Mary Jane Conroy
October 17, 1927 ~ November 26, 2023
Born in:
Bridgeport, CT
Resided in:
Hamden, CT
Mary Jane Conroy, age 96, of Hamden, CT passed away November 26, 2023. Born in Bridgeport on October 17, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Daniel and Jane Mary (Collins) Conroy, and sister of the late Judith C. McAdams. She is survived by her brother-in-law Charles McAdams, nieces, Dana Ely (Keith) of Kennett Square, PA, Maura Abbonizio (Robert) of Doylestown, PA, and Beth Ann McFadden (Jack) of Toronto, and nephews, Kevin McAdams (Andrea) of Haverford, PA and Brian McAdams of Doylestown, PA. She also leaves 14 grandnieces and nephews, and six great-grandnieces and nephews.
Mary Jane began her teaching career in Cheshire, received a Master’s in Education from Yale, and in 1956 moved to Great Neck, Long Island, where she was a devoted and respected teacher. She retired in 1988 and returned to her Hamden home, where she was a frequent volunteer at St. Raphael’s Hospital, the New Haven school system, the Retired Teachers of Great Neck, the Head Start program, and the Schubert Theater. She also loved volunteering at St. Martin De Porres, and was a recipient of the Apple Award for her many years of service. She served as a Lector and Parish Council member at the former St. John the Baptist Church, where her devotion to her faith and community earned her the diocese St. Joseph Medal of Honor.
Friends are invited to visit with her family at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden on Thursday, November 30th from 8:30-9:30 a.m., prior to her Mass of Christian Burial in St. Paul VI Parish/Blessed Sacrament Church, 321 Circular Ave., Hamden at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Stratford, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary Jane’s memory may be made to St. Martin De Porres Academy, 208 Columbus Ave., New Haven, CT 06519.
Services
Visitation: November 30, 2023 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Service - Hamden
2300 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06518
203-288-0800
Mass of Christian Burial: November 30, 2023 10:00 am
Graveside Service: November 30, 2023 2:00 pm
St. Michael Cemetery
2205 Stratford Avenue
Stratford, CT 06497
A teacher to us all by her example, Mary Jane was a woman who daily lived her faith, was loyal to and proud of her family, had a passion for adventure and possessed both a generous spirit and true grit. It was a blessing to know her.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23 KJV)
Mary Jane was an “ambassador” in the Church. Its not a formal title in as much as she was a holy woman, an outstanding witness in her faith, and she had a real heart, particularly for children. She was always kind to my family, encouraged our four children, and often assisted where she could both in Church activities and occasionally assisting my wife. We are grateful for her friendship and she had, as described above, real grit.
Deacon Ron Gurr said it well. I was a fellow parishioner and lector at St. John the Baptist, and admired her commitment to Faith and family. The eulogy given at the funeral Mass by her niece Beth Ann said it all. May the angels lead her to Paradise, and the martyrs come to greet her.