Mary Patricia Byrnes

Mary Patricia Byrnes, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, February 14, 2021.  Mary Byrnes, loving mother of eight children, entered the eternal gates of heaven at the age of 90. She was born at home on May 10, 1930 in New York City, NY to Patrick and Julia (Lynch) O’Brien. Mary graduated from St Alphonsus Commercial School in lower Manhattan in 1947. She went to work for Dupont in the Photo Products area. She married Robert Byrnes in June 1949 and together raised eight children, Kevin, Martin, Lawrence, Thomas, Noreen, Robin, Patricia, and Margaret.

Leaving the NYC area in Feb 1960, Mary and the family moved to Yorktown Heights, NY. While raising her family, she worked as a legal secretary, owned an Ice Cream Parlor in Peekskill, and worked in a dry cleaner where she enjoyed much interaction with her customers. As her children grew and departed the nest to raise their own families, Mary moved next to her daughter, Patricia, in Copake, NY in 2003. Above all things, Mary had a passion for her family. She loved the many family reunions and gatherings where noise levels due to laughter and love were high. Mary would sit back and smile with a look that said: “I did that”! It turned out to be quite a brood.. She was most proud of her Irish heritage as both her parents were born and raised in Ireland and immigrated to the US in the early 1920s. She was known for her quick wit. Ever a quick retort, coupled with that mischievous, infectious smile. Mary was also quite fond of John Wayne, dedicating a room in her home to “The Duke”. She was an avid reader, who impressed all with the rate at which she consumed books. It was truly dizzying. We all knew her to be an uncommonly brilliant person: thoughtful and well- read in all things. Among so many things, we remember this. Mary was a strong woman, who knew who she was. Her own person. Strong, Proud. An example to her daughters, sons, and grandchildren.. She found her way. She led a path, for so many. She was… incomparable. She was stubborn, opinionated, Irish. She was a wonder. We will miss you, always.

She was preceded in death by her father Patrick, her mother Julia, and two grandchildren, Randy Williams and Elizabeth Byrnes. Mary is survived by her children Kevin (Paula) Byrnes of Alabama, Martin Byrnes of Colorado, Lawrence Byrnes of Highland Mills, Thomas (Diane) Byrnes of Florida, Noreen (Tony) Praino of Carmel, Robin (Randall) Williams of Colorado, Patricia (Shawn) McClain) of Copake and Margaret Busch of Watervelit, her sister Margaret Brunner of Florida, 27 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great, grandchildren.

Visitation time will be held at Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22,Copake on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 from 11:00am to 12:45pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will then be celebrated at Our Lady of Hope at 1:00pm. Inurnment will take place privately at Rose Hill Cemetery in Putnam Valley, New York.