Mary D. Demo, 86, Brasher Falls

BRASHER FALLS – Mary D. Demo, 86, a longtime resident of George Street, peacefully passed away Thursday morning, February 22, 2024, at her home with the love of her husband and daughters at her side.

Mary was born on July 11, 1937, in Massena, the daughter of the late Orville and Ellen (Campbell) Donahue.

She attended a one room schoolhouse in the Bombay rural school district before graduating from Bombay High School.

She continued her education at Central City Business Institute, where she received her two-year degree in Legal Secretarial Studies.

On October 4, 1958, she married John M. Demo at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hogansburg with Rev. Joseph Stickelmeyer, officiating.

Following her graduation, she started working at Alcoa until being laid off. She then went to Reynold’s Metals, where she was the private secretary to the personnel manager. She worked there for a year and a half until she and her husband started their family, which blessed them with 5 children.

A devout Catholic, Mary had a devotion to Our Blessed Mother, Mary and dedicated many years to educating the Catholic faith to the children of St. Patrick’s Parish in Brasher Falls as a religious education teacher. She also taught religious education to children and adults with special needs and was actively involved in the RCIA program for those working to obtain delayed sacraments.

A faithful communicant of St. Patrick’s Church, she served as lector and eucharistic minister and coordinated the prayer line for many years.

Additionally, she volunteered her time and talent at St. Lawrence Central School assisting students with reading disabilities.

She followed her children’s sporting events, enjoyed puzzles, gardening, and flowers. She and her husband greatly enjoyed traveling, having visited all of the Continental United States, all the provinces of Canada, and made many pilgrimages to area shrines.

Mary is survived by her loving husband of 65 plus years, John “Corky”; her children and their spouses, Mary Ann and Dr. Rashid Khan of Syracuse, Father John “Mickey” Demo of Watertown, Mark and Linda Demo of Cazenovia, Gregory and Tera Demo of Colorado, and Therese Demo of Massena; her beloved grandchildren, Yasin, Novall, Samina, Amara, Jordan, Brian, Graham, Nikolas, Sydney, Makenzie, Connor, Bailey, and Mackenzie; 6 great grandchildren, her sisters, Sister Ellen Donahue, SA of Garrison and Patricia Lantry of Syracuse; her brother, Jeremiah Donahue of Hyde Park, Massachusetts; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two sisters, Aileen Hastings and Ellen Carmichael.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 PM on May 10, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Brasher Falls, with her son, Rev. John “Mickey” Demo, celebrating and priests of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, concelebrating.

Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Brasher Falls.

Calling hours were held privately.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Gabriel Project of St. Patrick’s Church, PO Box 208, Brasher Falls, NY 13613.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Donaldson Funeral Home, Massena, where friends may share memories and offer condolences to her family online at www.donaldsonfh.com.