Obituary for Mary Ellen Legnard (McNulty)
Mary Ellen Legnard, a life-long Green Island resident, passed peacefully from this life, in the comfort of her home and surrounded by the love of her cherished family, on April 14, 2023 at the age of 85.
Mary Ellen was born in Cohoes on April 24, 1937 to loving parents William F. and Mildred (Dower) McNulty. With her four siblings she was raised in Green Island and received her primary education at the former St. Joseph’s School. She later was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy and St. Peter’s School of Nursing in Albany.
As a registered nurse Mary Ellen provided care to patients in the Operating rooms of St. Peter’s Hospital for 30 years and later served as the school nurse at Heatly School in Green Island until her retirement in June of 1999.
Mary Ellen lived a life devoted to her faith, her family and service to the community. Her heart was filled with pride for her five children and ten grandchildren and rarely did she miss an event or athletic competition they participated in. She was a parishioner of the former St. Joseph’s Church in Green Island and, more recently, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Watervliet where she was a member of the Altar-Rosary Society. In earlier years she volunteered her time assisting with the former St. Joseph’s Church Bazaar as well as other fundraising activities at the church. She formerly enjoyed bowling and ceramics. Family gatherings were important to her and she especially shined at the holidays. Mary Ellen loved to cook, had a special place in her heart for dogs and cherished her Irish heritage. Loved by many, she will be missed by all those whose lives and hearts she touched.
Mary Ellen’s family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of the Community Hospice as well as Denise her caregiver for they care and support to Mary Ellen and her family.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Robert J. Legnard with whom she enjoyed 42 years of marriage before his passing on October 22, 2001; her son-in-law, Michael Krajick; her siblings, Kathryn and William McNulty and her brother-in-law, Bill Harris.
She is survived by her children, Helen Krajick, Robert (Nicole) Legnard, Michael (Erin) Legnard, Mary Beth (Jim) Cusack and Kate (Frank) Rainville; her grandchildren, Taylor Legnard, Elizabeth (Brandon) Costanzo, Mary Kate (Cameron Dwyer) Cusack, Emma Rainville, Frankie Rainville, Keely Legnard, Evan Rainville, Sarah Rainville, Amelia Legnard and Benjamin Legnard; her siblings, Mildred “Midge” Harris and Helen (Frank) Connally; also numerous nieces and nephews and longtime friends she gained through her career as a nurse at St. Peter’s Hospital and Heatly School.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Donald L. Rutherford for Mary Ellen on Thursday at 10 am in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, corner of 7th Avenue and 25th Street, Watervliet. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy. Friends are invited to attend and may visit with Mary Ellen’s family on Wednesday from 4 until 7 pm at the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet.
Those wishing to remember Mary Ellen in a special way may consider a donation to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2416-7th Avenue, Watervliet, NY 12189 or Green Island Senior Center, 5 George Street, Green Island, NY 12183.
Mary Ellen was born in Cohoes on April 24, 1937 to loving parents William F. and Mildred (Dower) McNulty. With her four siblings she was raised in Green Island and received her primary education at the former St. Joseph’s School. She later was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy and St. Peter’s School of Nursing in Albany.
As a registered nurse Mary Ellen provided care to patients in the Operating rooms of St. Peter’s Hospital for 30 years and later served as the school nurse at Heatly School in Green Island until her retirement in June of 1999.
Mary Ellen lived a life devoted to her faith, her family and service to the community. Her heart was filled with pride for her five children and ten grandchildren and rarely did she miss an event or athletic competition they participated in. She was a parishioner of the former St. Joseph’s Church in Green Island and, more recently, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Watervliet where she was a member of the Altar-Rosary Society. In earlier years she volunteered her time assisting with the former St. Joseph’s Church Bazaar as well as other fundraising activities at the church. She formerly enjoyed bowling and ceramics. Family gatherings were important to her and she especially shined at the holidays. Mary Ellen loved to cook, had a special place in her heart for dogs and cherished her Irish heritage. Loved by many, she will be missed by all those whose lives and hearts she touched.
Mary Ellen’s family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff of the Community Hospice as well as Denise her caregiver for they care and support to Mary Ellen and her family.
Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband Robert J. Legnard with whom she enjoyed 42 years of marriage before his passing on October 22, 2001; her son-in-law, Michael Krajick; her siblings, Kathryn and William McNulty and her brother-in-law, Bill Harris.
She is survived by her children, Helen Krajick, Robert (Nicole) Legnard, Michael (Erin) Legnard, Mary Beth (Jim) Cusack and Kate (Frank) Rainville; her grandchildren, Taylor Legnard, Elizabeth (Brandon) Costanzo, Mary Kate (Cameron Dwyer) Cusack, Emma Rainville, Frankie Rainville, Keely Legnard, Evan Rainville, Sarah Rainville, Amelia Legnard and Benjamin Legnard; her siblings, Mildred “Midge” Harris and Helen (Frank) Connally; also numerous nieces and nephews and longtime friends she gained through her career as a nurse at St. Peter’s Hospital and Heatly School.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Donald L. Rutherford for Mary Ellen on Thursday at 10 am in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, corner of 7th Avenue and 25th Street, Watervliet. The Rite of Committal and interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy. Friends are invited to attend and may visit with Mary Ellen’s family on Wednesday from 4 until 7 pm at the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet.
Those wishing to remember Mary Ellen in a special way may consider a donation to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2416-7th Avenue, Watervliet, NY 12189 or Green Island Senior Center, 5 George Street, Green Island, NY 12183.