Mary Ann McElroy

Mary Ann McElroy passed away on January 19th, 2023. She was 72. Born in Paterson, NJ on April 14th, 1950 to Lawrence and Rita Lloyd. Mary attended St Therese's Elementary School before graduating from St. Joseph's High School.


After high school, Mary embarked on many adventures. She traveled to South America where she hiked Machu Picchu. She visited Africa and climbed the Rock of Gibraltar. She narrowly escaped catastrophe when her flight to Las Vegas was hijacked by gunmen.


Mary met the love of her life Danny while working at a neighborhood dry cleaner after he had an unfortunate and muddy encounter with a junkyard dog.


Danny and Mary were married on March 26th, 1978. Their son Andrew was born in 1982. In 1985, after a dramatic armed robbery on their own street, the family thought it wise to relocate from Paterson to Milltown, NJ.


For many years, Mary was a bookkeeper and office manager for Cambridge Lee in New Brunswick, NJ. In 1995, she joined Danny with a plan to grow the family business - Priority Distribution Inc. (PDI). When Danny passed away in 2007, Mary further demonstrated the badassery that was her hallmark by becoming CEO and successfully leading the business until her death.


Mary loved her family and friends, gardening, room service, cats (especially Cleo!), slot machines, trivia games, crime dramas, pool cabanas, mountain views, and the Jersey Shore.


We will all remember Mary for her wonderful sunny disposition that she combined so effortlessly with an acerbic wit and no BS outlook - we should all hope to be as universally loved as she was.


Mary is survived by her son Andrew McElroy and his partner Nicole Quinones; her brother and sister in law, Ray and Phyllis Lloyd; her cousin Lorraine and her husband Bob Weisz and their children: Albert and his wife Carolyn Weisz, Annie Weisz and her fiancé Mateusz Rojek; her cousin Bob and his wife Susie Zelitsky and their children: Taylor and Paige Zelitsky; her cousin Mary Ellen Rickert and her husband Steve Rickert; her PDI family Jay Kantrowitz and Dianemarie Haring; her adopted son Neil Garguilo and his wife Kristin Sanchez; her beloved travel companion and oldest friend Tommy Piccoli; her nursing family (Eileen, Paulette, Michelle, Kathy, Karen, Marni, Christine, Deepa); her dear friend and temporary housekeeper Aidmer Zendaki; and, of course, Cleo the cat. Mary was predeceased by her husband Danny McElroy, and her parents Lawrence and Rita Lloyd.


Friends and relatives may call on Friday, February 3rd from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at The Crabiel Home for Funeral's located 170 N. Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown, NJ. A Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Milltown on Saturday, February 4th at 10:00 am with burial at Holy Cross Park in East Brunswick to follow. You may sign the online guestbook at www.crabiel.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Mary's name to Our Lady of Victory (www.olvcharities.org) or The American Cancer Society.