, she went back to her love of travel and managed Fugazy International Travel, formally Devine Travel Agency, on State Street in Albany until retiring. Pat came out of retirement to help a former travel friend manage GJ's Travel in East Greenbush for almost a decade.

Her love for travel brought her and her husband all over. Their favorite trip was to Ireland and Scotland. Annual visits to Wells Beach, ME and cruising to Bermuda were enjoyed well into their 70's.

Pat loved to host Sunday family dinners and was known for her holiday apple pie and competing in the annual Thanksgiving sibling's pie contest. Her love for music had her singing Carpenters songs while doing housework and she could always be found dancing to music at home or out at social events. Later in life, Pat could be found at the library getting as many as four books a week to read at her leisure during the day or while having a nightcap of Irish Mist. Pat wasn't shy about becoming part of her grandchildren and their friend's lives and was up for participating in almost anything. When it came to her great grandchildren, Pat would drop what she was doing to visit whenever she could. Pat was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Rensselaer and Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush.

Relatives and friends are invited and may visit on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 4-7pm at the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, NY 12144. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Holy Spirit Church, 667 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY 12061 on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 10:00am. A procession to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery will immediately follow. 

A special thank you to the caring staff at Peregrine Delmar Place and Community Hospice over the last year.