Mary C. (McIntosh) Muenkel

Mary Carolyn (McIntosh) Muenkel, 89, of Heath, Massachusetts passed away at 1:34 am, warm in her bed, so peacefully surrounded by loved ones on February 26, 2025.

Her extraordinary life began in Brooklyn, NY, born September 13, 1935, to Lillian (Nelson) McIntosh and William Joseph McIntosh, after her mother prayed a Rosary Novena daily for years at the famed Monastery of The Precious Blood in Brooklyn, NY. Her mother’s prayer was that if she conceived a child and it was a girl, she would name her Mary, in honor of The Blessed Mother. The prayer was answered and Mary would be their only child, but she was destined to become the spark to ignite the flames of love that would transform her family and her legacy.

At the age of two, Mary began to sing and use her voice to fill the silence of her home and the hearts of anyone surrounding her with joy. At the age of 6, her family relocated to Bellerose, NY, in Queens, where she attended PS133 Elementary School and later graduated from Jamaica High School. If you asked her about her schooling, she would tell you about being pulled out of her classroom to be asked to sing. Her singing advanced in very early childhood so much and so quickly that she would be performing on large stages with big bands all of the popular tunes throughout the 1940’s.

While vacationing at Colonial Manor in the Catskills at age 13, she met her beloved best girlfriend Patsy. Patsy remained her lifelong dearest confidant, best friend and eyewitness to her singing career and reports the following detail - “Mary won the talent show at Colonial Manor every single year until age 20 with her acapella version of Gounod’s Ave Maria which moved the audience so much that they would never let her choose a different song. She was as talented as Doris Day.”

At age 15, she began professional voice lessons in Manhattan financed by a donor who recognized her talent. Recommended by her vocal teacher, she was thrilled to be asked to understudy for Steve Lawrence by ABC television broadcasting company. After high school graduation, she was employed as a receptionist at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Manhattan and there, was selected each year to star in their annual musical production in various NYC production theaters. During this time period, she would see her name in lights on the marquee in Montreal, Canada, get professional offers with big bands and a cruise ship, record a two single album, and receive an offer and decline a free trip to move to Hollywood from the famed Irwin Kostal, who is known for arranging and orchestrating Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. The dream of her lifetime was accomplished when she was given the opportunity to sing for her favorite male vocalist of all time, Perry Como. She would perform for other notables including Arthur Godfrey and The Andrews Sisters. She declined her Hollywood offer knowing that she would be needed to tend to her parents as she was their only child.

She met her future husband Edward Joseph Muenkel when Eddie’s brother purchased a home behind hers and she became the babysitter of her soon to be nieces and nephews. With Eddie’s faith, baby blue eyes, and handsome physique, having just returned from the Army stationed in Germany, and her commanding performances with the Big Bands that melted Eddie’s heart, they both described it as love at first sight. They were married on May 19, 1956 at the ages of 20 and 24.

While they were relocating to East Northport, Long Island, NY settling down and building their family, her parents were rapidly declining with her father undergoing two open heart surgeries, and ultimately passing away at age 54 in 1959. She promised her father that she would care for her mother and she did that just as long as she could. Heroically. As her mother developed early onset Alzheimer’s in her 50’s. Mary and Ed bought a bigger house in East Northport, NY to accommodate an in-law apartment and moved Lillian in with them. Mary solely cared for 5 toddlers and her mother until her mother’s condition became unsafe for all. Mary’s greatest pain was having to admit her own mother into a nursing facility, the conditions of which at the time were horrific, and her mother Lillian passed away there cold and alone at the age of 62 in 1963.

Mary had always wanted a large family. They were blessed with eight children between 1957 and 1974. Five boys and three girls. Their home was the one in the neighborhood where many children would come to play. In the streets, in the tiny “woods”, climbing the trees, running bases on the lawn, and swimming in their large inground pool. Every day Mary would ring a bell on the front porch mid afternoon and a swarm of kids on the block from all denominations would come running to say the Rosary as a group. Friends were always welcome at any time and came often. Mary would take in people who had nowhere to stay, become a guardian of foster children, assist with the parish clothing drives and found suitable housing for those in need. Mary and Ed would host weekly Rosary nights and weekly Youth Groups for decades. They were a host home for Joey Lomangino in the 1960’s who had been gifted with several physical and spiritual miracles through the intercession of (now Saint) Padre Pio. They would partake in Rosary Rallies across Long Island and collected many friends along the way; so many that Mary and Ed renovated their home to accommodate all who came. Mary would quote “To whom much is given, much is required”and was thrilled to share her deep faith with anyone who would listen.

In December 1987, Mary and Ed traveled to Heath, Massachusetts, and both feeling immediately inspired, made the decision to relocate to rural Heath and to help build Our Lady of the Rosary Marian Shrine, open to the public for daily recitation of the Rosary.

Mary was blessed with 21 Grandchildren from 1981 through present day, as her 21st Grandchild is expected July 5, 2025, and 6 Great Grandchildren. Her home was the place for all to gather, and no matter how large her family had grown, there was always food for one more and all were welcome. Countless games, parties, music, feasts, always tremendous laughter and always prayer.

As her health was tested in the later years of her life, she found herself on the receiving end of an outpouring of love and affection, dedicated compassion, and tireless efforts to keep her enjoying the comforts of her home and family, to practice her faith, and to amuse her caregivers with all of her stories and songs. Being an avid New York Mets fan, she watched every game. Her Pastor visited her with Holy Communion regularly and they would share stories of their fondness of Fulton Sheen. Via the internet, she was a daily communicant at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy and could watch her favorite Fr. Chris Alar who sent her a personal video message, thanking her for being an Apostle of Divine Mercy and spreading the Divine Mercy message. An hour before Mary passed away into eternal life, red and white rays were visible in her room by all present.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. She will be sorely missed by all who were blessed to know and love her and have true witness to that inextinguishable spark.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Lillian and William McIntosh. And her dog Skippy.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years Edward J. Muenkel; daughter Nancy Rosati and husband Thom; son William Muenkel and wife Teresa; son Robert Muenkel and wife Karin; son Edward L. Muenkel and wife Lisa; daughter Mary Beth O’Dea and husband Leonard; son Christopher; daughter Barbara Rode and husband Gregory; son David Muenkel and wife Kathleen; Grandchildren Christi, Colleen and Joe, Jamie and Tom, Joe O., Tommy and Kellie, James, Joe M. and Erica, Brandon and Sujeily, Anne, John, Kelsey, Josh, Eddie, Sam, Haley, Shane, Sean, Ethan, Isaac, Owen, and 21st Grandchild due in July; Great Grandchildren Caiden, Harrison, Felicity, Gaius, Peter, Colin; and her beloved Patsy and Tommy, Debbie and Bobby.

Our heartfelt appreciation to Father Kevin Chalifoux, Anne Muenkel, Christie Lynn Almeida, Anne Lively, Giselly Shattuck, Heath Volunteer First Responders, Colrain Ambulance, Compassus Hospice Staff, and our surrounding community who loved and supported us through her prolonged illness.

Mary’s wish is that you continue to pray for her and for her family.

Calling hours will be Friday, March 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church Street, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

Liturgy of Christian Burial will be Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church, 96 East Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont.

Lunch Reception immediately following at St. Joachim Church Hall, 342 Tunnel Road, Readsboro, Vermont.

Interment will be held at a later date in Heath Center Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to: Our Lady of the Rosary Marian Shrine PO Box 437, Rowe, Massachusetts 01367

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary C. (McIntosh) Muenkel, please visit our floral store.