Man can work from sun to sun but woman’s work is never done Mary- God’s precious daughter was born of humble beginnings to Charles and Mary Ellen Gee, in Brooklyn NY. Her happy childhood was shared with her sisters Frances, Eleanor and Kathleen and brothers Lawrence, Charles, George and James. She was a social butterfly who loved to go dancing to the Big Band sounds. She met the love of her life, Linton (Larry) Ginther after he returned from France—WWII. They met at the beach while he was playing handball.

All the girls were fawning over the returning GIs taking their sweaty clothes home to launder for them. Not Mary. She played hard to get, and Larry fell in love. Soon they were married and began raising a family in downtown Brooklyn; later moving to a house in Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Brooklyn. Larry and Mary loved children and God blessed them over and over again … Kathleen, (who would be become mom’s helper and little mother to her brothers and sisters coming after), Linton, Edward, Richard, Mary, Ellen, James, John and Daniel. Mom would always tell us she had wanted to have 12 daughters, but her 6 boys and 3 daughters were precious to her, and she was contented to love each one in just the way they needed. She was tough; but we knew we were loved. She busied herself with Home School association and knew all our teachers, she was a Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout leader, CCD instructor, participated in planning and attending all social events in the Parish and MQH school as well as the neighborhood barbeques with sing-alongs with the very best of friends, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and Little League events. Yet there was always a hot meal on the table when Larry and the kids appeared for dinner. Hospitality was her strength and passion. You were always welcome at the Ginther home. An extra place would be no problem to set; whether it was for whoever just dropped in for a quick visit or to stay for a week …or more. As her children grew and began to spread their wings Mary pursued her dream of becoming a nurse and at age 48 attained, a Practical Nurse license working in the maternity and labor and delivery units at Caledonian Hospital. Later she would go on to acquire Associates degree and an RN license and would also move on to Med-surg nursing at Kings Highway hospital.

Her Family continued to grow in the nurturing fold of her love. Kathy married and had 2 beautiful daughters Ellen and Lynn. Kathy and husband Thomas O’Keefe both preceded Mary in death but not before Great-grandchildren from Ellen and Michael ---Matthew, Thaddeus, Patrick and Michaela; and Brandon and Jessica from parents Lynn and Ron were growing. Linton and Linda soon followed with grandchildren-- Jennifer with Jason added great-grandchildren—Aiden and Tristen; JR (Linton Jr) and Amanda; then Vincent and Jennifer added Astrid. Edward was the first to leave NY and relocate out of state to California and the first of the children to precede Mary and Larry in death at too young an age. Richard and Agatha- high school sweethearts added Richard and Christine to the growing count. Rich married Jeanette and had Lil Rich. Christine married Diego and baby Nina arrived. Mary and her love Frank were soon, after marriage, increasing the family tree with John Michael, Marie and Elena. Marie and husband Nick added in Nicholas, Andrew and Victoria for RaRa. Elena blessed RaRa with Joseph. Ellen and Stephen married and begat Stephen, Regina and Shawn—her little bumper boy. In time Stephen married Rachel. James provided Lil James for Grandma to love, and John gave her Christopher. Her baby Daniel, with his forever bride Theresa, rounded out the growing family tree with Matthew, Grace, Faith, Hope, DJ (Daniel jr) and Jonathan to love. Mom always loved to enfold a baby in her arms. It was her joy in life to love those around her- her in-Laws who she called outlaws because they stole the hearts of her most precious possessions – siblings and children alike. Her nieces and nephews were loved and cherished as her own. She was larger than life living every moment to its fullest. Her legacy is strong and will live on in each of us as we carry on, though we will truly miss our Mom, Grandma, RaRa, Sister Mazie, Aunt May.