Mary Ethel Preisner

Mary (Saraceno) Preisner, 79, a cherished Mother, Grandparent, Sister and Friend, moved on to her heavenly home April 12th, 2026, in Tolland Connecticut. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in June of 1946 and lived most of her adult life in the greater Hartford area.

Mary’s life was one of many adventures as only she would have it. She earned her nursing degree in 1980 and was fulfilled with her time spent helping others through hospitals and the VNA. She was active with the General Federation of Women’s Club for many years, working in her community of Glastonbury and State of Connecticut on many programs from The Mural Project to Oasis Project and so many more than we can list. She also worked closely with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in her later years.

She enjoyed the fine arts with favorites being opera, a great old movie and Broadway. Whether she was letting it ride on the open road of her many journeys or pulling into a "slot" for a quick pick me up before moving on to her destination, she was and will remain a free spirt. With all the books she read, she went to places she could only imagine. Spending time with family was a must in her life and kept her days full and her heart fuller.

She is preceded in death by her parents Samuel & Sophie (Radzvin) Saraceno and her husband Peter J Preisner. She is survived and will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Christina (Washburn) Barker and husband Randy of Lakewood CO, Brenda (Washburn) Stupcenski and husband Mark of Tolland CT and Bonnie (Washburn) Reid and husband Jeff of Manchester CT, Grandchildren Cassie (McGrath) Sanchez and husband Jason, Amanda Mcgrath, Lexia Bilstein, Owen Stupcenski and wife Karlie, Kyle Stupcenski, Sophia Reid and fiancé Julie, Margaret Reid, Grace Reid and Henry Reid. 4 great grandchildren, Kyla, Analeesa, Nicanor and Bentley. Sisters Barbara Weigold of FL, Roberta Dubeshter and husband Brent of FL, Jean Porter and husband Bob of MA. Brothers Phillip Saraceno and wife Sue of AL and Michael Saraceno and wife Vereleta of TX and many nieces and nephews across the Country. Also, her lifelong friend and longtime travel companion Margie Janik.

We would like to thank her doctors for their care, compassion and support they showed our Mom in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-today/mail-in-donations.

Visitation services will be held on Monday, May 18th from 3-7 pm at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, located at 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10am on Tuesday, May 19th at St. Dunstan's Church, located at 1345 Manchester Rd in Glastonbury. Committal services will follow Mass at St. John Cemetery, located at 400 Christian Street in Wallingford.