Mary Katherine Cronin

Niantic - Mary Katherine Cosker Cronin ("Grammy" to all who knew and loved her), passed peacefully Saturday morning, Feb. 8, 2025, at age 84, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.

She was raised on South Whitney Street in Hartford by her family and beloved Aunt Kay; graduated from the Mount and Saint Joseph's College for, as she would say, a "proper brainwashing." She continued in education, starting her career teaching at East Hartford High. As Miss Connecticut State Employee of the Year, this beauty queen soon caught the eye of one George A. Cronin (on a blind date after feigning a bad ankle until she saw this handsome engineer).

After they married and started a family with the arrival of daughters, Deirdre and Maura, she continued in education and spent the majority of her career as secretary of East Granby High School. In this role, she knew pretty much everyone who was anyone in East Granby and impacted so many students' lives for the better.

George and Mary spent their summers at their favorite Giant's Neck Beach in Niantic, where they eventually lived once they had both retired.

She took great pride in her family and especially her five grandchildren: Katherine (and husband Brandon), Sarah, John, Sam and Sadie; and tolerated her two sons-in-law (favorite Joe and favorite Jeremy). She always welcomed the newest members of her growing family, and eagerly anticipated the arrival of her first great-grandchild.

Mary was a great knitter, but was perhaps best known to her family and friends as a wonderful cook. Her masterpieces were too many to mention – apple pies and ice cream cakes were staples. She loved to bake Irish bread for any occasion, and would bring over twice baked potatoes - the tried and true cure for any ailment. She reveled in the successes and joys of her family, and was always happy to sip and spill the tea, or enjoy a glass of wine with all (but put on no airs and was happy with a fine boxed wine selection).

In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her sisters, Anne and Pat; brother Eddie; and so many nephews, nieces and close friends. In fine Irish tradition, we'll leave a glass of wine (or gravy – if you know, you know) on the windowsill in her honor. For the rest of her friends and the so many whose lives she touched for the better, in lieu of flowers, Mary would want you all to carry on her traditions of "girl talks" and random acts of kindness to others.

Her family is planning a Celebration of her Life this summer.