Mary Wilken passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at home with her husband, Don, according to an obituary published on Legacy by McVeigh Funeral Home.
A Partnership Spanning Six Decades
She decided to take a nap, which was common, and she never woke up. Mary could be silly and she could be brilliant. She could be playful and she could be serious. But she was always Mary, and people who knew her well know what that means.
During her early teenage years, her father—an oil industry employee—had to relocate to New Orlean for his job. There, Mary met Don in the church choir. They fell in love and married at a young age, beginning a marriage that lasted 68 years.
Early in their lives together, they lived in Germany for a year, becoming fluent in German. When Don received a job opportunity, they moved directly from Germany to California, where their son, Mark, was born. Mark later died of cancer in his mid-50s, a loss that never eased for the rest of her life.
An Intellectual Life Across Continents
The couple spent extended periods in various locations across the United States, New Zealand, and Europe. Following their relocation to Albany, driven by Don accepting a job at UAlbany, Mary pursued her own academic and professional path. She focused her education on art and German, though her truest intellectual pursuit was simply books and reading.
She earned a graduate degree in Library Science and went on to hold librarian positions at several institutions, including Russell Sage College and Bethlehem High School. Throughout her life, she continued to create and deeply appreciate art while always keeping a book nearby. She was admired and loved by all of her friends.
Service Details
Friends are invited to visit with Mary’s family on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at McVeigh Funeral Home, located at 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206. Visitors are asked to enter the funeral home from the rear parking lot entrance only. Messages for the family can be left at the McVeigh Funeral Home website.
