ALBANY – Mary Ellen Mangeot Stewart, widow of William C. Stewart, Jr., died on Saturday, February 13, 2021. Born in 1928 in Fulton, New York, she studied at the College of New Rochelle, B.A. 1949, and worked for the United Nations for 13 years, including a stint in Gaza. After a sojurn in France and following an M.A. from Columbia University, Mary Ellen found her vocation as a career counselor/administrator with the University at Albany. This long-sought-for employment lasted for 19 years…She was passionate about social justice, France, fine cuisine and THE NEW YORK TIMES.
Among significant survivors are two step-sons, Curtis W. Stewart and Christopher L. Stewart and their families, several cousins and treasured friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Eagle St. at Madison Ave., Albany on Saturday, February 20th, at 3:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Masks and social distancing are required. The mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed at rcda.org/livestream , where it will also be viewable for several days. A ‘Celebration of Life Reception’ will be held at a later date in 2021. In lieu of flowers, we would be honored to have donations made in Mary Ellen’s memory to: Mt Saviour Monastery, 231 Monastery Road, Pine City, NY 14871; or Cathedral of Immaculate Conception,125 Eagle Street, Albany, New York 12202. Interment will be with Lt. Col. Stewart and his first wife in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hans Funeral Home, Albany. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
A video tribute to Mary Ellen Stewart:
Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ellen Stewart:
Kevin Costello
Please accept my most sincere condolences for the loss of such a loving and warm person, whose spirit will live on in the memories of all of us who had the privilege to encounter her. I will cherish the memories of our visits in the home she so loved, and of which she was so rightly proud.
Lynne and Gene Bunnell
You will be missed, Mary Ellen. We had such wonderful times talking in your kitchen in the house on State Street!
thérèse verley strodel
I was so sorry to hear of Mary Ellen’s passing. She was such a treasure! We got to know her during our years of living in the Capital district. We had so many shared loves: Mount Savior Monastery, France (I think she went there 26 times!), Lourdes, Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, & we shared a similar profession. She was a bright light & will be greatly missed.
Jessica Neidl
She’s was such a special person, so interesting and interested. Even though I live just up the street from her beloved brownstone, about a decade ago she too to writing me letters of encouragement when I was at a professional crossroads. Ever the career counselor! She also sent me cookbooks. What a generous soul. My heart goes out to her dearest friends.
Maureen Brown
While working at Bethlehem Public Library, I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Ellen. She was providing career counseling to library patrons. During our many chats, we discovered a common interest – Mount Saviour Monastery. We shared fond memories of their fall festivals, Gregorian Masses and hooded monks. Over the years we would run into each other in unexpected places. It was always a pleasure to encounter her warm and loving presence, which I will always hold in my heart.
Jan and Jerry Jones
Our heartfelt condolences are extended to all who were close to Mary Ellen, she did light up our lives! I am particularly grateful for her sharing the Viktor Frankl book and a few other tokens of a life well lived. In return let me share a comforting quote:
Fra Giovanni ~
“There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much that while I cannot give, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take Heaven
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take Peace.
The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach is joy. Take Joy.
I greet you with the prayer that for you,, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.”
Megan Jones
I will miss her greatly. She was my mother’s best friend growing up in Fulton I have known and treasured her my entire life
Kathleen LeRoux
I knew Mary Ellen well when we were both at the University.at Albany. Always gracious and interested in the students
and her friends. May she have eternal rest.
Rich Filkins
A sad day for us left to mourn her passing, but also celebrate her joy at being back with the man she loved for so many years. I had the privilege to get to know them both whilst working at SUNY late 70s. MaryEllen was always a calming influence in the lives of many because she took the time to listen and to care. Her faith sustained her as she did so many whose lives she touched. One Classy Lady…ahead of her class!
Jill Stewart
Mary Ellen’s family thanks you so much for all your beautiful, kind and thoughtful condolences. We greatly appreciate each of them.
* If you are unable to attend but wish to livestream her funeral Mass on Saturday, February 20th, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, just click/hover on the highlighted link within the obituary to be connected.
Thank you all again.
Jill Stewart
Jack Clark
Mary Ellen was a wonderful and accomplished person. The State Street neighborhood and environs will not be the same without her. Her devotion to her home, the church, and her concern for charity were remarkable. My condolences to her family and her friends.
Joan Savitt
She was a wonderful co-worker at the University at Albany and a fine neighbor on State Street — always gracious! Some people are just the nicest, and she was one of them.
Shelly Nortz
May choirs of angels welcome you, dear Mary Ellen. Thank you for your friendship and always kind words. Rest in peace and joy!
Ben Stump
I met Mary Ellen in 1997, when we were randomly seated next to each other on a bus between Albany and NYC. She has been a friend and a source of inspiration ever since. My heart is broken at learning of her passing, but I find comfort in something she wrote to me near her 85th birthday, that life had exceeded her expectation. I will remember her as one of my favorite people who touched my life.
Laura V Junco
I am so very sorry for your loss. I loved her very much and will always cherish our times together. We shopped and had lunch at Bruegger’s most Wednesday’s and I know it was a day we both looked forward to. She was a dear friend.
Ann Diamond
I had the pleasure of being Mary Ellen’s neighbor at Atria. She was a very gracious lady.
Justin Mikulka
Mary Ellen and I bonded over many things during the almost two decades we knew each other. Love of reading, political discussions, jazz and a good meal with drinks were the basis of that bond. I received New York Times articles in the mail from Mary Ellen on all of these subjects, despite living just two doors away. During our many meals together I enjoyed the stories of her fascinating life with my favorites being the travels around the world as a single woman. A favorite story from her travels involved her securing passage on a freighter that delivered Heineken to various destinations. The small number of passengers on the freighter were entitled to free Heineken for the duration of the voyage. I like to think of her holding a cold Heineken on the deck of a freighter heading off on adventure.
Rachel Mercer
Mary Ellen was a beloved friend of my sister Eva and they cheered each other on in the journey of faith. Now they are both working on our behalf from a different sphere where there is no more crying or pain (or loneliness). Praise God they have both run the race! We miss them very much but they have blazed a trail for us.
Helen F.Richards
Mary Ellen was our first cousin and big sister and my sisters and I adored her. She leaves a huge void in our lives,I hope she is enjoying her reward.I haven’t heard from her yet! Helen Richards
Helen F. Richards
Mary Ellen was our first cousin and big sister, we adored her.I hope she’s happy in heaven, I haven’t heard from her!
Mary Kay Sawyer
Mary Ellen was my cherished colleague, neighbor, and precious Francophile friend for nearly 43 years. Her appreciation for all of life, her faith, generosity, kindness, optimism, incredible strength in confronting obstacles large and small, and her wisdom have all been beyond inspirational and a most teasured gift for me. I do and will continue to miss her greatly, and our many discussions, explorations, lunches and so much more. The late-afternoon sun shining directly on her during her funeral Mass assured me she was home and safe at last after a life so well-lived and full of love. May Mary Ellen rest in peace re-united with her beloved Bill. And may those of us fortunate enough to have known her count our blessings.
Deborah Krol
Mary Ellen became my good friend while I painted many rooms in her wonderful home on State St., Albany. She introduced me to Mount Saviour Monastery where I often attend their yearly knitting retreats. I remember Mary Ellen’s lunches that we had in her kitchen. She always laid out the table with such care and she and her husband recreated the feel of France in that space. We enjoyed Sherry together and she had so much wisdom and stories to share, which I will always cherish. Like Mary Ellen often said to me, I will repeat here: “I hold you in my heart Mary Ellen.”