Mary Lyden

LIBERTY - Prayers will begin Thursday at 10:15 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Christine Church for Mary Ellen Lyden, 69, who passed away early Sunday morning at the Cleveland Clinic.

Mary Ellen was born October 18, 1943, in Youngstown, a daughter of Elmo and Mary (McCormick) Holleran.

Mary Ellen graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1961 and attended Youngstown State University. She was a teacher at St. Patrick School and St. Nicholas School for a few years until retiring to raise her children. Mary Ellen was a member of St. Christine Church, the church's Womens Renewal Choir, and the Junior Guild.

She was a loving mother and grandmother who always gave herself first. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband of 48 years, John P. Lyden Jr.; two daughters, Anne Marie Thompson of Lake Worth, Fla. and Karen (Jim) McHugh-Fornadel of Hillard; two sons, Sean (Julie) Lyden of Brecksville and Kevin Lyden of Liberty; one sister, Kathy Myers of Austintown; 10 grandchildren, Patrick, Katie, Erin, Megan, Shannon, Kaitlyn, Michael, Mollie, Michael, and Marissa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Jack Holleran; and her sister, Anne Murphy, who donated a kidney to her on Sept. 11, 2000. "We are forever grateful for the extra time we shared with her due to Anne's gift of life."

Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Canfield Chapel.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this obituary and to send condolences.