Maria Barry

Maria V. Barry passed peacefully on Monday June 2, 2025, following a protracted illness. She is the daughter of the late Ernst and Erna (Murrer) Edel. She is survived by her husband Stephen and her daughter Elizabeth. Her son Brendan predeceased her in 2022.

She is also survived by her brothers, John (Kristina) and Christopher (Cindy), as well as her nieces and nephews, Fr. Ralph, Victoria, Nicholas, Katharine, and Connor and numerous cousins. She is predeceased by her brother Peter (Angela) and her niece Julianna.

Born into a German immigrant family in Queens in 1965 Maria developed a deep love not only for her heritage and culture but more importantly for her family both here and in Germany. She would often speak of her trips home to visit cousins when she was young and of time spent with her cousins in New Jersey.

Following graduation from Holy Family grade school, she went to The Mary Louis Academy and remained a proud “Hilltopper” for her entire life. The lessons she learned there remained with her as did lifelong friendships most especially with Julie Tomeo and Maria Patane. The three remained inseparable up until the last moments of Maria’s life.

Following graduation from Queens College, Maria went to work at Salomon Brothers in Manhattan where she served as a Junior Accountant. It was at this period of her life where she met Stephen riding together to work on the Express Bus. From this random meeting sprang the next thirty-six years.

Maria and Steve were married in October 1991 at the Chapel at St John’s University and shortly after moved to Nanuet, New York where they were blessed with wonderful neighbors. In 1994 they were blessed with the birth of Elizabeth and in 1996 with the birth of Brendan. Following Brendan’s birth Maria became a full-time homemaker and loved spending time with her children be it dancing in the living room, listening to music, or playing games. She was an active and engaged mother. When it was time for them to go to school she began volunteering at St. Anthony’s School and spent years doing that sharing her compassionate and nurturing spirit with the community.

When the children got older, she returned to the workforce, exploring her passion for helping others first as a Home Health Aide, where she became beloved by the families of those she cared for, and later as a Teacher’s Assistant at a preschool where her love for children could shine.

While these years were spent with numerous trips and outings and other adventures her primary joy was always her children. She relished each and every stage of their lives and celebrated all of their accomplishments while also enjoying the friendships that formed in their tightknit neighborhood.

In later years, she and Steve moved back to Queens, where she was able to help care for her aging father. She found great joy in being able to care for him and in being closer to her two best friends, as well as her family.

Although she faced numerous health troubles in recent years, she maintained a positive spirit through it all and her bravery during her final illness inspired those who saw her.

The first thing people noticed about Maria was her bright and welcoming smile which revealed a woman of gentleness, kindness, and love who always saw the best in everyone she met. We all felt blessed to know her.

A visitation for Maria will be held Friday, June 6, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Frederick Funeral Home, 192-15 Northern Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11358. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 9:30 AM at American Martyrs' Roman Catholic Church, 79-43 Bell Blvd., Oakland Gardens, NY 11364. An Entombment will follow at 10:45 AM at Mount St. Mary Cemetery, 172-00 Booth Memorial Ave, Flushing, NY 11365.