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Mary Rosenblum Butkus - Class of 1968

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 22/May/2025
71.223.79.225

    Mary Butkus passed away on Wednesday May 21 2025 at Hudson Valley Rehabilitation Center, Highland NY. She was 74 years old. Mary was born on Oct. 13th 1950 in Newburgh NY. She is the daughter of the late Evelyn and Hyman Rosenblum.

Prior to her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in the early 1990's, Mary worked as a psychotherapist in the Newburgh area, focusing on family therapy.

Survivors include her son Alex (Manchester, NH), daughter, Abby (Brooklyn, NY), husband, John (New Paltz, NY), brother Marshall (Newburgh, NY), and dogs Kipper & Nala.

Mary was known for her sharp sense of humor, brilliance, and love of animals. In her youth she partook in the arts, including: ballet, singing, and acting (stage name Mary Marshall). As a graduate of NYU and the New School for Social Research, her time living in NYC was deeply enriching, feeding her academic and artistic aspirations. She loved learning, accumulating a respectable library of fiction and nonfiction books in her lifetime. She always spoke fondly of this period in her life and encouraged her children to chase their dreams from an early age.

Mary had a unique, caring, bond with all animals. She once saved a cat from a burning building, soon after adopting and (aptly) naming him Smokey. She nurtured and adopted an injured stray dog, naming her Troubles, and cared for her parrot, Murdock (named after The A-Team protagonist), who could be found regularly perched on her shoulder.

Multiple Sclerosis changed Mary's life drastically. Nevertheless, despite the challenges she faced she instilled in her children the value of education, independence, and compassion. The Butkus family wishes to extend a special thanks to the numerous doctors, nurses, medical professionals, and friends, who came to Mary's aid in her decades long battle with MS.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025 from 11:00AM to 1:00PM at the DiDonato Funeral Home (1290 US-9W, Marlboro NY, 12542).
A prayer will be held on Friday, May 23 2025 at 1:00PM at the Funeral Home.
The burial will be held on Fray, May 23, 2025 at 1:45PM at the Cedar Hill Cemetery (5468 Rte-9W, Newburgh, NY 12550)
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc (845) 236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com