Mary Beth was born in Worcester, MA and was raised with her five sisters in Norwalk, Connecticut. Mary Beth was a standout student at Norwalk High School, Class of '78, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, where she majored in English.
Shortly after graduation, Mary Beth moved to New York City, where she lived and worked for the rest of her adult life.
Mary Beth's positive, supportive energy infused every relationship in her life; she was a truly selfless and kind soul, with a dazzling smile. Mary Beth was up for anything, always happy to meet for a drink or attend a concert or watch a game. She was unfailingly supportive and loyal to her wide circle of friends and family. She opened her cozy Manhattan apartment to visitors, and would often send helpful notes and maps in advance of their trip to the City.
Mary Beth was everybody's cheerleader. She adored her nieces and nephews - they could always count on a birthday card in the mail from Aunt Mary Beth with some gift-wrapped cash. Her niece Colleen captured her beloved aunt perfectly when she described Mary Beth as "brilliant, independent, sarcastic and kind."
The novelty of the six Corey sisters was celebrated by the family and marveled at by those who encountered them, especially because they were uniquely close, and the love shared by the Corey family was plainly clear. That the sister count is reduced to five is a heartbreak of its own, achingly compounded by the recent loss of the beloved Corey matriarch, Ellen.
Mary Beth and Ellen had a deep and devoted bond. Mary Beth traveled to Connecticut every other Sunday to visit her mom. They would share drinks and snacks and catch up while watching sports, usually enjoying what mom always referred to as 'the golf.' Her parents loved their daughters fiercely, and although they made sure all six knew unconditional love, there was an obvious favorite. A common catch-phrase among the sisters was: "Who's better than you?" To which the correct answer was, always, "Mary Beth".
Mary Beth was a voracious reader - the upper west side apartment where she lived for 30 years positively teems with books - and an avid sports fan, for the New York Giants, the New Jersey Devils, UConn basketball, and especially the New York Mets. The night before she died, with four of her sisters in the room, she flipped on the radio to listen to the Mets-Yankees game. Her eyes were closed, and if you didn't know Mar it might have appeared that she was dozing off. But when Torres struck out swinging in the top of the 9th, clinching the game for the Mets, she and her sister Ellie instantly and simultaneously raised their arms in a silent fist pump.
Mary Beth worked for most of her career in advertising, and spent the last two decades as an indispensable member of the administrative team at Della Femina advertising in New York. Jerry Della Femina said to Mary Beth's sisters, "I don't know how I am going to manage without her." Her five younger sisters, and their families, feel the same way.
Mary Beth is survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann Corey, Ellie Corey (Bill Hanrahan), Julie Corey Kelley (John Kelley), Jane Corey Holt (Doug Holt) and Jacquie Corey; her nieces and nephews, Colleen Young Murrell (Brenton Murrell), Erin Young, Joseph Young, Corey Holt, Noah Holt, Dylan Holt and Clara Kennedy; and her great-niece Hatten Murrell. She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph Michael Corey and Ellen Flatley Corey, and her nephew James Joseph Kennedy.
A Celebration of Mary Beth's too-short but beautiful life will be hosted by her family and colleagues in Manhattan on August 19th. All who loved Mary Beth are welcome to join us. For details, please email MBCoreyNYC@gmail.com.
If you would like to make a donation in Mary Beth's honor, please consider donating to the Amazin' Mets Foundation.
