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Mary Drago Obituary

Drago, Mary Ann ALBANY Mary Ann Drago, age 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 21, 2018, at St. Peter's Hospital. A devoted mother and grandmother, Mary Ann was an excellent entertainer and cook. She loved to play cards, gamble, drink, smoke and socialize. She also loved to sit at the kitchen table and talk for hours where she would listen and give her sage advice to whomever came to visit. Mary Ann lived in the same home in Albany for the past 50 years, known as the "neighborhood mom" to many. Her home was a home where the door was never locked and always opened to anyone who needed a place to stay, a meal to eat, or a roof over their heads. Her favorite pastimes were playing a good game of poker, Christmas parties at her home with her entire family, friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed vacations with her daughter Barbara, weekend trips to the casinos with her daughter Rose Ann and grandsons Drew and Mark. She always looked forward to her "Wednesdays with the boys," and spending time at Dori's pool, enjoying the sun. She also enjoyed getting daily visits from her daughters, where she savored every story about her grandchildren. She held nothing dearer to her, however, than her son Edward and daughter Carol, whom she is reunited with in Heaven. Mary Ann was born in New York City and lived in the Bronx, before moving to Albany where she spent most of her life with her five children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. She enjoyed decades of marriage to the love of her life, Babe Drago, until his death almost 40 years ago. Mary Ann also found time in her life for education, and at the age of 45, attended the University at Albany. She retired from the N.Y.S. Bill Drafting Commission in 1998. She was extremely smart, independent, feisty, opinionated, strong-willed, and never at loss for words. Mary Ann was predeceased by her loving husband, Babe Drago; son, Edward F. Drago; daughter in-law, Cindy Drago; daughter, Carol Ann Frost; her parents, Andrew and Dora Juhase; brother, Jonah Juhase and sister, Helen Ader. She is survived by her daughters, Rose Ann Brown of Albany, Barbara Drago of Loudonville, daughter, Dori (Scott) Blanchard of Bethlehem; and daughter in-law, Nadine Drago of Cohoes. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Drew (Nancy) Preston, Mark Preston, Arthur (Karen) Frost, Carl (Janine) Frost, Anya Frost, Jonah (Stephanie) Frost, Jay Frost, Edward Drago Jr., Andrea (Rob) Zaris, Alexandra Velella, Rachael Blanchard, Olivia Blanchard and Nicholas Blanchard, and 13 great-grandchildren. Friends are welcomed to call on Tuesday, June 26, from 4-8 p.m. at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy-Schenectady Road, Watervliet. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 27, at 9 a.m. in All Saints Church, 16 Homestead St., Albany. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Colonie. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New York Presbyterian Hospital for Organ Transplantations: give.nyp.org/site/ Donation2?df_id=2193&mfcpref=T&2193.donation=form1

Published by Albany Times Union on Jun. 24, 2018.
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My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. May the promise in
1 Thessalonians 4:14 comfort your family.

June 26, 2018

Rose Anne, Barbara and Dori, While I was sad to learn of your Mom's passing, please know the impact she had on the people around her. especially your neighbors! She was one in a million! A big piece on NYC moved onto Magazine St when your family moved here. And Mrs. Drago was a legend in the neighborhood! I will always appreciate her letting me and my brothers and a lot of our friends swim in the pool just about any time we wanted to. And for her letting me shoot baskets in her driveway for hours at a time! She even shot a few hoops herself. But most of all, especially in her later years, she had the ability to make you feel better after seeing her than you did a minute before seeing her. Glad I got to see her last summer at Alexandra's graduation party! I did nothing but smile and remember those good times on my drive back to Boston after the party. My thoughts are with you guys during this difficult time. Remember all the good times! There were a lot!

Ed Barber

June 25, 2018

This was a better world with you in it, Mary Ann. Such a classy lady, but could "get down" with the rest of us. ou went through many heartaches, but always had the strength to get through anything thrown your way. Your legacy was so truthfully and lovingly written. Heaven will sure be a rocking place with you there.

With love and much respect, Karen

Karen Sommers LaMountain

Friend

June 24, 2018

Dori, I remember your mom from high school, she was a hoot. What a beautiful summary of her life. Your in my thoughts!

Michelle Gallen

June 24, 2018

Dori and entire Drago clan,
NO ONE will ever replace Mrs.Drago. She was like a mother to me, and you are all family to me. I'll never ,ever forget her, her words of wisdom, and the things she'd say. Heaven better watch out ! Love to you all .

Kimberly Mascord

June 24, 2018

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