Mary Catherine Quinlan

Mary Catherine Quinlan, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on January 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on August 26, 1940, in Long Island, New York, to John and Mary Quinlan. Mary moved to Lakewood, Ohio at the age of six, where the Quinlan family established their roots and came to call Cleveland home.
Mary was the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Ohio University in Athens in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She later earned her Master's Degree in Education from Cleveland State University in 1985. She was also a proud graduate of St. Joseph Academy, class of 1958.
Known for her passion for helping others, Mary chose a career in education. She began her teaching career in 1969 and after a brief stint in Texas, she returned to the Cleveland area to care for her family. She spent the remainder of her career teaching special needs elementary school students for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, retiring in July of 2005.
Mary had a great love for her hometown of Cleveland and all it had to offer. She was an avid patron of Playhouse Square, attending many Broadway Series productions, and volunteered as a "Red Coat" usher, welcoming theatergoers to their seats. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Rocky River, delivering meals to those in need. A passionate supporter of the Cleveland Zoo, Mary shared her enthusiasm for the animals with her great-nieces and great-nephews. She was a proud member of the Cleveland Museum of Art, a devoted fan of all Cleveland sports teams, and loved spending time with her family and close friends at the city's many restaurants.
Mary also had a deep love for travel, embarking on numerous cruises and trips with memorable visits to places such as Florida, Hilton Head, Alaska, and Hawaii. Her adventures also took her abroad, including trips to England, several countries in Europe, Iceland, her beloved homeland of Ireland, and most recently, Spain.
Mary enjoyed staying active through Jazzercise and Yoga, and her nightly routine included watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with her best friend and neighbor, Mary Barb. Mary was the epitome of style, always impeccably dressed, with perfectly manicured nails and elegantly styled hair and makeup.
Mary will forever be remembered for her grace, beauty, and class, deep love for her family, her Irish heritage, and her strong faith. Her generosity and unwavering dedication to those she loved will leave a lasting impact on all who knew her.
Mary was a deeply cherished and proud aunt to Susan (DeAngelis) and Scott Slagle, Laura (DeAngelis) and Ed Knoblauch, Karen (DeAngelis) and James Korek, Sara (Quinlan) and Randy Slama, Amy (Quinlan) and Scott Swanson, Cyndi (Quinlan) and Brad Crellin, John and Amy Quinlan, and Tommy and Faith Quinlan, as well as Mark and Laura St. John, Keith St. John, Susan (St. John) and Ricky Stanley, and Jennifer (St. John) Sherman. She loved each of them as if they were her own children.
She was also proud great-aunt to David (Nicole), Eric, Daniel, and Evan Knoblauch, Christopher and Alex Korek, Ryan Slama, Bradley, Braden, and Cael Crellin, Adeline, Jack, and Avalyn Quinlan, Imani and Virginia Quinlan, Matthew (Jane), Chris (Ashley), Patrick and Andrew St. John, Avery, McKenzie (Wes) Palmatier, and Noah Sherman and great-great-aunt to Jason Knoblauch, Lucas and Benjamin St. John, and Penny Palmatier.
Mary was a dear sister-in-law to Elaine "Lainey" Quinlan and Frances "Fran" (Surgent/St. John) DeAngelis and a cherished friend to countless others who will miss her dearly.
Mary is reunited in eternal glory with her father, John "Jack" Quinlan, her mother, Mary "Maizie" Quinlan (Smith), her sister, Anne "Annie" DeAngelis (Quinlan), her brother, Thomas Quinlan, her brother-in-law, Anthony DeAngelis, her great-nephew, Aaron Knoblauch and her lifelong friend, Mary Barb Marks. Mary Barb was like a sister to Mary, and their decades of love and friendship were a cornerstone of both their lives.
A memorial Mass to honor Mary's life will be held at St. Clarence Catholic Church in North Olmsted, Ohio, on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 10 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations in Mary's name to Playhouse Square, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, or the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Go raibh maith agat a Mháire, as an saol a roinn tú linn
"Thank you Mary, for the life you shared with us"