Mary Anne Styczynski

Mary Anne (Harrison) Styczynski of Saratoga Springs and Ogunquit, Maine, passed away peacefully Friday, April 28, 2023.  She was 81.

Mary Anne was born on Feb. 6, 1942, the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (Farrell) Harrison.  The youngest of five, she spent her earliest years living above the family business, T.H. Harrison & Sons Dry Cleaners, in Watervliet before the family moved to her childhood home on Troy-Schenectady Road.

She attended high school at Vincentian Institute in Albany where she met the love of her life, Jack Styczynski, “on the school bus,” a story they loved to tell.  She graduated in 1959 and attended The College of St. Rose in Albany.

Mary Anne married Jack on Sept. 14, 1963, the beginning of more than 60 years of love and happiness together. They built their home in Clifton Park in 1967 where they lived for 35 years, raising 3 children, and graciously opened their home to Mary Anne’s mother for 17 of those years. 

Mary Anne was primarily a homemaker but ran a sewing business out of her home for many years.  Friends, family, and neighbors relied on her impeccable dressmaking skills for special events.  She had other part-time jobs, but her passion was her many hobbies.  Mary Anne was an avid genealogist, miniaturist, artist, and writer throughout her life.  She also ran a giftwrapping booth for several years at the Clifton Country Mall to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, an organization close to her heart.

Mary Anne and Jack loved to travel together, visiting Hawaii, Paris, Ireland, Rome, and Poland among other places, and they spent their 50th anniversary on a river cruise in Russia.  In more recent years, they enjoyed time traveling with their son Mark’s family on several cruises.

In 1998, Mary Anne and Jack realized their dream of purchasing a second home in “the beautiful place by the sea,” Ogunquit, Maine.  They loved every minute they spent in Maine and made wonderful lifelong friends.  Spending time at the beach served as inspiration for Mary Anne’s creations as she continued her love of painting.

Mary Anne adored her family, especially her grandchildren, and was immensely proud of them.  She loved attending dance recitals and countless baseball, field hockey, and basketball games.  She spent as much time as she could with all of them and cherished the fact that she was able to be part of each of their lives.

Mary Anne’s sense of humor and joy for life will be greatly missed.

Mary Anne is survived by her children, Mark (Laura) Styczynski of Clifton Park and Julie (Dan) Joly of Saratoga Springs; her grandchildren, Christopher Bogert, Jax Styczynski, Brooke Styczynski, Aidan Joly, and Noah Joly; her sisters, Eleanor Miter and Catherine Fortin; her brother, Thomas Harrison; her lifelong best friend, Kathy Pjontek; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was predeceased by her husband, John “Jack” Styczynski, Sr.; her son, John “Jack” Styczynski, Jr.; and her brother, Michael Harrison.

The family would like to thank the administrators and staff, particularly those on the fifth floor, at Teresian House Center for the Elderly in Albany where she was loved and cared for over the past 2 years as she battled the end stages of Parkinson’s disease.

A funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave. (Route 9 and/or Marion Ave.), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Family and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 4, at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871.

Donations in Mary Anne’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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