Mary Ann (Moran) Wright

Mary Ann Wright (nee Moran), White Plains, NY, formerly of the Bronx, New York, 79, passed away peacefully, on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Calvary Hospital in Bronx, NY. 

Mary Ann was born in Manhattan, New York  onOctober 10, 1945 to Marie (nee McGirl) and John Moran. She joined her older brother John (Jackie) and the two would continue to share an unshakeable bond as the two oldest Moran children. Years later, 2 more siblings would complete the quartet with the addition of Eileen and Thomas. The four Moran children enjoyed many a cream soda, baked potato, and adventures with their dear friends and Moran, McGirl, Hunt, and Vahey cousins throughout the four quadrants of Parkchester. 

Mary Ann attended St. Helena's Elementary school, St. Helena’s High School, and dabbled in some college courses but ultimately determined that in order to achieve her HS yearbook dream of becoming First Lady, her time would be better spent working at Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS).  

She worked at INS until she took on her most treasured role–mother to her 3 daughters, Christina, Katherine, and Jennifer. She went back to working once the children grew older and thoroughly enjoyed her time at New York Life Insurance Company where she excelled and passed her Series 6 certification exam.

While she may not have achieved her dream of becoming First Lady, Mary Ann did meet her husband James Wright through mutual friends and was so impressed by his softball skills that she decided being First Lady wasn’t her dream anymore. Fifty-three years later, they raised 3 children together, and over the years, shared many trials and tribulations garnering many memories and adventures along the way. Their long lastingcommitment and dedication to each other speaks volumes on the love they found and bestowed upon their 3 children, Christina, Katherine, and Jennifer.  

In January 2007, Mary Ann's role transformed once again—this time into fierce advocacy for aphasia education following her first stroke. Along with losing mobility on her right side, she also became one of the 2-4 million people living with aphasia–a language disorder that usually results from a brain injury (such as stroke, brain tumor, accident, or infection). While aphasia can affect one's ability to speak, understand, read and write, it does not affect intellect. This new path led her to the Adler Aphasia Center in Maywood, NJ, where she found her second family. While participating in various therapies, she also went on camping trips, created handmade products in the Something Special Store, participated in group activities, and most importantly, met many wonderful people who understood her struggles and helped her continue to find ways of sharing her zest for life and dramatic talents.

Over the years at Adler, Mary Ann also starred in several plays, directed by friends Ginette and Karen, such as Grease, Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, Oklahoma, and Beauty and the Beast, to name a few. Her laughter and flair for delivering one-liners perfectly were showcased and applauded by her fans traveling from places such as Colorado, Connecticut, and New York. She spent many hours laughing with Christine, Ed, Avi, Javed, and so many others at Adler because she had found a place where she could again enjoy many adventures and laughs.

Mary Ann's playful spirit showed in everything from adopting "Theresa" as her middle name during a passport renewal (to her sister's mortification, whose given middle name was actually Theresa) to her many marathon-long ping pong and Tetris tournaments regardless of the grumbling of children. The back-and-forth match points filled with sweat and sibling jabs mostly ended in a celebratory Manhattan that better be made to her taste or else it would get sent back. Whether playing games or just spending time going on numerous adventures past barking dogs to the beach in Throggs Neck with her 3 children, she always was up for fun and laughter. She was proud to have finished a running race no matter how long it took, and she may have been late to church, but never arrived after the Gospel (until they changed the mass time).  She had many treasured memories of various trips to Ireland, England, Budapest, North Carolina, Hungary, and the Hamptons.  

Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day was a treasured time spent in the loving company of Tom and Franceen Vahey, Erin, Chip, Kaitlin and Ryan McGill, and Tommy and Claudia Vahey. 

Throughout her life she shared so many stories of adventures with friends and so many days were spent reminiscing about her childhood with Sheila, Ann, Nancy, and Marilyn. In adulthood she continued to have adventures with Sheila and Kathy and countless others.  Her enthusiasm and zest for life was contagious and her laughter and smile will be sorely missed.  

Mary Ann is survived by her husband James Wright, three daughters: Christina and spouse Seth Riseman, Katherine and spouse Jim Hunter, Jennifer and spouse Joe Bello, brother Jackie (John), and her sister-in-law Patricia (née White), her niece and nephew, Carolyn and spouse Anthony Richards, and John Moran and spouse Katie (née Sheehy). She is the treasured grandmother to grand pups, Bailey and Milo Riseman, Erin, Tobias, and William Hunter, and grand kitty Dusty Hunter, Madison and Justin Bello and great nephew Anthony and great niece Riley Richards, and grandniece and grandnephew pups, Jack, Reba, and Chachi Moran. She is also survived by numerous cousins and friends whom she treasured and would always be there in their times of adventure or need. 

She is predeceased by her parents Marie (née McGirl) and John Moran, younger sister Eileen Moran, and younger brother Thomas Moran.

Think of me as one who loved life's adventures, who found joy in simple moments, who treasured family and friends. Let my memory bring you smiles, not sorrow.    

May we never forget all the simple moments and adventures spent in Mary Ann’s company. 

Family and friends are invited to Pleasant Manor Funeral Home, Inc. 575 Columbus Avenue Thornwood, New York 10594 on Friday, July 25, 2025 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM for visitation. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mary Ann at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Valhalla on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM.  

Mary Ann will be laid to rest immediately following the mass at Kensico Cemetery at the Minnewaska Section, 273 Lakeview Avenue, Valhalla, NY 10595

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:  Adler Aphasia Center Scholarship Fund

60 West Hunter Ave.

Maywood, NJ 0760

https://adleraphasiacenter.org/donate-now/

Thank you to the incredible care provided by the amazing staff at Calvary Hospital and the White Plains Hospital. Your dedication and care is beyond measure.  Thank you for watching over her like one of your own. We are indebted to you and appreciate you all very.

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