Obituaries

Obituary: MaryAnn Blaney (Brown), 81

MaryAnn Blaney (Brown), 81, of South Kingstown, passed away January 31, 2014 at South County Hospital. She was the beloved wife for 56 years to the late Edward J. Blaney.

Born in New York City, she was a daughter of the late Norbert H. and Edith M. (Krabauch) Brown. MaryAnn was a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, Class of 1954. She was a special education teacher in New York City, where she met her husband also a special education teacher. She later moved to northern Westchester, teaching in Yorktown schools as a special education and reading specialist. While living in Yorktown, she was a founding member of the Yorktown Women's Tennis Association and was active in the Shrub Oak Garden Club, as well as being a Girl Scout Leader and Den mother. She had a love for Greenhill in South County, where the family summered since the 1960's and she has resided since 1993.

Since childhood she enjoyed riding and had a special fondness for her horse, Sonny. She was an avid bridge player and loved playing with her girlfriends. She also played piano and loved classical music and cherished the times with her husband and family singing. Above all, she was devoted to her children and grandchildren, especially cheering at sporting events. 

MaryAnn is survived by her children, Melissa Lavallee and her husband Gerald, Margaret Rotanz and her husband Robert and Edward Blaney, Jr. and his wife Marilyn; two brothers, Norbert Brown and Gregory Brown; her eight grandchildren, Edward, Robert "Bo" and Kevin Marchand, Robert, Brendan and Blaney Rotanz, Julia and Olivia Blaney. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Brynleigh and Blake.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Monday, February 3, 2014 at 11am in St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland Street, Narragansett. Burial will be private. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to South County Hospital, 100 Kenyon Avenue, Wakefield, RI 02879 will be appreciated. 


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