Obituary of Mary P. Preli

Mary P. Preli, 44, Ridge Road, Amsterdam, died Easter Sunday at St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam. Born November 18, 1960 in Amsterdam, New York, she was the daughter of Frank and Esther Centerbar Rakowski. She was a life-long area resident. Mary graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in Amsterdam and in June of 2004, she received an Associates Degree from Fulton-Montgomery Community College. She was a homemaker and was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. Mary enjoyed cooking for her family and loved to travel. On August 15, 1982, she married Michael P. Preli, who died February 3, 2005. Survivors include her loving family; two sons, Michael and Andrew Preli, both of Amsterdam; two daughters, Venessa McNair and her husband Donnie of Utah, and Alyssa Marotta of Gloversville, N.Y.; her mother Esther Ilnicki and step- father, Michael Ilnicki of Amsterdam; a brother, Stephen Rakowski of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; three sisters, Carol Crane of Broadalbin, N.Y., Barbara Rakowski of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Francine Gonzales of Fort Johnson, N.Y.; a grandson, Benjamin McNair; several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 31, 2005, at 9:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 39 St. John Street, Amsterdam, with the Rev. Pascal Iannotti as celebrant. Cremation will follow at Vale Crematory in Schenectady. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. A Legacy Candle Ceremony will be given on Wednesday evening at 6:45 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary?s memory to; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Memorial Fund, 39 St. John Street, Amsterdam, N.Y. 12010 or to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville, N.Y.12111.