Obituary of Mary Hneyda

Mary was born August 3, 1922 in Manville, Rhode Island, the daughter of the late Harry and Anna Pagut. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY and was very athletic, a quality that brought her to rise as a pitcher for the Americanettes, a professional women's softball team competing in Madison Square Garden. This same type of women's team was later depicted in the movie "A League of Their Own". It was while playing the sport in Madison Square Garden that she met baseball's, Babe Ruth, the pictures of which she enjoyed sharing with friends and family later in life. She married Stephen Hneyda in Jersey City, NJ on November 4, 1950 and shortly thereafter began building a house with her husband in Edison, NJ to pursue their dream of moving out to the "country". During construction they were informed their house was in the path of the proposed highway, Route 287. Rather than forfeiting the house under eminent domain, they moved the partially constructed house to an adjacent piece of property where they were finally able to enjoy many years raising their family, until moving to Whitehouse Station, NJ to retire in 1985. Mary's working career began as a switch board operator and continued in secretarial positions for various companies, including the Committee on Economic Monetary Policy in NY and the Edison Jewish Community Center in Edison, NJ before moving to Whitehouse Station. Her other passions revolved around her deep faith in God and her memberships in the First Presbyterian Church in Metuchen, NJ and the Readington Reformed Church in Readington, NJ. These brought her many warm friendships that she cherished till her death. Mary had a gentle heart with unusual talents for a woman of her time. She accomplished being a wonderful mother, gave all she had to family and friends while swinging a hammer to build a house, she worked to help bring in an income for the family as well as remaining involved with her husband, Steve, in civic activities such as the local Civil Defense program and the Edison Township Police Reserves. The example she set for her children as to what a woman could accomplish in life at a time very different from today, has had a profound effect on her family and friends who knew her well. She was predeceased by her husband, Steve, in 2009 and a brother, Michael Pagut. She is survived by two daughters, Mary Ann D'Andrade and Christine Mailer; a son from a previous marriage, Walter Dicksen; her grandchildren, Cheryl Mailler, Ann D'Andrade, Clint Dicksen, Todd Dicksen; her great grandchildren, Marianne McNally and Sara and Amy Dicksen. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Readington Reformed Church in Readington. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Kearns Funeral Home, 103 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Readington Reformed Church, 124 Readington Road, PO Box 1, Readington, NJ 08870. Please visit www.kearnsfuneralhome.com for more information or to send condolences.