Mary V. “Maymie” Coelho, 86

August 30, 2015

Mary V. Coelho died peacefully on August 30th at Oak Leaf Manor North after a period of declining health.

Mary was born on July 11, 1929 in Port Washington, New York, the youngest of seven children. The daughter of Polish immigrants Joseph Bialobryski and Maryanna Sadloska, she graduated from public school and then entered business school for secretarial training. As a young woman she worked as a bank teller and loved taking trips with girlfriends. She traveled to Canada to ski and to Cuba via boat from Miami. Her love of travel continued throughout her life as she and her husband Robert traveled to Hawaii, Europe, and several cross-country adventures by car.

She met and married Robert J. Coelho in January of 1954. Robert died in 2011. Together they raised five children: Robert J Coelho and his wife Marianne of Bay Shore, NY; Lani J Coelho and her husband David Snyder of Lancaster, PA; Douglas J Coelho and his spouse Rodney Koliha of Boston, MA; Nancy E Allen and her husband Craig Allen of Monroe, CT; and Thomas J Coelho and his wife Jane of Glen Cove, NY. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

While her kids were small, Mary was a homemaker, returning to work later in life at Hofstra University. With five children, dogs and various birds, fish, snakes and even a raccoon, it was always an adventure in the Coelho household. Mary tolerated messes, noise and a few extra children at the dinner table most nights. She believed that housework would always be there but chances to ice skate with your kids, play with a puppy, or relax on the beach were fleeting. One of Mary’s greatest joys was spending summers at the family cabin on Rangeley Lake in Maine. Mary taught all of her children to swim in that clear, cold lake.

In November 2014, Mary moved into Oak Leaf Manor North, where she received excellent and compassionate care. Caring Hospice was consulted to ensure that the last months of her life were free of pain. Catherine and her amazing colleagues cared for her with the utmost respect and dignity. They are truly angels among us. The family also would like to express our gratitude to Father Hahn from St Leo’s and Pastor Tim from Caring Hospice for spiritual support.

On August 30th, after visits from her children, with Andre Bocelli’s “Ave Maria” playing softly in the background and her daughter Lani holding her hand, she slipped quietly away.

Services will be private in Rangeley, Maine at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to KPets, St Leo’s the Great Parish in Lancaster, PA, or Lancaster Meals on Wheels in her memory.