August 19, 2012
Mary C. Scher of Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY died Saturday, August 16, 2012 at St. Lukes Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall, N.Y. She was 95.
Mrs. Scher was a homemaker for her children and husband, the late Raymond E. Scher who passed in July 1995.
Mary was born January 23, 1917 in Co. Monaghan, Ireland to Michael McGerty and Margaret Kelly.
Survivors include her son, Raymond Scher Jr. and his wife, Virginia of Ruther Glen, VA; daughters: Eileen Wojehowski and husband, Rick of Cornwall-On-Hudson, Mary Baxter of New Castle, DE, Jean Brewer of Camden, ME, Ann Jacobson and husband, Andy of Idyllwild, CA, Margaret Dautner and husband, Jack of Cornwall, NY; grandchildren: Brian Wojehowski (Sarah), Dawn Scher (Chuck Brosch), Jason Baxter and Kristin Coffman; great grandchildren, Megan and Hayley Drake.
She was predeceased by a son-in-law, Joe Brewer and a grandson, Scott Jacobson.
A family statement reads: "Mary Catherine McGerty made her way to America from Ireland on the Steamship Celtic with her Irish mother and siblings when she was just four years old. She passed through Ellis Island in NYC on September 11, 1921 where she was reunited with her Scottish immigrant father and her family began their new life. In her youth, Mary especially loved to Irish step dance, the wonders of New York City, and visits to Rockaway Beach on Long Island. She accepted with pride her role as family correspondent. After high school graduation she worked in the office of a printing company in NYC where her two brothers were also employed.
In her twenties she met the love of her life, Raymond Scher at a dance and soon after became a courageous military bride, following him to Germany by air with stops here and there to refuel. Prior to returning to America, she became a mother of one son. Subsequently, at narrowly spaced intervals, she gave birth to five daughters and mothered all of her children in their very lively households in various places in New York, in Georgia, and in North Carolina, before settling permanently in New York again toward the beginning of the second half of her ninety- five and a half year life.
While living at West Point she became an avid Army fan attending football, basketball, and hockey games, was a brownie leader, and helped supervise children on the school playground. She was later employed by Star Expansion working in their Staff House in Mountainville, N.Y. with Ray when he retired from military service. While she continued raising her family and began living in the country, the couple found time to slip away and square dance a bit. Ballroom dancing also continued to be their favorite pastime, and when her grand children came along she was more than a grandma. She played their games, entertained them, and respected their generation with honor. Mary ventured off on a long distance journey once during these middle years of her life with her only sister Peggy to see her homeland again and reconnect with family in Ireland. When the children were grown she enjoyed walking daily, musicals, rooting for the Yankees, reading regularly, and traveling to new destinations with her dearest companion. Hawaii and Bermuda were highlights of their traveling years, along with an adventurous cross country road trip she often talked about. Altogether they shared the many experiences of marriage for 49 years. She appreciated this transition in life to her local community of Cornwall, loving the joy of local parades and events. In her later years, Mary traveled on cruise ships with her children, spent some summer time in Maine, enjoyed friendly chats with neighbors as she walked about the neighborhood, loved the beauty and music of song birds, and always marveled at her magnificent views of the Hudson River in Cornwall-On-Hudson. First and foremost Mary Catherine McGerty Scher was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, always placing her children and their needs above her own. She instilled the importance of education throughout her years. She will be dearly missed by all, while her smiling Irish eyes and warm compassionate heart become deeply treasured memories.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at Quigley Bros. Funeral Home, 337 Hudson St., Cornwall-On-Hudson, N.Y.12520. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 340 Hudson St., Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12520. Burial is to follow in USMA Cemetery at West Point, N.Y.
Contributions may be made to St. Thomas Church, 340 Hudson St., Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. 12520.
Arrangements are by Kevin Quigley of Quigley Bros. Funeral Home. To send condolences or to get directions to the funeral home please go to www.quigleybros.com.
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