Mary McCusker

DELMAR - Mary Frances McKnight McCusker, the blue-eyed Frank Sinatra aficionado, born in Newark, NJ August 31, 1931 died peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at her home surrounded by family. Our mother Mary (nicknamed Mrs. Sinatra) was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor and love for her family and friends. She loved relaxing at her community pool in the summertime with her cherished friends and neighbors. She was born in Newark, NJ. Her parents were Marion Kuntze and Frank McKnight. She worked at Cluett Peabody and Company in Cohoes, A.J. Eckert Mechanical Contractors, Albany , the NYS Senate, and the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Doane Stuart School. She was past President of the Albany Chapter Business and Professional Women's Club and a licensed real estate agent. Mary's hobbies were listening to music, traveling, the Jersey shore, Saratoga Race Track, and helping others. She loved the Woodgate social hour and especially enjoyed sipping champagne with friends and family. Mary was an active Member of the Sinatra Society of America. She traveled the world to attend Mr. Sinatra's concerts with performances in Italy, England, Atlantic City, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Albany, and Tanglewood, MA. Mary was a friend of Frank Sinatra's assistant, Dorothy Ullman. She volunteered at the Palm Springs Desert Class Golf Tournament in California. She attended Mr. Sinatra's funeral in Hoboken, NJ and toured his Palm Springs home. Survivors include her children and spouses, John Pittz (Sheri); Sandra Pittz Wiegand; Karl Pittz (Jeannine); Grandchildren: Kelly Bruce Pittz, Zoe Bruce, Daniel and Kevan Wiegand, Jennifer and Scott Pittz. She also adored her "Baby Boy,"Frankie. The family wishes to thank her numerous friends who brought such joy to her life. She appreciated each and every one of you and would not want you to be in sorrow at this time. Thank you to the staff at Albany Dialysis Center, as well as Alice, Tiffany and Nettie. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday from 4 to 7 pm at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30 am Saturday at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Pl., Delmar. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Glenmont. Donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NYC.