Mary Segreto (nee Poandl), age 98 of Wayne, died peacefully after a brief illness.  She had lived in Toms River for more than thirty four years before moving to Wayne last December.  Years ago, Mary was employed as a router for New Era Manufacturing in Hawthorne.

Born in Vienna, Austria, she immigrated to Paterson at the age of 8.  Sadly, her mother died during childbirth while delivering Mary’s younger sister.  Consequently, Mary never truly knew her mom and was raised by an aunt in Austria in the years before moving to America.  Her father, Alois Poandl, came to America seeking the American Dream.  He settled in Paterson and establish himself there before bringing his children to join him.  Her father remarried here in America, and Mary’s stepmother was a wonderful woman who helped to raise her with love and care.

Mary attended School 17 and School 4 during her elementary years, and she still has her ‘signature books’ from those days, signed by many of her classmates.  One boy named Frank Segreto left a kind note in her 8th grade book, and several years later Mary married him!  Their wedding was on April 20, 1941 and they enjoyed forty-five years together before Frank died in 1986.  They initially settled in Paterson, then moved to Prospect Park and North Haledon.  They retired to Toms River where they were among the earliest residents of Holiday City South.  In her leisure time, she sewed, read, and did needlepoint and ceramics.  She was socially active and a founding member of the Women’s Club at Holiday City South, and they loved to take bus trips to Atlantic City, or to the local Bingo game!  She was also a remarkable cook and an excellent baker!  She was always happy to share her edible treats and it was common place for her to deliver baked goods to her hairdresser or anyone who did something nice for her.  The contractors who worked in her home were well fed and blamed her for single-handedly making them all fat!  She also loved gardening and kept a lovely, colorful yard at her home.  She was a notably devoted Catholic and member of St. Maximilian Kolbe RC Church in Toms River, where she attended mass as often as possible.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Frank in 1986, and by her siblings; Julia and Joseph.  She is survived by her daughter; Vivian Sheerin and her husband James of Wayne, her son; Russell, one grandchild; Gina Johnson and her husband Kris of Aiken, South Carolina, and great-grandson Gabriel Johnson.  She was a special grandmother to Courtney Sheerin and Colleen Lutz.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mary loved flowers and she would certainly enjoy having them at her funeral.  For those wishing to make a donation in her memory instead of flowers, please consider the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA  02241-7005.