Born on March 26, 1938 To William J. McLees and Marie McLees (nee Feeney) in Yonkers, New York. Beloved Sister of William.
Mary attended Visitation Grammar School and graduated early and with honors.
She then won a scholarship to St. Jean Baptiste High School in Manhattan from 1951 to 1955.
She was awarded a NY State Regents Scholarship which was used to finance her studies at the St. Vincent School of Nursing.
She graduated from St. Patrick’ s Cathedral on May 13th, 1958 to became a Registered Nurse.
She received her license to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse on February 4, 1959.
On October 22nd, 1955, she met Tim Murphy at a Manhattan College Tea Dance. They celebrated this anniversary every year.
On May 16th, 1956 she married Tim Murphy at Visitation Church. The 1960’S brought their son Timothy P., joined by his sisters Mary – Anne and Kathleen in the following years.
Mary E. was employed by St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged for almost 30 years where she ran the clinic and oversaw infection control protocols. She was beloved by the Doctor’s, the Carmelite Sisters and her patients.
As a life long avid scholar, in September 1983 she registered at Manhattan College and after 16 years of evening classes in 1999 she was awarded her Bachelor’s Degree, graduating Cum Laude.
A longtime member of Visitation and later, St Margaret’s parish, Mary was a devoted Catholic who could be found at the Noon mass every week. She loved classical music, old movies, travel and completed her daily NY Times crossword puzzles in Ink, often competing with her husband to see who could finish first. God and her family were always her highest priorities.
Mary will be missed by her Husband Tim, her son Tim (Elizabeth Murphy), and her daughter Mary Anne Murphy. She is predeceased by her daughter Kathleen ( Steve Belloise). She will be sorely missed by her Grandchildren Paul & Liam Murphy, Michael, Matthew and Steven Belloise and Amanda McGrory. Her cousins Maureen Day Gill and Theresa Ochs and too many beloved friends and relatives to count.
Reposing will be held on Friday, January 2nd 2026 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10471. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, January 3rd at 9:45 AM at St. Margaret of Cortona Church 6000 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.