Mary Patricia Carney

Mary Patricia Carney

10/1/1938 – 07/14/2023

Mary Patricia Carney, 84, of Brandon, FL went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 14, 2023. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Gerald E. Carney, and their children, Anne (David) Johnson, Michael Carney, Margaret (Eugene) Shackelford, and David (Susan) Carney along with 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Mary was born in Rockford, IL to Carl & Elizabeth (Fane) White and had two older brothers, Robert and Dana, who preceded her in death. After completing her education from Rockford West High School in 1956, she attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Phoenix, AZ where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. In 1960, she married Gerald at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Rockford, IL and moved to Florida. She worked at doctors’ offices and Bradenton Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL and at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, FL before moving to Brandon in 1972. She spent the rest of her career (1972-2000) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa as a nursing supervisor and a few years with the St Joseph Hospital “Ask A Nurse’ service.

In her youth, Mary pursued her love of music through playing the organ for her church. As an adult she was a member of the Nativity Church Chorale for many years during which the choir traveled to Rome and sang for Pope John Paul II which was a treasured memory for her. She was a faithful member of Nativity Catholic Church for over 50 years.

God, and her family were the most important part of her life and Mary loved them beyond measure, putting the needs and happiness of others ahead of her own. She delighted in being a grandmother & great-grandmother, enjoyed her lunch outings with friends, and watching the dogs play at Saladino Park. For Mary, there was no need for things to be fancy or flashy; the simple things in life were the best.

Visitation is from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26th at Stowers Funeral Home in Brandon. The funeral Mass begins at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 27th at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, FL. Burial follows at 2:00 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.