Obituary of Mary A. Masters

Mary A. Masters, 87, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her own home surrounded by family on December 28, 2021. Born in Schenectady, NY to her late parents, Frank and Theresa (Lombardo) Mareno, she was raised with strong Italian roots, especially when it came to cooking and Sunday family dinners.  Mary continued many family traditions and created some of her own as a mother passing them on to future generations.

A Nott Terrace High School graduate, she met her husband, William L. Masters, while working at Ellis Hospital. She adored her husband, sharing over 50 beautiful years together before his passing in 2006.

Family and Faith were the most important elements of Mary’s life. She loved being a mother more than anything in the world and gave every ounce of her life to her girls. There was nothing more important to Mary than having the family together.  She loved family reunion picnics, celebrating the holidays, and going to the ocean.  Her favorite vacations were spending Easter in Myrtle Beach with her family and grandchildren.

Mary was also a devoted Catholic and parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church in Schenectady.  She enrolled her 3 children in St. Anthony’s School where she became a very powerful fundraising force to keep the school open.  She was one of the founders of the St. Anthony’s Festa and former St. Anthony’s Sunday Bingo. With her daughters in tow, Mary was busy working the concession stand, game booths, and ziti dinners. A few more fun activities Mary organized at the school were Friday pizza and popcorn lunches while Monday nights were spent playing volleyball with the mothers. Working as a crossing guard, Mary carried extra lunches with her to give to any child who didn’t have a lunch to eat.

Her huge heart was met with an equally huge personality. Mary was a spitfire who enjoyed a good laugh and trying her luck at the casino. In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting, watching tv, playing cards and Bingo, car rides and going out for lunch.  For 25 years, Mary and her daughter, Michele, organized bus trips to Reading/Lancaster, PA, NYC, Boston, Niagara Falls and CT.  The trips made wonderful memories for many but especially for Mary.  She was also a lover of animals, especially her cats; each cat had their own name, but she preferred to call them “baby”. 

Mary was predeceased by her husband and siblings: Concetta Maciariello, Anthony, Ralph, Frank and John Mareno, as well as a few of her fur-babies.

To continue her memory are her daughters, Michele (John) Geissler, Patti (Lee) Bascom, Marybeth (Michael File) Ragucci; grandchildren - Jonathan (Rachel) Geissler, Stephen Geissler, Leah Bascom, Livia Bascom, Nicholas (Kelsey) Ragucci, Maria Ragucci, Alyssa (Mark Kane) Ragucci; great-grandchildren, Hudson Michael Ragucci and Jolene Rose Kane; several nieces and nephews and her best friend of 82 years, Mary Coblish. 

Friends and Family are invited to honor Mary’s life by joining funeral services virtually. Please follow this link at 1 PM on Monday, January 3rd: https://www.facebook.com/GlenvilleFuneralHome

She will be laid to rest with her husband at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Glenville, NY. 

In lieu of flowers, Mary’s name memorial contributions may be made to Kitten Angels, 233 Houseman Street Mayfield NY 12117; Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine (Auriesville Shrine), 136 Shrine Road, Fultonville, NY 12072; St. Therese Priory, PO Box 128, North Lawrence, NY 12967

Online condolences may be made at glenvillefuneralhome.com.