Mary Perpetua Sanady

Mary Perpetua (Hickey) Sanady died peacefully at the Reservoir Care and Rehabilitation Center in West Hartford on December 11. She was born in Toronto, Ontario on September 28, 1926 and was the eldest of the three daughters of William and Vivian Hickey. Mary was the beloved wife of the late Joseph V. Sanady to whom she was married for 47 years. Mary was also pre-deceased by her two sisters, Helen Elizabeth "Beth" Buffett formerly of London, ON and Sr. Mary Emmanuel R.P.B. (Theresa Hickey). Together, Mary and Joseph had seven sons; Frank of Charlotte, North Carolina and his wife Maryann, Paul, of West Hartford who has lived with Mary and was her faithful caregiver for the past ten years, Stephen, who married Norma Sullivan with whom he had four children, Katie and her partner, David, of Hartford, Stephen, Jr. of Florida and his fiancée Ashley Kraushaar, Jessica, of Windsor and Matthew, also of Windsor, Edward who is married to Denise (DeMerchant) Sanady of West Hartford and their children Ben and his wife, Holly of Southbury, Patrick and his girlfriend, Olivia, both mostly of Anchorage, Alaska, and Charlie, of West Hartford, Joseph, Jr. who was deceased in September, 2000 and his wife Dianne Dangler of Colchester and their two children Marybeth and Christopher, both of Colchester, Martin and his girlfriend, Karen, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and John and his wife, Sharon (Colton) Sanady of Oak Ridge, New Jersey and their son, John. Mary also leaves behind five beautiful great grandchildren whom she absolutely adored; Jada, Amelie, Aja, Cassiel and Emmie. Mary also leaves behind Joseph’s nephew, Frank Moor and his wife Ingrid and their children Michael and Andrew and their families. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews throughout the Toronto area and the Peter and Maria Perge family of Canton whom, she loved like her own. Mary was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to Queens, New York in 1953. In her early adult life she taught school in Edmonton, Alberta. After raising her children she returned to college and when she was in her mid-sixties she earned an additional degree; a Bachelor of Art with a major in Human Services. Mary’s life was characterized by her love and her devotion to her family and friends and by her deep Christian faith and her commitment to the Catholic Church. At her core she lived each day by the value of giving; giving of her time and her treasure and most importantly of the unending supply of love she had in her heart. Over the past eighty-eight years she shared that loving spirit with countless people both through the formal volunteer work she performed for many different organizations and by randomly helping people she knew who were in need. She thought nothing of responding to an emergency 2:00 AM phone call from Catholic Charities, by going to Bradley Airport to pick up a refugee family from southeast Asia and bringing them home with her, to live with her and her family until she could get them settled on their own. For twenty-five years, on Tuesday evenings, week after week, Mary went to Tabor House in Hartford where she cooked for and shared meals with countless men who were living there because they had advanced stage AIDS and were terminally ill. These men loved her. They loved her because she was willing to share with them at a personal level and treat each of them with dignity and respect. She read to these men. She listened to them. She held their hands. She cried with them and when it was time she was there with them when they died. She also made it her business to help people she knew in her personal life. Whether it was privately channeling money to a friend or family member she knew was in need or providing emotional support and comfort to someone she knew her generosity was unending. Mary was deeply religious. She loved Mass. She went every day. Sometimes, if the spirit so moved her she’d even go back to a second or third Mass on the same day; especially if she came across a good Irish funeral listed in the paper. Over the years she was involved working with countless committees and groups at St. Timothy Church and St. Thomas the Apostle Church, both in West Hartford and St. Patrick - St. Anthony Church in Hartford. At those churches she served as a lector, a CCD teacher and as a Eucharistic Minister. During the 1970’s Mary and her husband, Joseph were deeply involved in and became team leaders with the Marriage Encounter movement. In the end Mary braved a tough, losing battle with her declining health. Through it all her faith was unwavering. Each day, for as long as she was able, she read from the Bible and said her prayers and her Rosaries; a four hours per day commitment. She was a loving woman who will be sadly missed by all that knew her. Calling hours will be held from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 14th at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 15th at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Mary’s family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at the Reservoir for all the loving care they provided Mary during the past few months. Especially kind to her were Kristina and Dr. Rex. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Tabor House, 67 Brownell Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.

Mary Perpetua Sanady

September 28, 1926 - December 11, 2014