Obituary of Mary Grace Walsh

Mary Grace Walsh, (nee Schuyler) passed away on January 1, 2020 at Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Toms River, NJ, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mary was born in Houston, Texas in 1941 before moving to Pittsburg, PA and finally setting in South Orange, NJ with her parents and three younger siblings. After graduating from Farleigh Dickenson University, where she played basketball and was president of the women's athletic association, Mary lived in Greenwich Village, NYC. When she returned to NJ, she met her husband, Richard, and daughter, Susan Walsh. And as we all like to say, “they married” Mary and moved to Island Heights, NJ. Mary loved living at the shore, where she was a well known realtor and a very active member at Island Heights United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir at IHUMC for more than fifty years, and rarely missed a Sunday, unless she was on one of her many travel adventures. Around town she was known as a great mom, a baseball coach, master baker, and lobster bake officianoto. She was an avid reader, a needlepointer, pool-party hostess, and second mom to many, who could talk your ear off about any sport, especially tennis. She was a bridge player, beach lover who, if the cooking channel existed, would have had her own cooking show. Mary was an unwavering font of positivity, seeing the best in folks even if they proved her wrong. She was a devoted fan of Broadway, and if you sat through a show with her (especially the musicals) you'd have sore ribs because she'd keep elbowing you and pointing to the stage as if to say "Isn't this great? Aren't we lucky?" She was a beautiful, talkative soul, and if you were lucky enough to meet her, you became a friend. She leaves behind a family she adored. She is survived by her children: daughter: Susan M Walsh, Island Heights; Sons: Adam (Jane) Walsh, Toms River, NJ and Jeremy Walsh, San Diego, CA; as well as her beloved grandchildren Robert and Carolyn, Toms River. She is also survived by her brother James Chester (Kay) Schuyler of Timmonsville, MD, and a sister, Carol (Paul) Cantrell of Staten Island, NY. Mary also leaves behind 8 beloved nieces and nephews and 6 great nieces and nephews, to whom she was known as “Auntie Mame”. Mary also has a large extended family that spans the globe, and with whom she was great at staying in touch. Including step-brother Robert H. Morton, step-nephew Scott Morton and step -niece Erika Morton. Mary was predeceased by her father Peter VR Schuyler Jr, mother Doris Durham Schuyler Morton, Step-father Alton Morton, and her brother Peter VR Schuyler III.