Obituary of Mary McMillan

Mary Elizabeth Graham McMillan passed away peacefully in the company of family and friends in her family home in Montclair on Thursday, October 20th. Born on July 3rd, 1914, in Albany, New York and moved to Montclair in 1926. Residing in the same family home on Park Street throughout most of her life, she attended Watchung School, George Inness Jr. High and Montclair High School and graduated from Chevy Chase Junior College for Women in Chevy Chase, MD. While attending Chevy Chase, Mary met William "Mac" McMillan, who was a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. They were married in the Park Street home on September 1, 1939. Here they raised their family and participated together actively in the community until Mac's death in 1989. Mary served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and was an active member of the Mothers' Committee of Boy Scout Troop 12 in Montclair, of which Mac was the assistant scoutmaster. In their early life together they would frequently travel to New York or The Meadowbrook to dance to Big Bands such as Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Mrs. McMillan was employed as a secretary at George Inness Jr. High School and Montclair High School and eventually served as secretary to the Special Education Department at the Board of Education in Montclair. Following her retirement she became an active volunteer with the Red Cross, serving as receptionist until she was well into her 90's. She also served her faith home, Central Presbyterian Church, for many decades, both as a member of The Women's Guild and as Assistant Treasurer. Ever a gracious lady and the consummate hostess, Mary belonged to the Women's Club of Montclair and the Huguenot Society, an organization that perpetuates the memory of her ancestors, the men and women of France who emigrated to the U.S. to find freedom of religion in the 1600's and 1700's. In her leisure time, Mary worked in her garden, fed birds and wildlife and walked Brandy, her son's beloved dog. She read the Wall Street Journal daily and worked the New York Times Crossword puzzles. She was an inveterate reader, enjoying both novels and biographies. Her custom of sharing books and newspapers with family and neighbors and walking almost everywhere were typical of her thrifty habits, but she was a generous supporter of many charitable caused. She was a long-time subscriber to the New York Philharmonic and a consistent supporter of Camp Glen Gray. Mrs. McMillan was predeceased by her husband, William McMillan and her eldest son, Graham William McMillan. She is survived by sons Robert McMillan and his wife, Peggy of Montclair, Richard McMillan and his wife, Ellen, of Raleigh, NC, daughter -in-law Leslie Ann McMillan of Maumelle, AR, seven grandchildren, Brian, Gregory, Christopher, Catherine and Madeline McMillan and Stephen and Michael Lanzo, and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Central Presbyterian Church, 46 Park Street in Montclair on Saturday, November 5th at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Glen Gray (200 Midvale Mountain Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2700), the American Red Cross of Montclair/Glen Ridge (63 Park Street Montclair, NJ 07042) or Central Presbyterian Church. Parking for the service is available at the Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home, 76 Park Street Montclair.