Mary Josephine (Casson) Lee (“Marie Jo”), 95, recently of Newtown, CT and long-time resident of the Crestwood section of Yonkers, NY, died peacefully on January 18, 2024. She was born on January 6, 1929, to Dr. Paul W. Casson and Mary J. (Donegan) Casson of the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. She was pre-deceased by her parents and sister Regina Casson, her brother Paul W. Casson of Middlebury, VT in 2022, and her husband of 65 years, John J. Lee Jr. of Yonkers, NY in 2017. She is survived by her five children: Mary Jo Dennis (Rich), John J. Lee (Barbara), Patricia Tarpey (Robb), Kathleen Nostrand (Charles), and Paul Lee (Patricia); 17 grandchildren: Rick Dennis (Tanya), Caroline Dennis McMahon (John), John Dennis, Beth Dennis Scarborough (David), Tiffany Lee, Christopher Lee (Hillary), Robert Tarpey (Elisabeth), Katie Tarpey Waylonis (Shaun), Sara Tarpey Galeazzi (John), Daniel Tarpey (Suzanne), Emily Tarpey (Jaimee), Amanda Nostrand, Molly Nostrand, Julianne Lee Duran (Fernando), Madeleine Lee, Daniel Lee (Katie) and Aidan Lee; and 20 great-grandchildren: Isabel, Zachary, Jack, Liam, Luke, Lily, Aiden, Wyatt, Katie, Olivia, Casey, Lucy, Ryan, Rudy, Connor, Kieran, Felicity, Maria, Atlas and Daniela.
A graduate of St. Barnabas Grammar and High School, she attained a Bachelor’s degree from College of New Rochelle (CNR) and credits in teaching from Hunter College. In 2000, her alma mater CNR recognized Marie Jo with an Ursula Laurus citation “[f]or her years of service to her community and the College, her unfailing quest to help others, and her dedication to living according to the Ursuline tradition of caring and unconditional love.” It included as examples her early work as a kindergarten teacher, first in New York City, then at St. Joseph’s School in Bronxville, NY; her active involvement with her community as President of the Ladies of Charity Crestwood Chapter, vice chairwoman of the Westchester Vicariate, and director of the New York Ladies of Charity; her quiet acts of kindness in organizing a bi-weekly bridge game for a wheelchair- and house-bound neighbor in her nineties; and in particular, her volunteer work over nine years as an infant care giver at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, where she assisted and taught incarcerated mothers how to knit and crochet, increasing their bonds to their babies and their own self-esteem. One inmate called her “the most gentle soul I know.” Such a description is familiar to her five children and their extended families, who have been the recipients of Marie Jo’s gentle and caring nature, her love, warmth and support over their entire lives.
Marie Jo enjoyed spending her summers in Candlewood Knolls, CT with her family for over twenty years, chatting at the beach with friends, knitting, crocheting and quilting, solving crosswords and other word puzzles, spending Easter holidays watching her grandchildren hunt for hidden eggs in the front yard, and singing carols at Christmas with her extended family. In later years, she enjoyed spending weeks at Goose Rocks Beach, Maine with her husband John. Crocheting, knitting and quilting were some of the ways that she showed love for people, making doll outfits, blankets and sweaters for her grandchildren, and shawls for cancer patients at the Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, NY.
Always a gracious hostess and welcoming to all, Marie Jo had a way of making everyone she met feel special. She will be remembered by family and friends, including residents and staff at the Maplewood Senior Living Home in Newtown, for her beaming, contagious smile.
Funeral arrangements are by the McGrath Funeral Home with viewings scheduled for Monday, January 22nd from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Annunciation Church in Crestwood at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, January 23rd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hour Children, Long Island City, NY (https://hourchildren.org); Regional Hospice Center, Danbury, CT (https://regionalhospicect.org/make-a-gift-old/); or Rosary Hill Home, Hawthorne, NY (https://www.rosaryhillhome.org/).
Condolences(2)-
-
Alison Bolshoi says
January 21, 2024 at 10:15 amMy grandmother’s generation of the Casson Family would always speak of our cousin Marie Jo in awed tones, saying that she was the kindest, most loving person they ever knew, and I agree. I’ve never known anyone who always had a kind word for even the most difficult people, who gave of herself so easily and selflessly, or who made us feel warm and welcomed every time we saw her at different family events. I still have the baby blanket she knitted for my son, who is 26, and I will wrap my grandchildren in it and think of her and her beautiful face, melodic speaking voice, and just the best smile, always with her eyes twinkling. Thank you, Marie Jo, for modeling for our family what true selflessness and grace look like and I know your mother May (who I adored) and your father (who I always wished I could have met), along with John and all my family are so happy to be with you again.
Cathy Donoghue says
January 21, 2024 at 3:17 pmCondolences to the family of this very special and kind soul. My parents were neighbors at Maplewood and were so very fond of Marie Jo, they will miss her dearly. My mother regrets not seeing her over the Christmas holidays and sharing traditional Irish fruit cake with a cup of tea.
We will keep Marie Joe in our thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace. Again, condolences to her caring and loving family.
Sincerely,
Cathy Donoghue (Daughter of Tom and Kitty Lennon)