Obituary of Mary Ann Mills

Mary Ann Mills (nee Conaboy) 75, of Pinehurst, NC by way of Brooklyn and Belle Harbor, NY, passed away peacefully on November 21 at Villa Marie Claire in Saddle River NJ. She was a truly remarkable woman. A daughter of proud and hard working Irish immigrants, she was a 20-year old bride and a mother of 4 before her 28th birthday. A substitute grade school teacher in her 30's, a college student and summa cum laude graduate (3.97 GPA) of City University of New York. At age 40 she received a J.D. from Fordham Law School and embarked on a career in the law which took her to the National Labor Relations Board and the Metro North Railroad, where she retired as the Director of Contracts and Purchasing. In retirement, she took and passed the NC Bar and did pro bono work with the Juvenile Justice System, Moore County, NC. She is the President of the Silver Foils, the oldest woman's golf association in the U.S. She has served on the Boards of the Tufts Archives Given Memorial Library (Pinehurst NC) and the Pinehurst Woman's Golf Association. She was a board member of the Pinehurst Chamber of Commerce and Fairwoods-on-Seven and Fairladies organizations. Her life resume included well more than 15 minutes of fame. She was a contestant on the Sale of the Century TV game show with Joe Garagiola. She had a radio appearance as a college undergrad and numerous television news appearances as a labor attorney for Metro North. Her golf resume includes a hole-in-one (Pinehurst #7, 5th hole). First and foremost (and eternally) she was/is a devoted wife, adoring mother and grandmother, the center of her family's universe. She was strong and wise, book smart with Brooklyn Irish sensibilities. She had a great sense of humor. She was soft and very sentimental, very kind, caring and generous. She would do anything for her family and friends. She was a beautiful being. She will always remain our go-to person with all of our blessings as well as all of our sorrows. She leaves a void that will be filled only upon our reunion in heaven. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Ret Deputy Chief (FDNY) Joseph A. Mills, her beloved children, Carolyn Prendergast, Joseph J., Stephen, and Peter and their spouses Matthew Prendergast, Jeannie, Noreen, and Kathy Mills, her adoring grandchildren, Katherine and Stephen Prendergast, Julia, Emily, and Rachel Mills, Stephen and Claire Mills, and Joshua and Isobel Mills. Her brother James Conaboy, her sisters, Alice Hogan and Carolyn Conaboy, and her brothers and sisters in-law Richard and Ann Marie Mills, Kay O'Toole, Jane and Liz Conaboy, and James Hogan, plus numerous nieces and nephews. In heaven she has reunited with her beloved grandson Joseph J. Jr, her parents, John and Alice Conaboy, her brothers Michael O'Toole, John and Thomas Conaboy, her father and mother in-law, Joseph A. Sr. and Helen Mills, her sister-in-law Breda Conaboy, and her beloved nephew and godson, Kerry O'Toole and nephew John Conaboy. Her family will be receiving visitors at Vander Plaat Funeral Home 257 Godwin Ave, Wyckoff NJ 07481 (VPFH.com) on Monday November 25, 2013 between 2 and 4pm and 7 and 9pm. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 26 at 10:00am at the Church of St Elizabeth, 700 Wyckoff Ave, Wyckoff NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you direct a donation in her name to Holy Name Health Care Foundation C/O Villa Marie Claire, 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666