Obituary of Mary Anne Kenealy

Mary Anne went to be with the Lord, surrounded by her loving family, on June 12, 2012. Mary Anne was born on Mohawk Hill, one of six children, to Edward and Amanda Croniser. She graduated from Constableville High School, moved to Rome at the age of seventeen, and made Rome her home. Mary Anne loved to dance and that is how she met a young airman from Griffiss Air Force Base named Thomas Kenealy, Sr., the love of her life. They were united in marriage on July 3, 1954, at St. Mary's Church in Constableville, New York, and had a wonderful relationship, despite the fact that she was a die-hard Yankee fan and he was a Red Sox fan. Mary Anne was an avid bowler and was actually in the Rome Daily Sentinel, both for Alley Ace, and having a new son, in the same edition. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and her family always came first. She loved to play cards and it was a family tradition to gather weekly, on Sundays, for an afternoon of card playing and bonding, but she always could be heard saying "there's no family in cards", with a smile, of course. Mary Anne worked nearly 50 years in the dry cleaning industry, starting out at New System Gear, next at Volk's Cleaners, then at Crest Cleaners for many years and finally retiring from Jack's Cleaners. She was a member of St. Peter's Church, the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion, and the Altar Rosary Society. Mary Anne is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Tom; three sons, Ted Kenealy and spouse Karen, Joe Kenealy and longtime companion Patti Carr, Rick Kenealy and spouse Pam; two daughters, Kathy Farrar, and Patti Mason and spouse Larry Sr.; 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; a sister Helen Sylvester; two sisters-in-law Adeline and Iva; a brother in law John Kenealy; many nieces and nephews who were very special to her and close friends Ann Stohl, Pat Austin and Shirley Kessler. She was predeceased by brothers Carl, Richard, and Fred and a sister Magdeline Nellenbeck; brothers-in-law, Cassimer and Harold; and a sister-in-law Betty. The family would like to thank Dr. Perez-Cheron of Mohawk Valley Endocrinology, Dr. Celmins of the Movement Disorder of Center of Albany, the Visiting Nurses Association, and Hospice, for their wonderful care and support. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Research Foundation or St. Peter's Church Restoration Fund. Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:15 PM from the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street and at 2:00 PM at St. Peter's Church. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home, Thursday 2to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM.