Margaret Cortese

Margaret Madeline Mulvaney Cortese
October 31, 1921 – March 18, 2017

Margaret Madeline Mulvaney Cortese, age 95, passed away on March 18, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was born on October 31, 1921 in Ware, Massachusetts. Margaret was the daughter of Julia McGrath Mulvaney and Daniel Mulvaney. She was a graduate of the Springfield Hospital School of Nursing, now Baystate Medical Center. She met her husband of 68 years, Philip T. Cortese, while working as an RN at Shibley Hospital in Washington; they were married in the Dahlgren Chapel at Georgetown University in Washington, DC on February 10, 1945. Dr. and Mrs. Cortese moved to Amsterdam in 1948.

Margaret is survived by one brother, Daniel (Mona) Mulvaney of Connecticut and her children, Maria, Tom, Chris, Phil, Lisa and Julie. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Philip T. Cortese, her brothers Richard Mulvaney and Robert Mulvaney, her youngest daughter Margaret Ellen and infant son Michael.

Family was the cornerstone of Margaret’s life. She enjoyed special times with each of her children and their families; Maria T. Cortese of Sierre Madre, California; Thomas A. Cortese (Linda) of Glenville, New York; Christopher D. Cortese of Raleigh, North Carolina; Judge Philip V. Cortese (Jerri) of Amsterdam, New York; Lisa M. Cassell (Patrick) of Concord, New Hampshire; Julia Francesca Cortese-Heinzel (Fred) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Margaret E. Howe (Mark) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She was fondly referred to as “Noonie” or “Nunu” by her 9 grandchildren, Laura and Elaina Redmond; Sean (Tracy), Maura and Daniel Cassell; Matthew and Philip Heinzel; Elizabeth C. Howe; and Anna Li Cortese. She was great grandmother to Maddison Faith Cassell.

Margaret will be forever remembered for her gentle and kind mannerisms, her welcoming smile and her ability to listen. While growing up, the Cortese family gathered every evening at the dinner table to share daily events and take turns reading from a book of reflections entitled “Three Minutes a Day”. As the children grew up, family and friends were encouraged and welcomed to continue the family dinner tradition, often a lengthy and loud occasion; but a family tradition so compelling that it continued throughout the lives of Margaret and Phil. Never wanting to be the center of attention, Margaret delighted in being surrounded by family, friends, conversations and laughter and embraced every new person brought into the family fold. One of her great joys as she grew older was knowing that her children were friends as well as siblings. Simply said, Margaret loved people - and was loved by many in return.

Margaret was the foundation that enabled her family to enjoy holidays, opportunities and vacations together. While the kids enjoyed downhill skiing, Margaret spent the day in the lodge providing hot chocolate, needed clothing changes and bathroom breaks. Just before the children came home from school, Margaret would take a power nap and wait for the kids to come to her room, lie on the bottom of the bed and talk about the worries and experiences of their days. And of course she learned to cook so that 9 people at her table would be happy with their meal.

She had a gift for providing comfort whenever needed. She loved music and had a lovely voice, often harmonizing with songs such as “You are my sunshine”. She enjoyed traveling, sometimes as part of her husband Phil’s medical mission work and often as memorable occasions with the children. “Noonie/Nunu” was proud of her grandchildren and looked forward to every phone call, card or visit that kept her updated. She truly savored the time she spent with them and watching them as they matured.

Special friends, including Diane and Ed Marcil, Maria and Paul Dufresne, Betty and Jack Hanlon, Theresa and Bob Sise, Bud and Nancy O’Brien, and Mary Ann Wall, meant the world to Margaret as she grew to love the Amsterdam community and build her family here. Even after the onset of dementia in 2008, she would talk of her adventures with friends, always smiling and laughing at the memories evoked by backyard picnics, annual sing-a-longs, and great conversations. No one ever really believed that Margaret was her stated age - including Margaret! Her dress and personality defined elegance and grace - and her skin was the envy of every woman past the age of 40. Margaret Madeline Mulvaney Cortese was a beautiful person - inside and out.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the many friends that Margaret met on her journey through life, including Dr. Michael Hardies, JitkaPrazak, Roberta Boughton, and the women of the Sarah Jane Sanford Home. Special thanks are also offered to the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital and Community Hospice for their compassionate and sincere care of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, mother-in-law and friend. Her time on earth has come to an end, but her impact on our lives will never be diminished.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Riley Mortuary, 110 Division Street, Amsterdam, New York. Calling hours are at the funeral on Thursday, March 23 from 5 pm - 7 pm. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, March 24 at 10 am.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, 427 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, New York 12010.