Rosa Lillian Mahony

Rosa Lillian “Lill” (Schoepl) Mahony, 91, of the Monty Road Altona, NY passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

Lillian was born on Staten Island, NY on March 12, 1931, the daughter of Leopold and Franziska “Fannie” (Hüiber) Schoepl. She grew up on Staten Island and graduated from Port Richmond High School. After school, she worked as a teller at Bankers Trust in Manhattan. Lillian married Jeremiah Mahony on May 14, 1955, at the Church of Saint Rita on Staten Island. Shortly after, they bought the Monty Farm in Altona from their brother-in-law and moved to the North Country in their 1929 Model A.

Lillian was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Every Friday evening for many years, most - if not all - of her 22 grandchildren would play together at her house. Somehow, amidst the noise and chaos, she managed to give each child love and attention and never raised her voice. Visiting Lillian meant tea with lunch, beer with dinner, and wine with an apple and peanuts before bed. Everything was better at Grandma’s; the water tasted better, the toast was buttered evenly to the edge, and she would read to her grandchildren for hours and sing songs to them, especially two special children’s songs, “Botch” and “Tante, Tante” in German. Lillian also had a green thumb and loved to spend many hours in her beautiful flower gardens. Battling weeds was her daily chore.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents; her husband; her son Steven Mahony; her sisters and brothers-in-law: Helen (Eugene) Steigerwald, Ruth (Helmer) Hansen, and Anna “Mitzie” (Morton “Bud”) Monty. Also her brother-in-law and sister-in-law: John (Mary) Mahoney.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Frances (Daniel) Grue, Donal “Donnie” (Ann Marie) Mahony, Leo (Darlene) Mahony, Ellen “Tricia” (Timothy) Fergusson, Nancy Wood, and her “extra son” Howard Stoner all of Altona. She will also be remembered by her brother Leopold “Sonny” (Carol) Schoepl of Freehold, New Jersey.

To her 22 grandchildren, she was known as “Grandma Lill”: Maria (Ryan) Blondo, Nathaniel (Abby Leduc) Grue, Olivia (Jimmy) Carr, Gabriel (Heather LaBounty) Mahony, Ellsworth (Kristen) Grue, Mallory (Nick) Fletcher, Colin Fergusson, Felix (Carrie Parrott) Mahony, Hannah (Gabe) Hynes, Liesl (Sean) Ross, Zoey Mahony, Patrick Mahony, Spencer (Chelsea) Fergusson, Benjamin (Kayla Meshefsky) Grue, Ryan Mahony, James (Emily) Grue, Andrew (Jennifer) Mahony, Nolan (Kellie) Fergusson, Meghan (Logan Rainford) Mahony, Sean (Carmen) Mahony, Joseph Wood, and Casey Mahony.

To her 16 great-grandchildren, she was known as “Little Grandma”: Weldon Blondo, Elizabeth Carr, Leah Lashway, Rosa Blondo, Ethan Fletcher, Amelia Grue, Henry Grue, Jackson Fletcher, Daniel Blondo, Steven Carr, Isabelle Grue, Harper Fletcher, Nora Hynes, Oliver Mahony, Scout Ross, and Jacob Carr. Another great-grandchild will be born in March.

Lillian will also be remembered by her numerous nieces and nephews, and her extended family: Nevaeh and Edward Baker-Burch, and Darren Allen.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home, 3123 Miner Farm Road Altona. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 10:00 am at Holy Angels Church, Altona. Interment will be in Holy Angels Cemetery in the spring. A reception will follow the Mass at Holy Angels Church Hall.

The family gratefully declines flowers, and would prefer donations be sent to Hospice of the North Country.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Brown Funeral Home, 3123 Miner Farm Road, Altona, (518)236-5986.