Obituary of Mary M. O'Donnell

Mary Margaret (FitzGerald) O'Donnell died Friday, February 12, 2021, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville. She was 78. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late James and Mary (Ritter) FitzGerald she was raised in Allentown, PA and lived in Franklin Township for the past 51 years. She moved to the township's Griggstown section in 1995. She was a secretary in the library of Franklin Township High School in Somerset for 30 years before retiring in 2008. Ms. O'Donnell was a communicant of St. Matthias R.C. Church in Somerset. She was active rescuing retired racing greyhounds for over 30 years. She adopted over 20 greyhounds into her home and fostered many others before they were adopted into loving homes. She was a member of the board of directors of the Greyhound Friends of New Jersey for the 30 years she has been an active member of the group. Mary was an avid reader and loved to surround herself with books. Surviving are her daughter Patricia O'Donnell of Griggstown; her son James O'Donnell of Griggstown; her sister Susan Gardner of Schnecksville, Pennsylvania; her niece Stephanie Gardner of Washington DC; and two nephews – Eddie Gardner of Colorado and Matthew Gardner of Florida. Visitation will be 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Thursday at Selover Funeral Home, 555 Georges Road, North Brunswick. A funeral service at Selover Funeral Home will follow at 12:00 Noon. Private cremation will take place after the services. Donations in Mary's memory may be made to Greyhound Friends of NJ, Inc., P.O. Box 4416, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-0669 or at greyhoundfriendsnj.org.