Obituary of Mary Ellen Andriano

Mary Ellen (Brennan) Andriano passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday February 9th, 2025.

She was extraordinarily kind and thoughtful; a prayerful person filled with care and concern for others.  She lived a life of goodness, simplicity and purity and her example often inspired others to better themselves. Her unique gentle and tender ways made a strong and powerful impression. We thank her for teaching us to appreciate the little things in life.  Mary Ellen will be greatly missed.

Mary Ellen was a devoted wife to the late Louis Andriano, a loving mother to Mary Ellen, Mary Rose, John and Clare and a warmhearted grandmother to Ricky (Taylor), Michael (Heather), Anthony, Joey, Christina (James), Andrew, Danny, Sarah, Annette and Owen. Her family also includes her daughter in law Annedah, sons-in-law Paul, Jesse and Ricky, a newly born great-grandson Greyson and many nieces and nephews.  She generously and proudly shared the gift of her faith to her family and friends and greatly enriched all of their lives by doing so.  

Mary Ellen was born on Friday, September 29th, 1933 to her parents Nora Dolly and Michael Brennan.  She was an answered prayer for them and truly the light of their lives.  Mary Ellen grew up in Woodside Queens in a modest welcoming home.  She was very close to her Dolly cousins – Jack, Maureen, Jimmy, Joseph and Tom and loved them like siblings. She also held a special place in her heart for her cousin Margaret (Brennan) Dorfman. As a child Mary Ellen always enjoyed going on long walks with her Dad and spending their summer weekends at Rockaway Beach.

Mary Ellen attended St. Theresa’s grammar school and The Mary Louis Academy High School.  She was a star student with absolute perfect penmanship. She graduated from Misericordia Nursing School in 1954 and had a very accomplished career in nursing.  She worked as a staff nurse at Misericordia Hospital and Bellevue Hospital and then went on to be an Operating Room nurse at Hospital for Special Surgery.  While raising her children, she did private duty nursing part time. Then, returned working full time for the NYC Health Department leading their immunization initiative. Before retiring, she became an investigator for NY State probing into cases of abuse in nursing homes.

Mary Ellen was a very religious person and a faithful Catholic with a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother.   She served her Church and community in many impactful roles.  She spearheaded the Parish Outreach Program at St. Fidelis Church along with being a dedicated member of the Pastoral Council.  Mary Ellen served as both a Catechist and Eucharistic Minister. She was an active member of St. Kevin’s Charismatic Prayer Group and The Rosary Society at both St. Fidelis and St. Aidan’s.  Mary Ellen made many religious pilgrimages including visits to The Holy Land, Lourdes-France, Knock-Ireland, Medjugorje-Bosnia, and Rome-Italy. Mary Ellen took much pride in being a member of Third Order of St. Francis. 

As an only child, Mary Ellen cherished and valued the friendships she had in her life. Some of those special relationships included: her jovial cousin Maureen (her life-long best friend), the Tahaney sisters and Theresa Harris who were a big part of her childhood, her nursing comrades Carol from school and Maura from HSS, the ultimate match-maker friend Frances, the much longed for sisterhood of Ida and Annette, her Poconos vacation crew Paula and Lee, her trusted dear neighbor Zenaida, her luncheon gals Maureen, Gen and Julie from her building, along with so many others. 

Mary Ellen was committed to praying for others and did so faithfully and dutifully every day. Her family respectfully requests that you take a moment of quiet time to pray the Hail Mary for her.  Thank you.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS DONATIONS MAY BE MADE TO 

SAINT FRANCIS BREADLINE                 www.stfrancisbreadline.org

OR

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SPARKILL            www.sparkill.org