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Mary Menerey Obituary

Menerey, Mary PRESCOTT, Ariz. Mary Ermides Canaday Menerey of Prescott, born on December 7, 1922 in Albany, N.Y., died peacefully on Sunday, August 10 2008 at the Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott. Mrs. Menerey was an independent insurance agent in Albany before retiring to Prescott. Beloved wife of Dr. Merle L. Menerey; mother of Michael T. Canaday of Coalinga, Calif., and Thomas M. Canaday of Albany; mother by marriage to Michael K., Dr. Kathleen A., and Tim I. Menerey. Also survived by five grandchildren and 17 nieces and nephews. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held in Prescott at a future date. No flowers please. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Adirondack Office of the Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern NY, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12206 (518) 438-2217 or 1-800-272-3900.

Published by Albany Times Union on Aug. 12, 2008.
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Memories and Condolences
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I will miss my Grandma Mary, but am happy to have memories of spending Christmas with her in Albany with all those ducks. I will always keep a photo she gave me of herself on a horse. She must be in her mid-twenties aboard a large horse with an even bigger smile on her face. Looking at that photo will continuously make me smile and think about her fondly.

Lianna Girshman

September 14, 2008

Mary and I have been friends for over 50 years. We corresponded after she moved to Arizona. I will miss her more than words can say.

Helen Amanat

September 10, 2008

So very sorry to hear about Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary was always kind to me and my children. I was very sad when I learned she was in a nursing home. Now she is in aq better place.

Virginia and David

September 10, 2008

We were so sad to hear of the passing of Aunt Mary. The Ermides family is all together now.

Dick and Maria Gerity

September 10, 2008

Grandma will always be with me via the quilt she made for me. She will be with me via the paperweights and Katchina Dolls. She will be with me in my heart and memories (even if most of them are only in stories Grandma and Grandpa told me about my childhood).
I'll remember always visiting the Grand Canyon, driving by Thumb Bute, and Grandma letting me indulge in anything I wanted while I was visiting because "that's what Grandmas are for!"
I'm attaching a photo from my last trip to see Grandma and Grandpa in January 2008. It was so great to see her after a few years and I'm incredibly pleased I went when I did.
I love and miss you Grandma and the guidance you gave me will continue to help me make the best decisions in life.

Jay Canaday

September 1, 2008

I remember how Mary always looked
immaculate, with a great and friendly smile. I am Mike Menereys sister in law. I met Mary about 16 yrs ago. She has been missed dearly for the last few years. But, We know that now she is in a better place smiling again .

alicia lou-diaz

August 30, 2008

I met Mary in 1996 when I joined the TBQ guild. She made my friend and I feel most welcome.
I moved back to Phoenix in 1997, then moved back to Prescott in 1999. I moved into Yavapai Hills Community and Mary also lived there.
When I joined the guilt quild in Yavapai Hills, she recognized me right away. She pulled some strings to get me in TBQ as soon as possible.
Mary & I became very close friends.
Whenever I made a special dessert I would call her and say "Mary do you want to come over and get some dessert for you and Merle". They always called afterwards and said how much they enjoyed it. They were both very much sweet eaters.
I visited Mary this past February. She had a broken arm and was is pain, but she did recognize me. I am so glad I made that visit. She was such a dear firend, and I will miss her very much. I loved her dearly.

Lois Tribble

August 30, 2008

I'm Mike McManus, Kathy Menerey's husband. When I met Mary, the first thing I noticed was how much she loved Merle and the many interests they shared: traveling, hiking, reading and making new friends together. Mary enjoyed connecting with people through her endless interests. She was always interested in whatever you were doing, whether it was some fun thing or a deeper personal issue. She was always very kind and thoughtful. Mary had a sense of adventure, whether it was traveling or starting a new life together with Merle in Arizona. Yes, Ryan, Mary made a great baklava. Kathy and I once ate the entire tin in one sitting. We had to tell her to stop sending it because we couldn't control ourselves. Thanks Mary! We miss her and are comforted knowing she is in a better place.

Michael McManus

August 29, 2008

I met Mary about 12 years ago when I attended my first Thumb Butte Quilters' guild meeting. Mary immediately made me feel welcomed and we soon became good friends. Of course, Mary being Mary, before I knew it I was working on one of the guild's committees. She believed that when you were part of an organization you should be involved and she definitely was. Whether it was working on the quilt show, making sock snowmen for table decorations, helping new quilters, working on committees, or making funny hats, you could be certain that Mary would be a part of it. Her outgoing personality, thougtfulness, caring ways, sense of humor and her upbeat attitude made her very special. She had many loving friends who will miss her dearly. She will always be in my heart and I will smile when I think of her and the many good times and good laughs we had together.

Jean Dennison

August 29, 2008

When I think of Grandma Mary, I can't help but think of her bahklava and spanekopeta! Our family events tend to revolve around food and Mary fit right in. She always took a keen interest in our lives and offered words of encouragement with anecdotes from her own experiences. She will be dearly missed.

Michael Menerey

August 29, 2008

Mary & I were good friends and enjoyed many happy times together. When I told her I was from a little town in NY, New Berlin, she said she knew where it was and had done insurance business there. So we had a connection from the beginning. She would pick me up or I would pick her up to go to Thumb Butte Quilt Guild meetings. She was one of the founders of the group and it has now grown to 160 members. She was not only a leader but a very skilled quilter and produced many beautiful quilts. She was a very, very special person who taught and passed on her joy of quilting. I am so thankful our paths crossed and I know she is now in a better place. She will be greatly missed by many people.

