So sad to hear this.  Mary was one of a kind. To know her was to love her. I had great respect and admiration for such a lady as she was. Rest in peace dear lady.

Such a grand lady. Loved working with her. Condolences to Carol and family. May she rest in peace.


A longtime friendship with Carole and Lou Abbott provided my family the opportunity to meet and know Mary Abbott. Mary was a remarkable woman. To me she never seemed to age, always looking and acting much younger than her actual years.  When our children were small Mary would always welcome us for a swim in her Hainesport pool, followed by something delicious to eat that she had generously prepared.

Hardworking, dedicated to her family, a spectacular cook, and always ready for a celebration, Mary struck me as a woman who lived her life fully.  When she moved to Florida, we saw her less frequently, but  during her summer visits to  NJ we  were able to enjoy her company again.  Her appearance was always perfection.  I thought she resembled Sophia Loren...a classic beauty.  Well into her nineties she continued to amaze us all with her vigor.

Her son Lou, his wife Carole, and their sons Jordan, Andrew, and Jon loved her fiercely. Carole and her sons provided unbelievable care during her last months. Their efforts to make her comfortable and cared for in their absence is a testament to this love.  Andrew, who also lives in Florida, brightened her days with his visits and attention to details.  Managing things from NY, Jon also took his responsibilities seriously. Video calls from Jon, his wife Amabell, and their children Asher and Mila, also brought a smile to her face. Jordan's visits and phone conversations prompted Mary's caregivers to note the dedication of all her grandsons. Her daughter-in-law Carole called frequently, chatting with Mary about the wonderful family events of the past.

The last time I saw Mary was sadly at her son Lou's funeral. At a gathering at Jon and Amabell's home afterwards, I took the attached photo of Mary holding her great-grandson, Asher.  Somehow, a bright moment in an otherwise sad day. We will all miss you, Mary, and hope that a reunion with Lou is also a highlight. RIP.

Nana was a very loving, compassionate, caring, direct, and motivated person.  She knew how to adjust these traits to create the perfect relationship with those she interacted with. 
As a young child my grandmother would bring me to work with her. I would run around Burlington Coat Factory hiding amongst the rack of clothes playing with my toys. Store #1 it was called, as it was the original Burlington Coat Factory, she helped open with the owner Monroe Milstein. I would get stopped by several employees and explain Mary Abbott was my grandmother. The employees would smile and move on. It was the golden pass that I wouldn’t understand until later in life. My grandmother was a pioneer that chose to work instead of staying at home as a housewife.  She was dedicated to her career and making the people around her better as the store manager. The reason I received the golden pass was that the employees new my grandmother was the glue that held it together.  She hired hundreds of people from different backgrounds and cultures and made it work, because she managed with the qualities that encompassed her.  
I had a very close relationship with my grandmother from early childhood and have been deeply influenced by her to this day.  Nana and my father had a unique way of teaching without giving direction. Now this did get my brothers and I into to trouble at times but allowed us to experience and learn through our own lens. 
Some of my fondest memories with my grandmother are: 
1)	Getting picked up from Kiddie College and Happy Meals 
2)	Riding in the back of her Pontiac Grand Prix 
3)	Helping prepare Wednesday dinners at the Hainesport NJ house. Aunt Pat teaching me how to roll and cut the pasta dough. 
4)	Poker games into middle of the night with her cousins 
5)	Cooking Christmas Eve Dinner  
6)	Christmas IN FL 
7)	Her holding her great grandkids Mila and Asher for the first time  
8)	Face Timing the last few months and her reaction to my hands off parenting style  


I was the luckiest woman in the world having been blessed , married to Mary’s only son.
We shared so many special memories of Italy and her wonderful parents Nunzia and Luigi who we talked about in her final days.
Nana Mary,as she was known taught the entire family how to cook.
As a result ,my husband and grandsons all became great cooks.
So many wonderful memories,Xmas Eve 7 fish dinner,big parties and gatherings which will remain in our family hearts and mines forever.
You will be missed!

OBITUARY

Mary Delores Abbott

March 31, 1925 – October 27, 2020

Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center

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