STORMVILLE – Mary F. Gray, 93, died on October 20, 2017 at Somers Manor. She was born and raised in Yonkers, and a resident of Stormville since 1979. She was a faithful and dedicated member of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill for 25 years where she served as Lector and Eucharistic Minister for 20 years. She was then a parishioner at St Columba Church in Hopewell Junction for the past several years. During her illness, she never lost her sense of humor or deep faith in God. God to Mary was never vague or remote. His presence was consistent, eternal and everlasting.
Mary was hired in 1953 for General Electric’s new executive education center to be built on a 52-acre estate in Ossining. Mary held simultaneous dual positions as: Manager-Finance and Employee Relations; and President and Treasurer of Corporate GE Windrose Club. Mary was the first female executive for General Electric and retired after 36 years of service. She had prior supervisor and managerial positions in three other NYC firms.
Mary obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Iona College in New Rochelle; she completed Fr. Benedict’ Grochel’s two-year Spiritual Development Program and went on for her Masters, with a major in Scripture, from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. In preparation for the introduction of The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), Mary attended the first RCIA Conference at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale in 1985. She served as a RCIA team member at St. Mary’s for 15 years, where she also taught CCD. She took Fr. J. Conlan’s Preaching and Teaching Course in Yonkers and made her Curcillo (#77) in 1982; She was a member of K of C Columbiettes Council #166 in Yonkers. Mary was a volunteer at Maryknoll Seminary, a Girl Scout Leader, Girl Scout Council of Yonkers, and a volunteer for Literacy of America, Inc.
Mary believed in the innate goodness of people. She was vulnerable, loving, fiercely loyal to her family and friends, and was a devoted, loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend. No matter the circumstances her devotion never faltered. She always tried to be fair-minded and compassionate, and considered everyone else’s point of view.
She was predeceased by her parents, Arthur J. and Mary Leeson Gray; her brothers and their wives, Joseph and Dorothy Gray, Richard and Mary Gray, and Arthur Gray Jr. (infant); her sisters, Frances Gray and Martha J. Gray Nicholson and her husband George; Peter Wendolski (Ann Marie’s husband); and her nephew, Douglas Nicholson.
Mary is survived by her nieces, Pamela Gray Chadwick and her sons and a daughter, Laurie Gray Carson and her husband Christopher; Elizabeth A. Nicholson, and Ann Marie Wiendolski, her daughter, and her son Nicholas and his wife and daughter; and her nephews, Michael Gray, his wife Juanita, and two daughters and William G. Nicholson.
Calling hours will be held on Monday from 4-8pm at, 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday at 10 am at St. James the Apostle Church, 14 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Yonkers.
Donations may be made to the charity of your choice or Heifer International
.
