Obituary of Mary Shanahan Kelly

Mary Shanahan Kelly 87 of Cortland passed away January 13, 20111 in Cortland Regional Medical Center. Mary was born May 26, 1923 in Syracuse the daughter of the late William and Florence Connors Shanahan. Mary graduated from Homer High School and Cortland Business Institute. She was a communicant of St. Marys Church a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, and the Telephone Pioneers of America. She retired from the NY Telephone company after 35 years of service. Mary is survived by her sisters, Betty Finney of Cortland, Kathleen Corbett of Syracuse, Helen (Donald) Broton of Liverpool, several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents Mary was predeceased by her husband Robert in 2002 and her brother William Shanahan Jr. in 1970. A prayer service will be held Thursday at 9:30 am at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home 9 Lincoln Ave. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Marys Church Cortland. Interment will follow in St. Marys Cemetery DeWitt. Friends are invited to call Wednesday evening from 4:00- 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in Marys name is asked to consider St. Marys School Athletics program 61 North Main St. Cortland , NY 13045 or the American Cancer Society Memorial Processing Center PO Box 7 East Syracuse, NY 13057 To offer on line condolences visit www.wright-beard.com What a special lady Aunt Mary was. Thank you for your kindness, your sense of humor, your support and your love. You will be missed, but, I am happy that you are living a "Life that I Can Only Imagine." Thanks Aunt Mary! I will hold so many memories close to my heart. Peace! Mark Dear, sweet Aunt Mary... rest in peace. Love, Graz, Sharon, Grazi, Maura, Kathleen and J.R. Dear Mary, First, what a sister you were! Second, I will miss our daily 9:00AM and 5:00PM phone conversations. Do you think Verizon will give us a long - distance discount from Heaven? Please continue to call me from Heaven, we'll talk through prayer. Third, I have so many happy memories of you that will forever be with me. It will not be the same without you here. I miss you so much already. I feel truly blessed to have had you as my oldest "sissy." Take care and I look forward to seeing you again when God is ready for me. Love you, Bet Going to miss you,Aunt Mary. All the shopping that we did,especially going to Bon-Ton and getting your makeup. Going to Kinneys shopping. Going out to eat. We sure did have fun,especially all the rides over to Cobleskill. Love You Aunt Mary Marilyn Finney Aunt Mary I want to say how much I LOVE YOU and wish you peace in your new place. Please give my DAD a Big Hug and how much I LOVE HIM and MISS HIM. MY prayers are always there josie Shanahan My condolences to your family. I worked with Mary at New York Telephone on Groton Ave. in Cortland. She was one of women who had to put up with me when I first came into the telephone company, it wasn't easy, I'm sure! I was 18 years old and had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Now I am now retired from the telephone company for 13 years! Mary was a part of my growing up, she will be missed. I am sorry but I am unable to come to the services because I am nicely getting over the flu. Linda Belden