Mary F. Kolenberg

1939 - 2021

Mary F. Kolenberg
Mary F. Kolenberg, a resident of Stamford Connecticut for nearly 50 years, was called to her eternal reward on Sunday, September 12, 2021 - the Feast Day of the Most Holy Name of Mary, our Lord's Blessed Mother. She passed away in the late evening peacefully after being in hospice care for the last three weeks at St. Camillus Health Center is Stamford. She was 82 years old.
Mary was born in Kearney New Jersey on February 21, 1939 the eldest of four children born to Melvin and Lillian Cole. She was predeceased by her parents Melvin and Lillian, her brother William Cole, her daughter-in-law Karen Kolenberg, and her brother-in-law Gary Stabile. She was also predeceased in 2005 by her loving husband of 48 years, John J. Kolenberg Sr.
She is survived by her six children: John Kolenberg, Jr. (Karen deceased) of Rochester, New York, Michael Kolenberg and his wife Laura, Robert Kolenberg and his wife Michelle, Thomas Kolenberg and his wife Olga, all of Stamford, Connecticut, Lawrence Kolenberg and his wife Laura Moloney of Winchester, Massachusetts, and daughter Anne Kolenberg Cross of New Canaan, Connecticut.
In addition, she is survived by two sisters Ann Stabile and Grace Cole of Toms River, New Jersey; and thirteen grandchildren, Emily Sinicropi and her husband Anthony, Jacob Kolenberg, Nicole Kolenberg, Andrew Kolenberg and his fiancé Olivia Tompkins, Steven Kolenberg and his wife Ellen, Daniel Kolenberg, Clare Moloney-Kolenberg, Brooke Moloney-Kolenberg, Isabella Kolenberg, Sarah Kolenberg, Mary Elizabeth Jaros and her husband Christian, Grace Cross, and Mark Cross. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Elena, Isaac, Graham, and Jack Sinicropi.
Mary was married at the age 18 when she converted to the Catholic faith, never missing an opportunity to attend weekly Mass, monthly confession, and seek out sacramental graces when ill. She had a great devotion to our Blessed Mother, never parting with her miraculous medal and making her first Saturday confession every month as Our Lady of Fatima instructed us to do.
St. Ignatius said "Above all, remember that God looks for solid virtues in us, such as patience, humility, obedience, abnegation of your own will-that is, the good will to serve Him and our neighbor in Him" .These were her finest qualities, evident by her simple life that was unconditionally committed to her family and community.
To many of her Shippan Point contemporaries she was known as a kind supportive neighbor, and to many of her children's friends a second mother-especially at dinner time. One of her greatest joys was to have the entire family, and normally several guests, at the dinner table each evening for what always turned out to be a near two-hour dining experience.
Mary had a successful real estate career for nearly 25 years and took great pride in finding young families their first home. She also was well known in the Stamford minority community for helping families break barriers by moving into new and better neighborhoods. She always said; "because of their hard work they earned and deserve the right to be in."
Our family would like to thank the entire staff at St. Camillus Health Care Center for their kind and compassionate care. In particular, we would like to especially thank Reverend Matthew Mauriello and his entire pastoral staff for their devoted attentiveness to Mary's sacramental needs. Dr. Fang Wang and Dr. Frederick Slogoff, and nurse Julia Coutinho for their accessibility, genuine concern, and friendship that truly helped extend Mary's life through many difficult health issues. Lastly, we are truly grateful to caregiver Georgette Kelly for making our mother's final months both comfortable and joyful.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 10 a.m., at The Basilica of St John the Evangelist, 279 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 124 Rock Rimmon Road, Stamford. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to The Malta House of Norwalk (www.maltahouse.org) for homeless mothers and their children, or the New Covenant Center soup kitchen in Stamford (www.newcovenantcenter.org).
For the safety of all those attending her funeral services, please wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.
To leave an expression of sympathy for Mary's family online, please sign the guestbook at www.bosakfuneralhome.com or visit the funeral home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bosakfuneralhome .