Mary F Carnis

Age: 78

Date of Death: March 22, 2024

Ridgewood, NJ

Mary F Carnis, nee O’Donnell, 78, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones on March 22, 2024. Mary was a cancer survivor who later succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. Mary is survived by her husband, Rick, her brother, Kevin, her sister-in-law, Anna, her nieces and nephew, Patrick, Katie and her husband Kevin, and Chrissy and her great nieces and nephew, Sean, Sami, and Maggie. She was born in Chicago in 1945 to Richard and Francis “Bunny” O’Donnell. Mary moved to Ridgewood, NJ with her family in 1953 when she was 8 years old. Mary loved her family, playing sports, and exploring the HoHoKus Brook. At the tender age of 10, Mary lost her beloved mother to cancer. At this difficult time Mary was supported and cared for by her paternal Aunt Gertrude. Mary truly loved and admired this aunt who she affectionately referred to as Aunt Gerky. In honor of Aunt Gerky, Mary crafted the name Merky, which her great nieces and nephew refer to her as. Mary attended Ridgewood High School where she met and fell in love with her husband, Rick Carnis. Mary attended Montclair State University where she studied Literature. After graduation, Mary worked for the Essex County Welfare Board as a social worker going into the homes of people in need. While Mary only worked in this job for a year, it was a formative experience which she spoke about throughout her life. Mary and Rick married in 1968 at Our Lady of Mount Caramel Church in Ridgewood, NJ. Shortly after joining their lives together, Mary and Rick began their adventure as a military couple moving from Northern New Jersey to San Francisco to Anchorage and landing back in East Orange, NJ before ultimately returning their home town of Ridgewood. After the transition back to Ridgewood, Mary began her career of 29 years working as a managing production editor for Prentice Hall and Pearson. Mary made many close friends during her time at Pearson. She enjoyed going to lunch, shopping, and vacationing with her work friends and ultimately making them an extension of her own family. Mary was full of life and had an unending passion to learn. She read with voracity, devouring biographies of pop icons, famous historical figures, fiction, and every magazine and newspaper she could get her hands on. The only thing she loved more than reading was talking. Mary loved getting to know people and sharing her knowledge of pop culture, music, history, and politics. Mary loved documenting her many excursions with Rick through photography and creating albums. Some of Mary’s favorite places to travel included the Jersey Shore, Old Saybrook, Savana, Pompano Beach, and San Antonio. On the long drives Mary would take in the changing scenery and man the iPod, playing the music she loved. Mary had her favorites, Darlene Love, Southside Johnny, and Bruce Springsteen, but she was incredibly eclectic enjoying artists such as Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifa, Little Wheezy, and Fountains