Mary (O'Donnell) Rafferty

Mary Rafferty, 83, Union Beach, New Jersey, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey.  She was born Mary O’Donnell on October 14, 1940, in Donegal, Ireland.  Mary lived in Ireland until her early teenage years, when she moved to Scotland with her sister, Cathy.  Mary met her beloved husband, William, while living in Scotland and they were married on June 25, 1960, and started their life together.  A few years later in 1964, they immigrated to the United States, starting in Kearny, New Jersey, before settling in Union Beach, in 1972, where they remained to raise their family.

While living in Union Beach, Mary was an active member of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church and a member of their Altar Rosary Society for many years.  She also played an integral role in the development of the Hazlet Youth Soccer Association with her husband, William.  In her spare time, Mary loved to garden and was known for her green thumb.  Every Mother’s Day, she looked forward to receiving wildflowers from all her great grandchildren, a tradition she held near to her heart.  Mary and her husband, William, had another standing tradition; every Monday afternoon, you could find them at Yesterday’s Restaurant, sitting at the same table enjoying lunch together with family. 

Mary cherished her Irish heritage and instilled that love into her children and grandchildren over the years.  She was everyone’s favorite aunt and was fondly known as “Auntie Mary” amongst her family.  She lovingly hosted countless family and friends over the years, always extending herself in any way she could.  Although her house may have been tiny, she had a heart that knew no bounds and would never turn anyone away.  In the words of her grandson, “Mary was a completely selfless nurturer, and the quiet strength of her family.”  She will be greatly missed, forever loved, and never forgotten by all who knew and loved her.

She was predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Margaret (Brown) O’Donnell, her 9 dear siblings, her grandson, Timothy Kelly, and her beloved husband, William Rafferty, who passed just two days prior to Mary.  Mary is survived by her loving daughters, Carol Anne Bouchard and her husband, Francis, of Washington, D.C., Karen Kelly and her husband, Timothy, of Belford, and Pauline Goebel and her husband, Glenn, of New Egypt, her dear brother, Columba O’Donnell and his wife, Margaret, and her brother-in-law, John McDaid.  Mary also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Lauren Bryant and her husband, Robert, Karli Goebel and Shawn Cahill, Lindsay Bouchard, Jennifer Reed and her husband, Aaron, Ryan Kelly, and Colin Bouchard, her adored great grandchildren, Leila Bryant, Claire Bryant, Anna Bryant, Troy Brant, Liam Reed, Nolan Reed, and Lennox Cahil, and many treasured nieces and nephews in the United States, Scotland, and Irelend.

Family and friends are invited to visit for both Mary and William, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and Wednesday morning, May 8, 2024, from 8:30 to 9:15 AM at Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 3269 State Highway/Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday morning, May 8, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, 727 Highway 36, Union Beach, New Jersey 07735.  Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 360 Broadway, Keyport, New Jersey 07735, where Mary and William will be laid to rest together. In lieu of flowers, donations in loving memory of Mary to Tim’s Earth Angels would be greatly appreciated. Tim’s Earth Angels is a non-profit, 501C3 organization that was established in honor of William’s grandson, Detective Corporal Timothy Kelly (UBPD), who passed away in July 2022.  Donations can be made via Venmo to @timsearthangels31 or via Zelle to timsearthangels@gmail.com.  For information, directions, or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.

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