Mary H Andrecheck

Mary Helen Bibik Andrecheck of South Columbia, NY, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2023, at the Abraham House in Rome, NY, at the age of 102.

Mary was born on October 6, 1920, to William and Rose Bibikand was the last survivor of their 11 children.  She and her siblings were raised on the Bibik farm near Bakers Beach and Canadarago Lake, just a few miles from the home in which she and her husband James raised their own family of four.  They resided in that same house on McKoons Road outside Richfield Springs since they purchased it in 1947.  In an extraordinary feat of longevity, Mary and James both saw their 100th birthdays, and on Sept 2, 2022, celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary together.

She stood only 4' 10", but with a dimpled smile, a twinkle in her eye, and a sense of adventure, Mary took up flying lessons during WWII and was close to earning her pilot's license whenall of the flying instructors were called away to war; she later opened Mary's Beauty Shop in Richfield Springs, both endeavors highly unusual for women in 1940's America.  She went on to raise four children, Cynthia, Timothy, William and Raymond, and have a grandson, Sky, and one great-granddaughter, Adeline.

In her life, Mary saw many remarkable things: Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the moon landing, and the invention of television, the internet, and cell phones.  She raised her children, was active in her church, ran her household, kept an amazing garden, and became locally famous for her delicious and much sought-after dill pickles.  She led a full life and will be missed by those who loved her.

Mary is survived by her children, Cindy (Tom Ratledge), Tim, Bill, and Ray (Holly), her grandson, Sky, great granddaughter, Adeline, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Rose Bibik, husband, James, and siblings Anna, Ed, Francis, Sophie, Ben, Stanley, Elizabeth, Vincent, Harold (Billy), and Josephine.

Visitation will be at the J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs on Friday July 14, 2023, from 6-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on July 15 at 11am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Richfield Springs, followed by her burial at the St. Joseph's cemetery.