Mary Jean McDermott

MARY JEAN McDERMOTT

HORNELL-Mary Jean McDermott, of 480 Maple City Drive, Maple Court Homes, passed away late Monday evening (Sept. 1, 2008) at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, after a sudden illness.
Born in Hornell on Sept. 23, 1923, she was the daughter of the late James and Julia Morsch Wyman. On June 13, 1946, she was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to Joseph McDermott, who predeceased her on Nov. 1, 1962, after 16 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her brother, Edward Wyman.
A long time resident of Hornell, Jean was a graduate of Hornell High School. After the death of her husband, and while raising her children and at the age of 43, she received her master’s degree in elementary education from SUNY at Geneseo.
For 21 years she was employed by the Hornell City School District as a first grade teacher at the former Lincoln School, retiring from the North Hornell School.
Jean was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell. She served as a volunteer at St. James Mercy Hospital, for the Hornell Senior Citizen Center and Faith In Action; and also volunteered her time preparing income tax returns for senior citizens. Besides volunteering, she also enjoyed playing cards and computer games as well as quilting and sewing.
Her loving family includes her three children, Bonnie (Robert) Sheedy of Albany, Kathleen Klee of Falconer and Dennis (Georgene) McDermott of Matamoras, Pa.; her five grandchildren, Robby, Erin and Christina Sheedy and Derek and Alissa McDermott; her two great-grandchildren, Evan and Irene McDermott; her brother, William (Margo) Wyman of Plattsburgh; and her two nephews, Richard Wyman and Mark Wyman.
Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to Steuben County Rural Ministry, PO Box 61, Canisteo, NY 14823. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.