Mary Ellen Scherer

Mary Ellen Scherer peacefully passed away on December 6, 2025 at the age of 78. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded in love by her family and the caring staff of the Eddy Village Green in Cohoes, NY.

Mary Ellen was born on December 10, 1946 to Julia and Charles McCormack, Sr. She was welcomed into eternal rest by those who passed before her, namely her parents Julia and Charles McCormack, Sr., her brother Charles McCormack, Jr. and his wife Maureen McCormack, her brother Robert McCormack, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Margaret and Oscar Scherer, Sr., sister-in-law Cinthia Hamel, and nephew Stephen Hamel. She is survived by her loving husband Oscar Scherer, Jr., her brother-in-law Bryan Scherer and his wife Annie, her sister-in-law Constance Smith and her husband Donald, and her sister-in-law Judy McCormack. She leaves behind a legacy of love through her children: Kristin Zounes and her partner Steve Brassard, Karyn Smalley and her husband Matthew, and Matthew Scherer and his wife Katie. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren Cameron, Courtney, Chloe, Lillian, Nathan, and Charlie.

Mary Ellen loved being a grandmother to her precious grandkids; they were her true pride and joy. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom she dearly cherished.

Mary Ellen was born and raised in Peekskill, NY. She graduated from Ladycliff Academy and then became a graduate of Mohegan & Berkeley Secretarial School. Upon completing secretarial school, she went to work for IBM Corporation in Armonk, NY for almost 10 years. Mary Ellen married her high school sweetheart, Oscar Scherer, Jr., on June 14, 1969. Post-employment with IBM, Mary Ellen fully embraced and excelled in life as a homemaker, caring for her three children in their home on Crabapple Court in Wappingers Falls, NY. For Mary Ellen and Oscar, moving into that neighborhood home, at the top of a hill on a cul-de-sac, would be one of the best decisions they ever made. It is where they made a circle of lifelong friends who became an extended family to us all and meant the world to her. Mary Ellen would always say that, “No one could ever know life like it was on Crabapple Court!” Mary Ellen became affectionately known as “Queen” of that neighborhood.

Mary Ellen was known for being an outgoing, social butterfly who could easily strike up a conversation with just about anyone and get their life story in five minutes flat. Her friendliness and sense of humor made everyone love her. Mary Ellen’s greatest pleasure was having conversation with both old and new friends. She loved making people laugh and smile. She could best be described as sweet with side of sass. Her home was always a hub of activity where family, friends, and neighbors would gather to engage in her warmth and sociability, resulting in good times too numerous to count. Mary Ellen was loved by so many. She will be incredibly missed by all who were lucky enough to have known her and will live on forever in a ton of hearts. Though she can no longer physically be with us, we will continue to carry her positive outlook and unwavering love in everything we do. As a family, she was always our anchor, our heart, our home.

The world will feel dimmer without her light, but we will always know how fortunate we were to have been loved unconditionally by her.

The family wishes to extend deep gratitude to all of the staff at Eddy Village Green who provided Mary Ellen with the most genuine loving care during her time there - - they too became her family. We could not have asked for better care and know that Mary Ellen just loved Christina, Jeanette, Sandy, Yung, Christie, Val, Josh, Carly, Jordan, Dianna, Newmarr, Nevaeh, Chris, Santika, Jeremy, and all of the staff at Eddy Village Green. You all were the “best of the best”, in Mary Ellen’s own words. She cared for each and every one of you. The kindness, dedication, friendship, and compassion they brought to Mary Ellen and our family during her time at Eddy Village Green, especially during her final days, brought immense comfort to us all.

Many thanks to Beth and staff of The Community Hospice of the Capital District as well. They provided superior compassionate care to ensure that Mary Ellen’s comfort, dignity, and peace were upheld before her heavenly journey home.

A funeral and burial to honor and celebrate Mare Ellen’s life will be held in the spring of 2026 when family and friends can gather to share memories, laughter, and love. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Mary Ellen to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.