Marjorie Crotty Austin

Marjorie Crotty Austin

November 13, 2025

Marjorie Crotty Austin, 99, formerly of Austin Road, Skaneateles, passed away on November 13.

Her loving husband, Thomas, preceded her in death, as well as her parents, Leo and Helen Crotty, and her seven siblings; brothers, Jack, Robert, and Charles; and sisters, Helen Popp, Katie Manley, Jeanne Crotty, and Maureen Molloy. She grew up surrounded by a loving Irish Catholic family in Jordan, N.Y.

Among her many talents and passions, Marge began a remarkable music career by playing the organ and learning Latin at St. Patrick's Church in Jordan. At 14, she was selected to spend her summers in New York City studying music at Manhattanville College. After graduating high school, she returned to Manhattanville on scholarship to earn her Music Education degree. When she returned to Jordan, she played the organ and sang faithfully for the next 70 years at St. Patrick's Church. Professionally, Marge taught music at various schools, including Elbridge Elementary, for over 25 years. She had a deep fondness for teaching children how to love and play music, was famous for her holiday and St. Patrick's Day shows, and made many lifelong friendships among the teaching community that she would treasure for decades.

Marge was the life of the party, entertaining family and friends and hosting parties, reunions, and luncheons. She always made even the smallest events special with her quick wit and storytelling. Marge loved to see and experience all the world has to offer. She travelled extensively after retirement across Europe and North America. She enjoyed the theater, the arts, an excellent meal and a good joke, all of which she was delighted to share with her friends and family. In her later years, Marge played the piano with many dear friends in The Singing Seniors of Skaneateles, which performed across the Finger Lakes region. Upon moving to Westminster Manor and well past her 98th birthday, she continued to share her gifts and would regularly hold piano concerts for residents, staff, friends, and family, celebrating every holiday with music sung and played from memory.

Marge was called "Grandma Piano" by her family and cherished the time she spent with them. She is survived by a son, Thomas (Kathleen) of Skaneateles, and a daughter, Maureen Conners, of Alabama, as well as her five grandchildren, Kevin (Amy) Austin, Bridget (Steve) Frymire, Mason (Vanessa) Austin, Chris (Melissa) Conners and Jonathan (Jennifer) Conners, and her 11 great-grandchildren, Anna, Lyla, Ryan Austin; Evelyn, Paige, Julia Frymire; Thomas, Colin Austin; Jon Davis, Austin, Cash Conners, all of whom made her Irish eyes smile. We are all so thankful for the lessons she taught us, the life she shared with us, and the love that she gave us. We are all so fortunate for the time we shared with her and will miss her every day. We love you, Gram.

The family is grateful for the wonderful staff at both Westminster Manor and The Finger Lakes Center for Living for the excellent care and friendship they provided for Marge for the last several years.

Friends and relatives are invited to call 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20th, at the Bush Funeral Home. 120 E. Main St. Elbridge. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday in St. Patrick Church, Jordan. The Rite of Committal and burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Skaneateles.

Donations in memory of Marge may be made to the restoration fund of St. Patrick's Church of Jordan, N.Y.

"May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door."

BUSH FUNERAL HOME

Elbridge

bushfuneralhomes.com