Mary Rita Pagano

ALBANY – Mary Rita Pagano, 92, was born into Eternal Life on Saturday, August 31, 2013 in the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Mary Rita enjoyed listening to her music, chatting with friends, working on her garden, but her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family.

Mrs. Pagano was born in Albany, the daughter of the late Edward H. Albert and Mary Fahy Albert.  She was a lifelong resident of Albany.  She was a graduate of St. Ann’s Academy in Albany, the Octavo School of Musical Art, Mildred Elley College, was awarded a scholarship to Nazareth College, and attended the College of St. Rose in Albany.  Mary Rita was Acting Director of Placement at the N.Y. State College for Teachers, and taught at the Rensselaer County Council for the Arts for eight years.  She was employed as a vocalist for a local radio station, and taught music at her home.

Mrs. Pagano was president of the Catholic Women’s Service League; president of the Kenwood Braille Association of the Convent of the Sacred Heart for 15 years, and past president of the Albany Evening Garden Club.  Mary Rita was a board member of the Ladies of Charity, the Vanguard Albany Symphony, and the Capital Area Council of Churches; a member of the Women’s Interfaith and Uptown Churches.  She has been active in the past in the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Albany as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Renew Group, the Rosary Guild, and the Evangelization Committee.

Mrs. Pagano was predeceased by her husband Albert J. Pagano in July of 1976.  She was the loving mother of  Lynn M. Harrington of Albany, Albert E. (Bert) Pagano and his wife Kathleen of Albany, and Rita M. Rosencrans and  her husband William of Guilderland.  She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren: her grandsons Courtney Rosencrans and his wife Jennifer and Joshua Harrington; her granddaughters Kimberly Harrington, Kellie Harrington, Sarah Harrington, and Jessica Bruce; her great granddaughters Tarah LaFalce, Taylor Parry and Kari Ann Vincent and great grandson Aiden Moyle.

Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Wednesday morning at 9:30, and from there to Blessed Sacrament Church, 607 Central Ave., Albany at 10:30.  Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 4-7 p.m.  Interment will be in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery, Glenmont.  Those who wish to remember Mary Rita in a special way may make memorial contributions to Blessed Sacrament Church, 607 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206.  To leave a message of condolence for the family, send a sympathy card, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .

The Pagano family wishes to thank the nurses, doctors and staff at St Peter’s Hospice for their outstanding compassion and care.

Click here to view Mrs. Pagano’s resting place in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery, Jolley Rd., Glenmont (Town of Bethlehem), NY.