Obituary of Mary A. Gallart

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the loss of our dear mother, Mary Ann Gallart. She passed away unexpectedly after a very brief illness on Friday, August 25th. Her well-lived 89 years were a beautiful example of pure love of family, friends, and devotion to God. Mary Ann Gallart, née McAndrew was born the 2nd of 5 children to John and Emily McAndrew on December 8,1933, in Staten Island, New York. Always beautiful, charming, intelligent, and resourceful, Mary grew up caring for her brothers and sisters. At a young age she struck out on her own. She held a wide variety of jobs during her lifetime. She started at 10 years old shining shoes for GIs at Miller Field at Midland Beach Staten Island. She moved on, boarded the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan to seek a career as a model, while working as a bus girl, then waitress, secretary at a steamship company, In 1955 she met the love of her life, Joseph Gallart (Joe from Danny's,) He swept her off her feet on their first date. He picked her up in a new Cadillac convertible and took her to the Copacabana where they danced and dined with Sammy Davis Junior. That was just the beginning of their exciting and never-dull life together. From the start, together they worked hard and lived life to its fullest. She moved on to a bigger life and multiple ventures with her husband Joe. She became a housewife, mother, pet shop owner, A & W Root Beer proprietor. Joe & Mary owned seasonal business in Lake George NY. The A & W, a batting cage, Pin Ball /penny arcade and a pizzeria that she operated and was the pizza-maker. Never missing an opportunity to learn something new, after her children became adults, she attended Queens College. She studied accounting and learned to read, write, and speak Greek. She began work as an accountant and tax preparer. Mary then developed a successful career as a real estate broker, earned her license and opened her own agency, Ascan Properties in Forest Hills Queens, NY. In their retirement years with Joe, they became parrot breeders. Prior to the pandemic she joined Meals -On Wheels and was delivering food to those in need. Most recently she was chosen to be the librarian at Belair Care Center where she was a resident. At Belair, Mary was a true star among staff and residents alike. Not only did she hold her job in the library, but she also dressed up and entertained everybody at every holiday by transforming herself into Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, a leprechaun, an expectant mother, a proud father, and even Cupid. She called herself a "colorist" because she loved to paint and create vibrant and beautiful pieces she would give to her family and friends as gifts. She was an avid and wonderful storyteller and would regale all with stories about her youth, her husband, her many jobs, her brushes with fame and her family. A devoted Catholic, Mary quietly and consistently attended mass daily and prayed for us all. In her passing, she joins her beloved pre-deceased family members; Her husband Joseph of 51 years, daughter Denise Jenkins, grandson Michael Ahearn, (son of Denise) granddaughter, Desirae Gallart (daughter of son Joseph Gallart). Additionally, Mary was the last surviving of her siblings: Edie, June, Lois & John She is survived by two sons and two daughters and their families that include 4 Grandchildren, 5 Greatgrandchildren Arlene Vislocky (husband Michael Vislocky) Teri Gallart (husband Marty Reinstein, son Jeremy and daughter Dana) Michael Gallart (wife Wendy Gallart, daughter and son-in-law, Dr Paula Czapla and Jimmy Czapla, son Liam Speck and daughter Aurore Czapla), Joseph Gallart (wife Gina Bennicasa), as well as her granddaughter Danielle Jenkins (daughter of Denise Jenkins, and Danielle's daughters Layla Jade, Mia Bella & Aliyah Rosa Monroy Mary has been loved by anyone who had the pleasure to meet her and to know her. She has made a true mark on this world with her beauty, talent, smile, and humor. She will forever be our shining star and we will deeply miss her. May she rest peacefully with God. Link to livestream mass :https://www.sacredheartnm.org/