Mary Helen (Costanzo) Lee

Rotterdam – Mary Helen (Costanzo) Lee passed away peacefully on February 28, 2022 in the comfort of her home and loving family. She was born April 5, 1953 in Schenectady to the late Charles and Eleanor (Zanta) Costanzo. Mary was a graduate of Mont Pleasant High School class of 1971 and was employed for 13 years at GE and 20 years at Golub Corp., with an 11-year break in between as a stay-at-home mom. A deeply religious person, Mary put, in order, her faith, family and friends as priorities. She was a eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Schenectady and was involved in their annual Festa’s through the years. She was very active in her children’s lives in and out of school, including school plays & trips, formals, dance recitals, cheerleading, boy/girl scouts, sports, sports, and more sports. She enjoyed family summer vacations in Cape Cod for 35+ years with very special friends Ron & Jan Crowley and family and had an active travel life, including multiple family trips to Europe, Disney World, the Caribbean and domestic jaunts across the country, New Orleans, Chicago & San Francisco to name a few. Also cherished were overnight Bed & Breakfast stays across the Northeast in the spring & fall with her husband to clear the head a bit from the (pleasant) toils of raising her family. In addition, she had many special times with close friends the Pennacchia’s and D’Aurizio’s, highlighted by treks to Saratoga for her yearly NYRA “contributions”, Six Flags Darien Lake / Wildwood vacations, and countless get-togethers with the families. Dinners throughout the year with her cousins meant as much as anything to her, with hopes the tradition continues. A magnificent cook, her specialty was homemade sauce & meatballs and her Thanksgiving & Christmas spreads were second to none. And in the holiday spirit, many a happy time was spent in NJ with her brother Chuck and family as well as Christmas Eve parties at her in-laws with the McGarry’s, serenaded by “The Ballad of Katie Lee”. An expert at needlepoint, her crafts adorn the houses and continually brighten the faces of numerous relatives & friends. She is survived by her husband of 40 years John E. Lee, son Daniel (Kerry) Lee, daughter Alyssa Lee (Matt), brother Charles (Alice) Costanzo, sister-in-law Kathryn Lee (Nancy), brother & sister in-laws David & Catherine Lee, mother-in-law Ruby (late Gerald) Lee, adored grandchildren Marianne & Carlo Lee, Aunt Helen (late Rocco) Visconti, Aunt Isabelle (late Raymond) Zanta and Uncle Angelo (Joanne) Zanta. Also left to cherish her memory are close cousins Donna (Bob) Ranalli, Joe (Laurie) Lapi, Lisa (Steve) Baker, Mark (Mary) Zanta, Michael (Brenda) Zanta, Ray (Jeanie) Zanta, Lucille Ivanuska, Diane (Don) Ritz, Terry Lynn (Rob) Bannon, Christine (Brian) Carr, Michele Zanta & Joe Zanta and all their families as well as nieces & nephews Gina Costanzo, Rosa (Jeff) Buricelli, Tony (Carmella) Costanzo, late Jennifer Lee, Jonathan (Keely) Lee, Christopher (Lee Ann) Lee & and their families. Plus, many additional special family members & friends. Mary’s family would like to thank Dr. Makenzi Evangelist and the staffs at NYOH and Albany Medical Center for their professionalism, compassion and tireless efforts on her behalf. Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Friday March 4, 2022 from 8-9:45a.m. at Demarco-Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave., Schenectady, NY 12306, followed by a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m.at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,1255 Pleasant St,Schenectady, NY and burial at St. John’s Cemetery, N Brandywine Ave., Schenectady, NY. Those who wish to honor Mary in a special way are asked to consider memorial contributions to Expect Miracles Foundation (www.expectmiraclesfoundation.org) It was a good life, well lived, and now she rests.