Mary Alice Brendle, known as “Auntie” to all her loving and devoted nieces and nephews passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at her home in the Clinton section of Manhattan.
Mary was born in Hackensack, NJ to William and Mary Alice Heagney Brendle. She received her B.A. from Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY. She has lived in her neighborhood in New York City for many years.
Mary was an American author, playwright, actress, and considered herself an “historian” and frequently wrote about the Clinton neighborhood where she lived. She was the winner of the American Theatre of Actors’ Jean Dalrymple Award as Best 1986/87 Dramatic Playwright.
As a member of Community Board 4, Mary was instrumental in getting instituted the Special Clinton District zoning plan which put in place a framework which keeps high rise buildings out of the neighborhood between 43rd and 56th street between 8th and 10th aves. It was so well drafted that each time the city and developers try to break it, it doesn’t go through. She was a recipient of the Citation for Outstanding Community Service in 1985 from the NY State Senate, NY State Assembly and New York City Council.
She was a devout Catholic who attended Mass on a daily basis at St. Paul the Apostle Church or St. Malachy’s Actor’s Church. She was a voracious reader, a worldwide and adventurous traveler, an avid swimmer and most important a loving and generous aunt and great aunt.
Mary is survived by her nieces and nephews Kristine Nickl and husband Paul, Holly Turtur and husband Joseph, Brian Brendle and wife Bonnie, Robin Brendle and Kyle Brendle, and her grandnieces and nephews; Merry, Kiara, Kristi, Sandra, Drew, Margaret, Kevin, Tucker, Lilly, and Lia, and her 7 great grandnieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35 at New Bedford Rd., Wall, NJ 07719. A Mass of Christian Burial will offered on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 10:30am at St. Catharine’s Church, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762 (732-449-5765 for directions) Please go directly to the Church on Wednesday because there will not be a procession from the funeral home. Private committal of her remains will be at the convenience of the family.