Mary M. Cheney

Mary was born Dec. 21, 1946 to Charles O’Donnell and Gertrude Bombard O’Donell.

Mary was a proud graduate of St. Pius High School in Saranac Lake and the Mildred Elley School of Business in Albany. Mary went on to work as the village clerk for the village of Saranac Lake before taking a position at FCI Raybrook. Through her meticulous and diligent work ethic, Mary would eventually become the human resources manager and held the position until her retirement in 2001. Mary retired after 20 years of service to take on her favorite role as “Gigi,” a title she held for all five of her grandchildren.

Mary was known for giving perfect gifts. Each gift was wrapped to perfection from paper, to bow, to the tag bearing her idyllic Catholic school penmanship. She loved family gatherings and all the joy they brought. She was an excellent cook and was known for making an amazing lasagna, delectable ham and scalloped potatoes, and a mouthwatering blueberry pie. But above all, Mary loved seeing her family smile and would spare no expense to witness that joy. From her first trip in 1989 to her last in 2019, Mary made sure her family knew Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line inside and out.

Mary was preceded in death by parents, Charles and Gertrude O’Donnell, her sister Carol Coventry, and her brothers Charles and Patrick O’Donnell.

Mary is survived by her husband of 53 years, Jeffery Cheney, her daughter Jennifer Dalton, her son-in-law Mark Dalton, and their daughters Sarah and Emma Dalton. She is also survived by her son Scott Cheney, her daughter-in-law Marisa Cheney, and their children, Madeline, Noah and Benjamin Cheney. Mary is also survived by her sister, Barbara Buckley, her brother-in-law, Tommy Buckley, and their children and Kathye O’Donnell and her children.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. Private funeral services will take place at the convenience of the family. Family and Friends can share their condolences and memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary’s honor to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation: Online at www.rettsyndrome.org/donate, by photo at 1-800-818-7388, or by mail at International Rett Syndrome Foundation, 4500 Cooper Road, Suite 204, Cincinnati, OH 45242.