Mary Josephine Gleason Fennessy, 83, passed away on April 24, 2019 at her home in Summerfield, Florida after a long illness. She was surrounded by Thomas Fennessy, her husband of 56 years and devoted caretaker over the course of her illness, and two of her sons, John and Stephen. In the weeks before her death, each of her six children made the trip to Florida to say goodbye to the woman who was their fiercest protector and their greatest champion.
Born in Auburn, New York, on February 7, 1936, Mary-Jo was the oldest child of John and Belle Gleason. From her parents she inherited a profound faith in God, an abiding concern for her fellow man and woman, and a love for a good party. A graduate of East High School and Nazareth College, Mary-Jo’s professional life was spent in social services, helping families, and especially children in need. In second grade, she first met Tom Fennessy at St. Alphonsus School. The two married in 1962 at St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn and the reception was held in the back yard of her childhood home on North Seward Avenue, where she and Tom would eventually return to raise their six children, who to this day vigorously debate which of them she considered to be her favorite. Mary-Jo taught her children more than they could possibly enumerate, so let’s just go with this: Be kind. For God’s sake!
Mary-Jo loved Broadway musicals, sweet wine, coffee, mystery novels, bridge, visiting with friends, calls from her kids, Bailey’s Irish Cream, rhubarb pies, her vegetable garden, and just being in the woods. She had no use for email but instead wrote letters to her friends, to her relatives, to her children. She was a steadfast friend and an active listener. She loved to laugh. You could not put one over on her. She prayed every day for all of us. She will be remembered by her husband as “the grandest lady I ever met” and by her children as simply the best mom ever.
Mary-Jo is survived by her loving husband, Tom Fennessy; their six children, Karen (John) Rabish, Joseph (Mary Lee), Thomas, Stephen (Christy), Christine (Keith Plunkett), and John; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a sister, Katherine. Her brother, Thomas Gleason, predeceased her in 1943.
A Mass of remembrance will be celebrated in Mary-Jo’s memory at St. Alphonsus Church at a date to be determined. Sad songs will not be permitted. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary-Jo’s name to Hospice of Marion County , Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, or SmileTrain .
Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Lady Lake, FL.
