Obituary of Mary A. O'Brien

Colonie - Mary Giuliano O'Brien, 87, of Osborne Rd. died at peacefully home in her sleep on the morning of March 22, 2011. Her original birth name was Maria Giuliano, daughter of the late Stefano Giuliano and Virginia Talevi Giuliano. She was born on Jefferson Street and raised on Tremont Street in Albany for the majority of her youth. To make things easier, the school she attended changed the spelling of her name to Mary Juliano. She graduated Albany High School on June 23, 1943 Around the age of 25, she suffered an aortic aneyurism as the result of Rheumatic Fever and was one of the first people in the area to receive a successful operation at Albany Med with organs donated by a 16-year old boy who died in an automobile accident. She married her husband, the late Charles Joseph O'Brien in 1946. They were married for nearly 45 years until Charles' death on January 18, 1991. Their marriage took place at Blessed Sacrament Church, where Mary has been a parishioner all of her life. The couple purchased their home at Osborne Road in Colonie, NY on March 25, 1966, where she resided for the remainder of her years and passed away at, with the exception of her stay at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home in Ballston Spa between 2006-2010. In her younger days, Mary worked for various department stores around Albany including Sherry's, John G. Myer's and JC Penny. Mary worked for the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets for 25 years from July 23, 1964 - August 3, 1989. She began as a file clerk in '64 and retired as a keyboard specialist. One of her favorite things to do was take long, scenic rides on the weekends with her daughter and grandchildren. She enjoyed going to the casinos with her friend and neighbor, Irene Starkweather. She was a wonderful cook and always enjoyed preparing Italian dinners for her family. To her friends she was known as Mary, but to her grandchildren, whom she adopted and made her own, she was and always will be known as "Nanny." Mary was the wife of the late Charles J. O'Brien; mother of Christine Glickman of Colonie; grandmother of Joe Glickman of Clifton Park, Chris Glickman of Colonie, Kyla Glickman of Colonie and Pat Glickman (Amy) of Delanson; great-grandmother of Teraysa Ragule; sister of Armand Brocca of Albany and the late Vincent Juliano, Irene Carr and Dominic Juliano; aunt of David Brocca, sister-in-law of Joan Juliano; and godmother of James Carr, Jr. Funeral 8:00 o'clock Saturday morning from the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, Colonie and at 9:00 o'clock at Blessed Sacrament Church, Central Ave., Albany. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Colonie. Calling hours will be Friday from 4 - 8 p.m. in the funeral home. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211.