Mary Ann Neelen, 77 a long-time resident of Dutchess County passed away March 24, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Mary Ann was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and lived most of her life in Dutchess County, except for a short spell in Staten Island and her final years in Houston.   Growing up she spent summers in Binghamton with her family. She attended school in Poughkeepsie.
While on a girls weekend trip to Wild Wood, NJ, she met her future husband, Robert. After dating for many years, they married on June 8, 1974 at St. Joseph's Church.  They had two sons together, Robert Jr. and Bryan.
She started her career at Central Hudson as a keypunch operator. Later, she took a job as the playground monitor at Netherwood where her sons attended school and she ultimately worked for over 20 years. After leaving Netherwood, she entered a retail profession, working for many years at JC Penny's in Poughkeepsie and eventually transferring to JC Penny's in Houston, where she would eventually retire.
Mary Ann enjoyed cooking, baking and bowling.  But most of all she enjoyed being a caregiver to all the family members. Throughout her life, she was devoted to her family. She spent many summers watching her sons play baseball. Prior to becoming a grandma, she spent most of her free time with her great-niece. Once her grandchildren arrived, she did not hesitate to travel to see them on their birthdays and spend as much time with them as possible. In the past few years, she spent a lot of time with her youngest grandson.
While most of her retirement time was spent with family, especially grandchildren, she was able to travel and see the world.  She visited Alaska, Florida, Seattle, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Dominican Republic and Shanghai, China.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Neelen and her parents Fred Johnson and Mary A Johnson.  Survived by her 2 sons,  Robert  Neelen Jr. and his wife, Shannon, their children Adelaide and Flynn of Shanghai, and Bryan Neelen and his wife, Lisa, their children Nicolette, Evangeline and James of Houston, brother Fred Johnson and wife Arnie of Clinton Hollow; sister Linda Haass of  Port Ewen and sister Arleen Nanz and husband Robert of Port Ewen, nieces and nephews, Jeannie Kern and husband Edward, daughter Emelia and son Edward of Clinton Hollow, Fred Johnson and wife Liz and daughter Annabelle of Boston, Jimmy Haass of Port Ewen, Kelly Reyes and husband Rich and sons Richie and Charlie of  LaGrange, and many cousins throughout New York.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, April 2 from 8:30am – 9:30am at Parmele, Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave., Poughkeepsie.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 am at St. Joseph's Church, 9 Lafayette Pl., Poughkeepsie.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie.