Mary Moran Sarni, 100, of Mystic passed away Saturday, December 24, 2022 with her daughter Elaine and son-in-law John by her side. She was a loving wife to Lawrence Vincent Sarni for 66 years who predeceased her in 2011, and a devoted mother to Elaine and her husband, John Huyette, MD of Springfield, PA; and Catherine Sarni and her husband, Gene Swain of South Glastonbury, CT. She was the beloved grandmother of John Huyette and his wife Kelly, Elizabeth Babeuf and her husband Ryan, and Catherine Hazelton and her husband Ricky. She found joy in her great grandchildren John Joseph, Pearl Maria and Lawrence Stevenson Babeuf; John Newell and Thomas Gabriel Huyette, and Mary Catherine Hazelton.
Born in Providence, RI, Mary was the daughter of James and Katherine Flynn Moran. She grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from the University of Rhode Island, class of 1944, where she was an active member of the Lambda Beta Chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity who recently honored her during their centennial celebration. She had many fond memories of her summers during her college years working as a server at the Narragansett Inn and Spring House in Block Island, RI.
Following graduation, Mary worked in office administration for Kaiser Shipyard and later Rhode Island Malleable Iron Works, both in Rhode Island. Following her wedding she moved to Naugatuck and later Norwich, CT where she worked for Goldberg’s Furniture before leaving the workforce to raise her family. Mary found time for a variety of interests. She was an original founder of Pautipaug Country Club where she golfed for many years in the Women’s League. As a member of the Fortnightly Study Club, she hosted meetings and researched and presented papers on a variety of topics. She was also a founding member of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.
Mary’s artistic interests included ceramics and tailoring which were pursued with an eye for detail. Along with raising her family, she maintained her home with great care doing everything from landscaping to making the best homemade jams. She was proud of her Irish heritage and often spoke of her childhood trips to visit family in County Roscommon.
Most recently she lived at StoneRidge, a senior living community in Mystic. She was an avid bridge player, although never truly happy with her game, and enjoyed the many parties, lectures and activities there. She was very fond of the staff and always stopped for a chat in the hall on her way to dinner or an event to make sure they were doing well. She formed a strong bond with her caregiver, Imane Ougaaddi who, with compassionate care, enabled Mary to live independently until very recently.
Mary was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church in Norwich for many years and most recently of St. Patrick Church in Mystic. She will always be remembered as a dedicated wife and mother as well as a gracious member of the community.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 2 at St. Patrick Church, 32 East Main Street, Mystic, CT from 9:30 am to 9:50am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery, 1132 River Road, Mystic. Friends and family are invited to gather at a reception being held at StoneRidge, 186 Jerry Browne Road, Mystic at noon. Donations may be made in Mary Sarni’s memory to St. Patrick Church, 32 East Main Street, Mystic, CT 06355.