Mary "Dodie" Graney

Mary "Dodie" Graney, aged 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 19, 2025, surrounded by love. Born in Hudson, NY on January 30, 1937, she was the cherished only child of the late Charles and Genevieve Parsons. From an early age, she found comfort in connection - chatting easily with anyone she met, and building a life full of laughter, meaning and joy.
A natural caregiver, Dodie pursued a career in nursing and attended Saint Francis School of Nursing in Poughkeepsie, NY. She adored her first job working in Labor and Delivery at Saint Francis Hospital. It was while working as a nurse at Saint Francis Hospital that she met her husband, Jack Graney on Saint Patrick's Day in NYC. The two married on September 5, 1959, in St. Mary's Church, Hudson, NY and were married for 52 years until Jack's passing in 2011. Dodie and Jack moved to Hyde Park in 1965 and developed lifelong friendships. Dodie also worked at IBM as an industrial nurse and retired from IBM in 1993. Although she retired in 1993, nursing was her calling and she could always be relied upon to help friends, family and neighbors with medical needs.
Both Dodie and Jack were only children. Dodie's joy was in the family they created. Dodie was the proud and loving mother of four daughters - Mary Regina, Carol, Ann-Marie and Ellen. She volunteered countless hours at Regina Coeli School in support of her daughters and was a Brownie Leader for all four girls. Her independent spirit shaped them into strong women and her sense of humor made sure they never took life, or themselves, too seriously.
Dodie was the heartbeat of a family that grew to include 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, all of whom adored her. Gramma or GiGi, as she was affectionately called, was an irreplaceable presence in her grandchildren and great grandchildren's lives.
Her personality, and many, many stories, were often the source of countless belly laughs between "her dozen". Her favorite week of the year was going to Cape May, NJ with all her family.
Dodie is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Regina and Steve Zeoli of Poughkeepsie, NY; Carol and Jim Raimo of Hyde Park, NY; Ann-Marie and Tom McElligott of Troy, NY and Ellen and John Dare of Croton-on-the-Hudson, NY.
She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: James (Allison) Raimo, Allison McElligott, Carly (Anthony) Caporizzo, Christopher (Girija) Zeoli, Meghan McElligott, Jack Raimo (Jessica Krawiec), Maeve Dare, Brian Zeoli, Meghan Dare, Matthew Zeoli, Erin Dare, Jack Dare, and great grandchildren: Max Raimo, Gino Caporizzo, Jordan Raimo and Julia Caporizzo.
To her family, she was the center of it all - Christmas Eve laughs, family happy hours in Cape May, NJ, fun times in Jupiter, FL or a warm welcome home. Dodie's love, laughter and endless stories will live on through beautiful memories of her.
Calling hours will be from 4pm to 7pm, Tuesday, May 27th at Sweet's Funeral Home, Inc., Route 9, Hyde Park, NY.
Dodie's life will be celebrated with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45am, Wednesday, May 28th at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel of St. Peter's Parish, 185 Hudson View Dr., Poughkeepsie. Rev. Daniel D'Alliessi will celebrate.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 80 Washington St., Suite 204, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (www.hvhospice.org) or St. Peter's Church, 6 Father Cody Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (www.stpetersparishny.com).
To send an online condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.