2/12/1925 - 10/24/2018 OBITUARY
Garrity, Mary Constance (Schmit) passed away peacefully on October 24, 2018 surrounded by her family at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, New York after a brief illness at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her husband Paul, her parents Joseph M. Schmit and Katie Constance (Dougherty) Schmit and her brother Joseph Schmit. She is survived by her 4 children Michael (Mary) Garrity of Lindenhurst, NY, Joseph (Jennifer) Garrity of Waccabuc, NY, Patricia (John) Paduano of Malta, NY, Constance (Yong) Garrity of Scottsdale Az, 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and her sister Suzanne Healy of Portland, Oregon. A resident of New Hyde Park, New York for most of her life, she was born in Lewistown Montana February 12, 1925. She graduated with a BA in Journalism from Montana State University, Missoula in 1947. Upon graduation she became the society editor of the Lewistown Daily News but soon ventured out to San Francisco to work for McCann Erickson. The spirit of adventure soon inspired her to buy a one way ticket to the then US territory of Hawaii. It was there she met her husband Paul, was married and gave birth to their first child, Michael. The young family then relocated to New Hyde Park, New York where they settled and Michael’s three siblings were born. Once her children were of school age, Mary continued her education by obtaining an MA in Education from Hofstra University in 1966. She began a new career as an elementary school teacher for the New Hyde Park Garden City Park school district spending most of her 20 year teaching career at Hillside Grade School. Upon retirement she became an active volunteer in her community including teaching inmates at the Nassau County Jail with Literacy Volunteers and maintaining the trails of Long Island with The Long Island Green Belt. She was a fan of the arts, aspiring writer and lifelong advocate for education. Always up for adventure, she biked through Europe, rafted the Colorado river, went skiing for her 75th birthday and traveled the world with her many friends. But her greatest, most accomplished role was as a loving, caring and inspirational mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be greatly missed but forever in our hearts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ProLiteracy.org or CalvaryHospital.org. VISITATION Monday, October 29
2:00 - 4:00 PM & 7:00 - 9:00 PM New Hyde Park Funeral Home 506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Tuesday, October 30 10:15 AM Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church
45 Mayfair Road, New Hyde Park, NY INTERMENT Long Island National Cemetery
2040 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY