Obituary of Mary F. Bryant

Mary Frances (nee Reina) Bryant, 98, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 14, 2022. She was born to Calogero and Anna (nee Beninato) Reina on April 2, 1923. Mary was a lifelong resident of the city of Elizabeth, N.J. She graduated from Drake Business School in Elizabeth, N.J. with a Degree in Secretarial Science. She began her career at Central Jersey Railroad, Elizabeth, N.J. before taking a break to raise her three children. Returning to the workforce, she then worked for Schering Plough in Kenilworth, N.J., and finally retired from Engelhard Industries in Iselin, N.J. While working full-time, Mary also earned her NJ Realtor’s license and worked part-time for North Elizabeth Realty in Elizabeth, N.J. for over 15 years…. this was really her dream job. Mary was a member of the Elizabeth Senior Center and of St Anne’s Holy Rosary Society. She loved her family and church most of all as well as speaking Italian, watching the Yankees, traveling, container gardening and cooking (especially meatballs in gravy). Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband of 61 years, Oran (Jerry) Bryant, her sisters, and their spouses, Anne (John) Ernst, Jay (Tom) Darragh, and her brother, Sal Reina. She is survived by her children, Cindy (Bernie) Erickson, Robert (Lynn) Bryant, and Joan (Doug) Messina, her grandchildren, Brian (Kristen) Erickson, Kristen Erickson, Matthew Erickson, Robbie Bryant, Nicholas (Amber) Bryant, and Alyssa Bryant, her great-grandsons, Austin and Hunter Erickson, her sister-in-law, Dorothy Reina and several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Petruccelli Funeral Home, 232 Christine Street, Elizabeth, N.J. on Monday, March 21, 2022, from 9:15 am-10:15 am, thence to St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, 853 Third Avenue, Elizabeth N.J. where a funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 am. Interment is in Rosedale Cemetery, 355 E. Linden Avenue, Linden N.J. The family requests in lieu of flowers, please donate in Mary’s memory to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Avenue #203, Roseland, NJ 07068 https://www.alz.org