May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019
Happy Birthday Toots. Now that Toots has joined you, you must be having a heck of a birthday party. Thinking of you today and all of the good times we had in CT and NY.
This memorial website was created in the memory of our Nana, Mary Breden. We encourage you to share stories, photos, music, and videos here.
Mary Breden of Little Neck passed away comfortably in her sleep on Dec 24. She was 92. She is survived by her loving husband Herman, sons Robert, William, Stephen, children Thomas and Patricia having predeceased her, daughters-in-law Joanne, Eileen, Janet, Nancy, grandchildren Pamela, Christine, Kelly, Joshua, Jeremy, Carolyn, Amy, and great grandchildren Westley and Abigail.
Mary was dedicated to her family and welcomed many more into her heart and home. She was truly a renaissance woman who mastered the art of living through her music, art, hobbies, and civic activism. Mary received both a Bachelor degree in physical education from NYU and her Master's in education, and went on to teach in universities across the country before marrying a lucky man named Herman and starting a family that has grown with the love, respect, and humor that was so much a part of her. As her family work lightened, Mary took on community service with amazing enthusiasm and many knew her from her work caring for the local park and fundraising for the Little Neck Memorial Day Parade. Throughout it all, she carried music and art with her – mastering the piano, violin, mandolin, and almost any instrument placed before her. For Mary, it was never too late to learn something new, and we will continue to learn from her always.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:
The Tom Breden Legacy Fund
Natureserve
4600 N. Farifax Drive, 7th Floor
Arlington, VA 22203
www.natureserve.org/supportUs/indiv_donor.jsp
The Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade
42-28 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, NY 11363
www.lndmemorialdayparade.com
The American Institute of Cancer Research
1759 R Street NW
Washington D.C. 20009
www.aicr.org.
The Salesian Mission
2 Lefevre Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10801-5710
www.salesianmissions.org/ways-to-help/donate
Tributes
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May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017
There was a song any years ago"I'll be with you in apple blossom time "!! So true for me - every year on your birthday I am with you Mary!! They are blossoming now for your birthday!! May you be at peace- know that you are loved and admired . ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 1, 2015
May 1, 2015
April showers bring May flowers and a wonderful woman born May 1, 1999 !!! Every spring I remember Mary showing where the bloodroot flowers grow. Picking dandelion blossoms for the family to make dandelion wine !! Pa giving Mary a bouquet of Apple blossoms for her birthday . Life was so wonderful back in the day. Thank you Mary for all of your lessons in life .
September 22, 2014
September 22, 2014
To the Breden Family
My condolences on the passing of your mom. I grew up with the sons and went through scouts with them.
My condolences on the passing of your mom. I grew up with the sons and went through scouts with them.
December 24, 2013
December 24, 2013
Mary had a little lamb, it's face was white as snow.Every where that Mary went Betty was sure to go.She taught me how to laugh and play, while picking posies along the way! I have loved her with all my heart till the day we had to part. Heaven I am sure is a busy place with Mary setting the pace. Miss you my love.
December 24, 2013
December 24, 2013
We miss you our dear sweet angel. Janet & Steve
May 12, 2012
May 12, 2012
All of us involved with the Parade will always remember Mary who embodied the pure spirit of civic pride and involvement. In her memory, the Parade has received greatly appreciated donations from the Rhor, Barba, Hahl, Rizzo,Hall, McGlone, & Perry families and the Little Neck Lions.
January 14, 2012
January 14, 2012
To My Dearest Friend"
You always said that I was your PR person - so here goes - you were known as Professor Mary Gruber until you changed your name to the honorable and loveable Mrs. Mary Breden.
The world loves you and so do I.
Toots
You always said that I was your PR person - so here goes - you were known as Professor Mary Gruber until you changed your name to the honorable and loveable Mrs. Mary Breden.
The world loves you and so do I.
Toots
January 8, 2012
January 8, 2012
To all the Bredens: For sure, the loss of Mary, my Godmother and my shining star, will tug at my heartstrings for all my days....she leaves behind a wonderful legacy in all of you.....
