Mary Ellen Greco

It is with heavy heart I announce the death of my beloved Mother and friend, Mary Ellen (Cotter) Greco. Mom died on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 due to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was 83 years old. My Mom asked me to help her write this obituary. Which I did reluctantly, but we managed to get through the experience with some laughter and tears and a glass or two of wine! Mary Ellen was very proud of the fact she was born on the family farm on the East River Road, Fort Edward, NY on August 7, 1933 to Margaret Holland Cotter and John Cotter. Mary Ellen was delivered by Dr. Byron Tillotson and Mrs. John Dickson. Dr. Tillotson also delivered all Mary Ellen’s children. Mary Ellen attended a 1 room school house with her Mother, Margaret as the teacher through the 4th grade. 5 & 6 grades, she attended the Power School in Fort Edward and 7 - 12th grade, Fort Edward High School, graduating in 1950. Mary Ellen worked for a year at Imperial Color Co. in Hudson Falls, as a bookkeeper. She then went to work for Glens Falls National Bank as a teller, spending most of that time at the Fort Edward branch before her marriage. Mary Ellen was united in marriage to Fredrick R. Greco on November 5, 1955 in St. Joseph Church, Fort Edward, with the Rev. Kenneth Doyle, officiating. Mary Ellen had 4 wonderful children, Michael, Theresa, John and Jeffrey. She was lucky enough to stay home and raise them until the youngest was in school. She then returned to with work force as a secretary for Saratoga County Public Health, retiring in 1995. Mom was a devoted wife for “Freddie” for 43 years. They enjoyed rides in the country, trips to the Ocean, antiquing & hiking up on Hog Town Mountain. Mom cared for “Freddie” throughout his long illness until his passing in 1998. Mary Ellen was loving grandmother, never missing soccer or little league games. Always there for her grandchildren, cherishing the time she spent with them. Mary Ellen was thrilled she was able to go to Ireland with her sister, Phyllis and daughter, Theresa. The trip back to the “old country” was filled with laughter & fun. Mary Ellen was the co-pilot in the car and driving in a foreign country we had to make plenty of stops for directions! But that usually lead to another adventure so it was all good! The one place she insisted we see was the “Cliffs of Mohr” which I am sure she read about in one of her books. It was magnificent and she was thrilled to make it there. Mom was an avid reader in her later years and was never without a good book and blessed enough to have good eyes. In addition to her husband Fred, Mom was also predeceased by her parents as well as her uncle Tom who lived with the family; her sister, Agnes; brother-in-law, Loren Sullivan; grandson, Jonathan Greco and an infant brother, William. Left to cherish her memory include her loving daughter, Theresa Greco; sons, Michael (Debra) Greco, John (Sherry) Greco, Jeffrey (Laura) Greco; her grandchildren, Jenna & Tayler, Kristen & Emily, Dustin & Sarah Greco; her beloved sister & niece, Phyllis Sullivan & Marcia Sullivan; nephews, Brian (Lauren) Sullivan & Loren(Katie) Sullivan. Friends may call from 11am to 12 noon on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward. For online condolences and to view Mary Ellen’s Book of Memories, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com. Funeral Services will follow the calling hour at 12 Noon on Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Martin Fisher, officiating. The rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Mom has requested in Lieu of flowers, please donate to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St. Suite 304, Chicago, Illinois 60611 or to the Fort Edward Free Library, 23 East Street, Fort Edward, NY 12828.