Mary Schutsky

Mary grew up in Philadelphia where she graduated high school and later Temple University. She later earned a masters degree from Kean University.

Mary lived most of her life in Union, NJ where she raised 3 sons and a daughter with her husband Abe.

Mary had a love of books and education. She worked for many years for the Baker & Taylor Company of Hillside writing book reviews for a trade publication. She later owned the Elizabeth Book Exchange on Morris Avenue in Elizabeth. Her home in Union was filled with several hundred books.

After closing the book store she began a long teaching career at Weequaic and Elizabeth High Schools and finally in the school at East Jersey State Prison for the Department of Corrections. Mary worked into her early 80’s.

Mary’s other interests included community theatre and public affairs. She was a diligent viewer of Chanel 13 public affairs programming, a reader of the NY Times and attended programs at the Ethical Culture Society in Maplewood. In 1980 she traveled to Washington to attend the inauguration of Bill Clinton.

In her final years she resided at the Brooklake Assisted Living facility in Hamilton Township and the Geraldine L. Thompson Care Center in Allenwood. Her family is very grateful to all of her caregivers during these years

Although Alzheimer’s disease robbed her of a gracious retirement she had a productive life serving her community, her students and her family.

Funeral services are private and under the direction of McCracken Funeral Home, Union.

A few of Mary’s favorite charities were Channel 13, the World Wildlife Fund and the ASPCA.