Mary Ann Gardinier

Mary Ann (Patitucci) Gardinier left this world on April 27, 2024 at 76 years young. She was born on July 31, 1947, the youngest of her mother Mary (Wells) Patitucci’s four daughters.

Mary Ann had a loving childhood surrounded by family and had fun misbehaving in Catholic school. She met her husband Kurt in high school; he knew from the start that he wanted to marry her. When he returned from Vietnam, they married - on November 9, 1969. He often says it was the best decision he ever made (and everyone agrees!).

Mary Ann was always close to her sisters Edna, Bobbie, and Sharon. She would tell stories about how well her big sisters always treated her when she was little.

Mary Ann was a loving mom to her three children, Ann Marie (Gregg), Kim, and Kurt and an adoring grandmother to her five grandchildren: Trey, Trevor, Jasper, James, and Charlotte. Her three kids would tell her- as children and adults- that she was “the best mom ever” and Mary Ann would always say, “Oh, thank you. It’s all I ever wanted to be. I loved being a mom.” And boy did she. Ann Marie, Kim, and Kurt’s childhood was filled with fun and magical holidays and memorable moments and dogs and ducks and “farming” and trips to Myrtle Beach, Florida, and Strawberry Hill camp with their cousins. As adults they realize how much work it must have been for their mom, but it was all magic for them. Mary Ann made everything magical for her husband and kids.

Everyone who knew Mary Ann knew how much she loved being a mom and a “Mimi” to her grandkids, having fun with them, letting them know how loved they are, and spoiling them. She let her grandchildren get away with far more than she ever let her three kids get away with, and they knew it! The grandkids once gifted Mimi a framed photo of them all wearing “Mimi Said I Could” shirts. And that pretty much summed it up.

Mary Ann adored her nieces, nephews, godchildren, great nieces, and great nephews and cared for them like they were her own kids. All of them were always good to their “Aunt Mimi.”

For 55 years, Mary Ann and Kurt did everything together. They especially enjoyed spending part of the winter in Florida where they always visited their life-long best friends Carl and Bobbie in N.C. Kurt and Mary Ann made friends wherever they went. Mary Ann never met a stranger.

She happily worked as a teachers’ aide at Orenda Elementary (Shenendehowa) for over 20 years. Mary Ann loved her co-workers and all the little kids, and they adored her. She was honored with an award for her dedication to Orenda students and colleagues.

Apart from traveling with Kurt and spending time with family, Mary Ann’s favorite pastime was cooking, and everyone benefited from it! Her specialties included her sauce, chicken parm., eggplant parm., sausage and peppers, pastina, Italian wedding soup, beef soup, breakfast sandwiches (“Egg McMary Ann’s”), lemon knots, and butter balls.

All who loved Mary Ann are grateful for her presence in their lives. Mary Ann/Mom/Ma/Mimi will be loved and missed forever.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Mary Ann’s family Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Riley Mortuary, Inc. 110 Division St., Amsterdam, NY.

Mary Ann's Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 156 East Main Street Amsterdam, NY.

The Rite of Committal will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ft. Johnson, NY immediately following the Mass.

www.rileymortuaryinc.com