of 75. She was surrounded by love with her two sons at her bedside. Mary ultimately succumbed to
complications from multiple myeloma which she had been battling bravely and brightly for over 5 years.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945 to a traditional Italian-American family Mary set her own course,
following her adventurous spirit and love of travel and learning. Though unable to attend college, a
product of the times where only her two brothers were afforded such opportunity, she took a job with
the airlines near her Babylon, Long Island home that would change her life and open her world view.
While working with TWA she met her husband, Robert Estrada (now deceased) and the two had a love
that lasted a lifetime and adventures that filled their hearts and supplied countless stories to match.
In marrying Bob (Puerto Rican descent - New York City raised), Mary was a woman ahead of her time,
ignoring the racism and ignorance of the day and following her heart. Always, her love was her strength
and she met every challenge with her grace, quick wit, good humor, charm and bright smile.
They had two sons Robert (48) and Edward Estrada (47) whose early years were filled with journeys
“overseas” as Mary often described them. From living several years in England followed by Saudi Arabia
then back to the United States in Kansas, they finally settled in Mary’s own childhood home in Babylon,
Long Island. There, she happily transitioned from her world travels and adapted to the life that
presented itself to her – that of stay at home mother to her two boys. And she was exceptional -
creating a warm, inviting home filled with an abundance of food, friends and family.
Mary well documented her travels with her photographs satisfying and cultivating her artistic essence
that graced the walls of her home. In her later years, Mary spent time pursuing her passion for art and
engaged in painting portraits and still life as well as photography.
Mary was a bright light who loved to recount stories of her travels and her life experiences, she loved to
read and have thoughtful debate about political issues of the day. She was a bit of an anglophile who
loved watching all BBC television. Most importantly, she loved her family. Her time with her sons Bobby
and Eddie and their wives Melanie and Carmita and her grandchildren. Oh her grandchildren! How
proud she was of Teddy (15), Harry (13), Bobby (10) and “the girl” Sydney (6). Some of her happiest
times were with her family at her “happy place”, the beach and most recently Moody beach in Wells,
Maine.
She will always be remembered and loved as the Mary who could light up a room with her smile, her
smart conversation and her elegant verve as well as her great big heart.
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