Mary C.

Reiser

Mary Claire Reiser passed away peacefully at her home in Sag Harbor on Friday, May 5th, surrounded by her loving family. She was 88 years old.

The daughter of Helen Lawless (nee Wurster) and John Lawless, Mary was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 19th, 1935. She graduated from Caldwell College in 1955 with a degree in English Literature.

Family was a pillar of Mary's life, and she began hers with her beloved husband, Robert Reiser, who she married in 1955.

Together, in 54 years of loving marriage until Bob's passing, they had six children: Mark, Robert, John (Jack), Martin, Mary, and Peter. Her family grew with four children-in-law: Bernadette, Linda, Victoria and Walter.

Mary and Bob enjoyed 11 grandchildren: Erin, Tim, Dan, Mike, Brendan, Bridget, Kathleen, Tom, Walt, Mary Claire and Rob.

And Mary became GiGi, a loving great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren: Harrison, Henry, Annie, Walt, Pat, Hailey, Henry, Josh and Lauren.

Along with her family, Mary served her community and her church with great devotion. She was a longtime volunteer at the Sag Harbor Food Pantry and the East End Hospice, a Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrew's, and served on the local Architecture Review board. She received the St. Agnes Medal of Service for her work for the parish.

She loved dancing, shopping and the Sunday crossword. She sailed the world with Bob and she built a loving home. She will be missed, but she made it home. And she's sailing and dancing again, hand in hand and wing to wing with Bob.

The wake will be held on Monday, May 8th at Yardley and Pino (91 Hampton St, Sag Harbor, NY, 11963). Visiting hours will be from 4-7 pm.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Andrew's on Tuesday, May 9th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cormaria Retreat Center.