Obituaries » Catherine McNerney Cooney

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Catherine McNerney Cooney

August 6, 1924 - November 27, 2021

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It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Catherine (McNerney) Cooney, age 97 and a lifelong Scranton resident, who passed away peacefully Saturday at Marywood Heights. She was the widow of the late, James J. Cooney, who preceded her in death on September 9, 1972.

We are heartbroken over the loss of our mom, grandma, and great grandma. She was a strong, fierce, Irish woman. Her husband, our father, died when he was 48 years old, leaving with seven children – the youngest just 10 years old. She went back to work at the Globe store where she had worked in her younger years.

She was all about family. She was a constant presence and rock in our lives. From the day we were each married and had our children we went to Grandma Cooney’s every Sunday. All of the aunts, uncles and cousins walked into the smell of her delicious and famous roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy to die for, broccoli and cheese and homemade warm applesauce. It is a memory we will always treasure. After dinner, she would gather with her grandkids while they played video games or watched sports. She loved the Phillies and Penn State. She would always say “Someone grab the remote and see if there is a ball game on.”

She loved St. Patrick’s Day, which started with the parade, and usually ended when she met up with her grandchildren at Kilcoyne’s, smiling and dancing to the bag pipers. She volunteered at Mercy Hospital for 18 years, driving herself there until the age of eighty-eight. She made it a priority to attend the many special events in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was so proud of all of them. Her kindness extended to everyone, and she was known to many friends of the family as “Gramma Cooney.”

We could not have asked for a better mom, grandma, and great grandma. We cannot imagine life without her, but we have a sense of peace picturing her reunited with our dad, Jim, wrapped in his arms, happy, and free from suffering. She was the best of the best, and there will always be a huge hole in our hearts without her here with us. But we know we will see her again someday. Until then rest in peace Mom and Gram, love forever.

Surviving is her adoring family; children, James Cooney and wife Maryann of Scranton, Karen Hogan and husband William of Taylor, Mary Anne Thomas and husband Robert of Scranton, Terese Pellegrino of Scranton, Maureen Henry and husband Philip of Dunmore and Patricia Cooney of Scranton; grandchildren, Katie Lello and husband Chad, Marty Hogan and wife Stephanie, Bridget Walters and husband Warren, Craig Thomas and wife Joanne, Phil Henry and wife Stephanie, Colleen Roberts and husband Tony, James Cooney and wife Rachel, Sarah Gula and husband Brian, Brian Cooney and wife Amanda and Ann Shafer and husband Robert; great grandchildren, Ryan, Kristen, Shea, C.J. and Enzo Lello, Matthew and Molly Hogan, Warren, Molly and Delaney Walters, Gianna Pellegrino, Lauren, Jack and Katelyn Henry, Grace and Nicholas Roberts, James Cooney, Connor, Isabelle and Emma Gula, Isaiah and Emily Shafer, a daughter-in-law, Lori Cooney of Scranton, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Cooney; a grandson, R.J. Pellegrino; a son-in-law, Ralph Pellegrino; and siblings, James and John McNerney, Mary Prince, Ann Barrett and Helen Coyne.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the entire staffs of both Marywood Heights and Allied Hospice whose collective care and kindness will never be forgotten.

Catherine’s funeral services are scheduled to begin on Wednesday at 9:00 AM from the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton, with a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson Street in West Scranton, to be celebrated by Rev. Richard Fox, Pastor. Burial will follow at the Cathedral Cemetery.
Family and friends may pay their respects on Tuesday between 4-7:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Catherine’s name to the St. Patrick’s Parish Food Pantry c/o 1401 Jackson St., Scranton Pa. 18504.