Mary A Bello

Celebrating the Life and Laughter of Mary Bello

The Bello family is mourning the loss of our beloved Mary. We all take comfort in knowing that she is with the love of her life, husband Frank. He has been waiting for his “Mae” to be with him in heaven where they are probably right now, enjoying J&B and soda, perhaps puffing a Cuban cigar, and playing “500” with Jack and Kaye.

Mary passed quietly and peacefully on October 24, 2023 from complications of Alzheimers disease, with 2 of her 4 Granddaughters sitting by her side. She was still feisty at 97 years old! Mary lived in South Florida since 1980, and moved with her daughter Patti and son-in-law Bill to Boynton Beach in 2018.

Mary Agnes Kelly was born February 8, 1926 into a large, loving Irish Catholic family, to parents Bill and Mary Kelly, and sister Catherine in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Her younger sister Rita would follow shortly. Another sister, Patricia, would be come along much later, only 2 years before her 1st son was born. Mary inherited her quick wit and easy laugh from her father, and her big, nurturing heart from her mother.

Mary met her Frank as a teen in Lyndhurst, N.J. where they both grew up and had many supportive family members and shared friendships. She attended high school in Lyndhurst, skipping 2 grades, graduating at age 16, and voted “Best Dancer” by her classmates. During WWII, Frank enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific, while Mary waited for him to return. They married shortly after he came back home, she was only 18, and their first son, Billy, was born about a year later. Their family grew with Michael, Frankie, and Patti (named after Mary’s sister Pat). During their decades together, Mary and Frank lived a full and happy life, relocating frequently due to Frank’s careers with the Navy and later with Marriott hotels. Even though their many homes were geographically far from family, they always made sure their four children grew up knowing their many cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents by making frequent family visits a priority.

She lost Frank in 2005, and even though she missed him terribly every day since, she didn’t stop living and loving. She continued being an active member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and welcoming her many friends and family into her home, cooking them a meal, or enjoying sunny days on the beach. Mary had the unique gift of making everyone feel special, and each grandchild believing that they were her “favorite” (ok, we all really know who that is!!) Considering that she has 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, that’s a testament to what a big, loving heart their Aunt Mae, Grandma Mary, Mimi, Grandma had!

Glick Funeral home is hosting a viewing on November 2 from 5-8pm. The funeral service will be at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on November 3 beginning at 11:00am.

Mary loved flowers, but she would be pleased if anyone who wants to honor her memory would donate to Food for the Poor (FFTP) http://FoodForThePoor.org, a local agency located at 6401 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, Fl. 33073, “United in God’s Work”.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary A Bello, please visit our floral store.