Mary "Mae" Mackay

1931 - 2022

Our Irish mom, Mary "Mae" Mackay, is now dancing the Irish jig with her twin sister, Kay, who she missed dearly. They are together again forever. Mae was born May 21, 1931, an unexpected twin, five minutes after her sister. She was born and raised in Bronx, New York to parents Rita (Leonard) and Edward Banahan, both from Sligo, Ireland. Our parents met in the Bronx, married, and soon started their family. They moved to East Windsor in 1960. When her brother Edward moved to Enfield, she soon relocated there with her family and they became neighbors on Sandpiper Road in the Birdland neighborhood. Widowed at age 45, our mom continued to raise us by herself and provide everything we ever needed, including sending the three of us to college.

Both of our parents worked for the A&P (Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co.). We spent our summers at our family cottage in Holland, Massachusetts, where we enjoyed a lifetime of memories. We were parishioners at St. Adalbert and Holy Family Church. Our mom always had a coffee in one hand and a Danielle Steel novel or newspaper in the other. She had a flair for fashion, always ready to go shopping at a moment's notice.

In 1987 mom moved to Agawam, Massachusetts to enjoy condo life. She played cards every week in her setback league. When mom was 80, she moved in with her daughter Rita and son in law Ted. We enjoyed many family vacations together, especially our annual camping trip to Strawberry Park in Preston. Our mom was fortunate enough to spend the last 10 years of her life living at St. Joseph's Residence in Enfield. She received the most love and care we could have asked for from the staff there.

Mae was predeceased in 1976 by her husband, Malcom "Buddy" Mackay, and in 2020, by her twin sister, Kay. She leaves behind her children, Donald Mackay, Rita Bourgoin, and Bruce Mackay, as well as her brother, Edward Banahan; sister in law, Joan Banahan; and daughter in law, Debbie Mackay. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Matthew Bourgoin, Amy Dunphy, Lauren Maul, Emily Mackay and her great granddaughter, Cate Bourgoin. Mae was looking forward to meeting her two newest great grandchildren, who will be arriving later this year. Over the years she was so blessed with many visits from her nieces and nephews, especially the Phelan and Murphy families.

All services for Mae will be held privately. Any donations in her memory can be made to St. Joseph's Residence in Enfield. To leave online condolences, please visit

www.Leetestevens.com