Mrs. Mary Ann Harzinski

March 15, 1949 - April 17, 2020

Mary Ann Finnegan Harzinski, age 71, died on April 17, 2020, after a 2 year battle with medullary thyroid cancer. With the help of Hospice, she was able to die at home, with her husband and daughter by her side. Born on March 15, 1949, in Idabel, Oklahoma to Edward and Mary Estelle Pace Finnegan, Mary Ann grew up as the oldest of six kids in Huntington, Long Island. She graduated from Walt Whitman high school, where she was a cheerleader. She was fortunate enough to spend most of her summer days on the beach. She put herself through college at SUNY Oneonta, where she was a cheerleader and an active member of Pi Delta Chi sorority. It was at SUNY Oneonta that she met the love of her life, John Harzinski. They were married in August 1971. Mary Ann started her teaching career at Unatego, where she taught English for a year before giving birth to her first child and moving to Johnstown. She then got a teaching job at Fonda-Fultonville Central School, where she taught primarily 7th and 8th grade English from 1973 until her retirement in 2002. While teaching full time, Mary Ann worked hard to receive her Master's degree in English Literature from the College of St.Rose. Mary Ann loved teaching and developed positive relationships with hundreds of students, parents, and colleagues during those 29 years at FFCS. Mary Ann loved to travel. She traveled with her family, with just her husband, with her college friends, and with her friends from Johnstown. Up and down the East Coast, California, several national parks, Nova Scotia, the Canadian Rockies, Italy, Switzerland, London, Paris, Amsterdam...Mary Ann tried to go wherever she could! Mary Ann always believed that giving back to the community was important. Way back in the day, she was Glebe Street PTA president, and then became Central Council PTA president. She was instrumental in starting the Post Prom Parties at Johnstown High School. She served for years on the boards of the Family Counseling Center and Catholic Charities. Mary Ann was a member of the Holy Trinity Rosary Society and served on the parish council. She and her fellow “church ladies” decorated the church for every religious holiday. She was an emergency food pantry volunteer, and manned the Sunflower Shop in downtown Johnstown. Mary Ann was fortunate to keep in touch with friends from the many phases of her life; she still talked to and visited several of her childhood friends, traveled often with her college friends, and had many friends in Johnstown. The family would like to thank those friends for staying connected to Mary Ann during her illness, and for bringing joy and comfort to her over the years, but especially at the end of her life. Mary Ann is survived by her husband, John, her daughter Erin (Tom) Russo of Chatham, NY, son John of Alabama, grandchildren Lillian and Eli Russo, and three brothers, Barry (Paulette) Finnegan of Edmond, OK, Christopher Finnegan, also of Oklahoma, and Paul Finnegan of Florida. She was predeceased by both her parents, one brother, Kevin Finnegan, and her sister, Estelle Finnegan. A private funeral ceremony will be said by Father Daniel Quinn at the funeral home. Once the social distancing guidelines are lifted and it is safe to do so, a funeral mass will be said at Holy Trinity, followed by a celebration of life, so friends can gather together and share memories of Mary Ann. The family would like to thank the kind, caring staff at NYOH for taking such loving care of Mary Ann. While she didn’t love why she had to go to NYOH, she definitely enjoyed your company. Heartfelt thanks, too, to Trish and Amanda from Mountain Valley Hospice for making Mary Ann’s transition as easy as possible. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mary Ann’s name to the Family Counseling Center, attention Michael Countryman, 11 Broadway, Gloversville, NY 12078. Mary Ann, a Final Care is under the direction and guidance of Ehle and Barnett Family Funeral Home, LLC; 15 N. William Street, Johnstown New York, 12095. online symphonies maybe so, and to obtain future public memorial service details Please visit the funeral home website at please visit the funeral home website at www.ehleandbarnett.com.