Dotty Mercer

August 29, 2008

Mary was a very special person. We met 28 years ago when she married my father. It was a joy to see how happy they were together and how many interests they shared. It wasn't long before she was Mom and I was her daughter. She taught me to love antique hat pins, and I helped to indoctrinate her into the University of Michigan tradition. Over the years, we shared our love of hiking, country inns, nature, history, books, quilting, and more recently a passion for Hopi jewelry and Native American pottery and art, and of course our love for Dad.

I loved how enthusiastic Mary was about life and her adventurous spirit. She used retirement as a time to explore and keep learning. After living her entire life in Albany, she moved to Arizona with Dad and together they explored the state, its history and Native American culture. She was active in the quilt guild, hiking group, book club, Elder Hostels and a new circle of friends.

I remember many special times, but vacationing with Dad and Mary in Zion National Park was one of the best. I will always treasure that memory and appreciate my husband's wisdom in making sure that we didn't wait too long to schedule that trip. Visiting the Grand Canyon and Sedona were special too.

I am so grateful for the happiness she gave my Dad for so many years, and so glad that she was part of our family. I am also grateful for our special relationship and that she knew how much she meant to me. I loved her dearly and I miss her, but am comforted by knowing that her spirit is once again free.

Kathleen Menerey

August 29, 2008

Mary and I first met in 1991 at a Mountain Top Quilters monthly meeting. We instantly became close friends and when I was elected president for the guild in 1993, I asked her to be my treasurer. That year we spent many special, fun-times together. I found Mary to be a hard worker and very creative; she was always enthusiastic about everything she worked on and was a take-charge, lovely lady. I gave her the title of "queen bee", of our guild. Once you met Mary, you would become her close friend. My life was enriched from the first day she came into my life and I will miss her dearly. I just know she is in heaven creating a new quilt guild and coordinating all their events just like she did with Thumb Butte Quilters. There will always be a special place in my heart for my dear friend Mary.

Tina McCowan

August 29, 2008

I had the privilege to know Mary as a quilter. She was an artist, a dedicated worker, and a friend. Her illness cannot diminish our cherished memories of her.

Maggie Keller

August 29, 2008

I'm Mike Menerey, Merle's oldest son. Mary was a wonderful person who enjoyed life, loved to be with people, and most important to me, made my Dad very happy for the past almost thirty years. They enjoyed each other's company, hiking and traveling; Mary even got Dad to use a computer! Mary was always concerned with what was going on in our lives and with our kids, and she became instant family. Suzie and I will miss her laughter and company (Suzie will also miss her shopping partner!), but I am comforted by knowing Mary is now in a better place. The past few years were very difficult for us to observe as Mary's health declined and we saw the drain on my Dad. A toast to Mary, a truly wonderful person and a joy to have known!

Mike Menerey

August 29, 2008

I'm Patrick Menerey and Mary was my grandmother. Even though she lived in Arizona, I always felt she made an effort to be apart of my life and my family's. I will always have a special place in my heart for her and I will forever be saddened by her loss.

Patrick Menerey

August 28, 2008

I'm Ryan Menerey and Mary was my grandfather's wife, but in my eyes my real grandmother. The first experience I had with Mary was when I was 8 years old and my parents sent me to Albany to spend a week with Merle and Mary. We went to Cooperstown and visited the Hall of Fame. We went hiking, and visited a minor league baseball stadium. I drove a tractor at her son's farm (well, sort of). It was an experience I will never forget and the start to a great relationship we had throughout the years. When Mary and Merle moved to Arizona, they visited more frequently and I was fortunate enough to see them on most major holidays. Mary would always take a special interest in me and how my life was going. She called me "Ryne" and always gave me sound advice for the whichever challenges I faced during our time together. She made a dynamite baklavah. Most of all, she made my grandpa Merle happy. She will be missed dearly.

Ryan Menerey

August 28, 2008

Mary Menerey was grace and sunlight. To know her was a privilege and honor. As my mother-in-law, she treated me as her own daughter. As a result of our relationship, I came to know her fun and enthusiastic personality, her passion for gourmet cooking, her expertise in quilting, her joy in receiving a tight hug, her love of family and most importantly, the love of her life, Merle. Mary was a woman's woman. She loved being a girl, especially if it meant going shopping, going out to lunch or tea, or getting dressed up to go to the theater or a concert. She made it a point to always look her best, and she did. I was always proud of Mary in every way possible. In addition, Mary had many talents. She was a leader in the Prescott Quilt Guild for many years, and many in her family are lucky enough to have one of her quilts which truly reflected her artistic talents. Mary also loved the outdoors, and often went hiking with a group of friends in Prescott for exercise and just good 'ole fun.
Yes, her interests were wide and varied, but the most important aspect of her life was her husband Merle and her family. I will miss our talks, the twinkle in her eyes when she was truly excited. She was a friend to me, so special. I will never forget her special comfort basket that she gave me one Christmas. It contained a great book to read, Godiva chocolates. fragrant tea, a special CD of music, and a lovely scarf to keep me warm. These small gifts were the essence of Mary. She will be missed.

Suzie Menerey

August 27, 2008

I have only known "Mom" for a short time in relationship to her life but she and Merle have been a very important part of my life and their acceptance of me into their family has meant more than any words can express.

Her beautiful quilts grace our home and are a constant reminder of her love of family.

Miss you and love you Mom.

Jan Canaday

August 23, 2008

August 23, 2008

August 23, 2008

I'm Kelly Canaday and Mary was my Aunt. I'm sad about her loss, but I know that she's in a better place and that her suffering is over. I last saw her the year that she turned 80, and before she was sick. I have fond memories of that visit and also of visiting Mary and Merle in Prescott. I will miss her and sending postcards from my various travels. Rest in peace, Aunt Mary. Love, Kelly

Kelly Canaday

August 14, 2008

I'm Tom Canaday and I hope some readers might leave a thought or two about my mother.

God's Peace be with us all.

Tom Canaday

August 12, 2008

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