January 4, 2012
January 4, 2012
I met Mary in '69 through her daughter Patty when we played folk music at Sun. mass. Patty, Chrissy and I got a lot of encouragement from Mary, and once in a while Mary played a tune on the mandolin for us. I'll remember Mary for her great sense of comedy, her music/artistic talents, and her capacity to think outside the box, love her family/friends, and give all she had to all she met ♥
January 3, 2012
January 3, 2012
She was THE most giving person, from letting me live in her house for over 10yrs to all her charity work.she was known as NANA to all... i am so greatful to have known such an amazing human being in my lifetime. Plus, she loved to sing & on some nights would sing me pam and christine a lullaby before bedtime. She was funny and always a smile on her face. i will miss crosswords with her...
December 30, 2011
December 30, 2011
Here is the link to the NY Times Obituary.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=155255496
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=155255496
December 29, 2011
December 29, 2011
December 29, 2011
December 29, 2011
so sorry to hear about aunt mary , lots of good memories.
December 28, 2011
December 28, 2011
To the Breden Family,
I will always remember Mary with a smile on her face, a dance in her step and a song in her heart. She was a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother. My deepest condolences to my dear extended family. Mary Fencl
I will always remember Mary with a smile on her face, a dance in her step and a song in her heart. She was a great mother, grandmother and great grandmother. My deepest condolences to my dear extended family. Mary Fencl
December 28, 2011
December 28, 2011
Our sincere condolences on the loss of your dearest Mary. She was a wonderful woman who was deeply loved by family and friends alike. She was warm and loving and always made us feel welcomed in her home. Her cheerful and happy disposition was always so refreshing to be around. We will miss her greatly.
Love, Joan, Bill, Sarah & Emily Hall
Love, Joan, Bill, Sarah & Emily Hall
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019
Happy Birthday Toots. Now that Toots has joined you, you must be having a heck of a birthday party. Thinking of you today and all of the good times we had in CT and NY.
May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017
There was a song any years ago"I'll be with you in apple blossom time "!! So true for me - every year on your birthday I am with you Mary!! They are blossoming now for your birthday!! May you be at peace- know that you are loved and admired . ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 1, 2015
May 1, 2015
April showers bring May flowers and a wonderful woman born May 1, 1999 !!! Every spring I remember Mary showing where the bloodroot flowers grow. Picking dandelion blossoms for the family to make dandelion wine !! Pa giving Mary a bouquet of Apple blossoms for her birthday . Life was so wonderful back in the day. Thank you Mary for all of your lessons in life .
Gallery
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Nana_Westley
60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Mary playing piano, Thanksgiving 2011
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Mary in Connecticut, July 2011
Nana and Bobba on Dec 11, 2011
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Recent stories
from Debbie Shea Kurdzos
January 3, 2012
Mrs Breden was our volleyball coach in St A's I loved her too .she was kind and strog in her own way. She taught me the meaning of the song "Once there was this little. Ole ant trying to beat this rubber tree plant but an ant can' beat a rubber tree. Plant. "but we have high hopes". That was our team song. Because we lost a lot. But we loved singing this song. Mrs Pifipher and mrs Breden taught us to never give up. That was 45 years ago and I stilll remember how she impact me. We lose people we love. But we bring them in our life and learn through them.
Piano Playing
December 30, 2011
by Janet Breden
I remember the first time I ever heard Mom play a tune on the piano. We were sitting in the upstairs kitchen at her home finishing up a crossword puzzle. Steve, my then boyfriend, and I were planning to go to a party. Mom who was ever vigilant about these things, volunteered to iron Steve's shirt. Telling me she'd be right back, she descended into the basement where the ironing board was set up. In the meantime, while I struggled over the puzzle, I could hear toe-taping, finger-snapping, piano music coming from downstairs. Thinking it was a CD, when she emerged from the basement with the perfectly ironed shirt, I asked her what she was listening to downstairs. You could just imagine my surprise to learn, that in fact it was not a CD, but mom who was playing the piano. Not skipping a beat she merely said, "I always play a tune while waiting for the iron to heat up". Never a moment wasted with mom. How about her playing the piano at rehab last year, to the entertainment of the staff and patients, or the band she joined when she was 80!!! Now we know for sure that heaven has soul! Miss you our sweet angel! Love you!