Marylou K. Streznewski

Albany, NY-Marylou Kelly Streznewski peacefully shuffled off her mortal coil on April 3, 2026, at the Schuyler Ridge nursing facility in Clifton Park, NY, at the age of 91. She was born to William and Hedwig, (née Krajeski) Kelly on June 13, 1934, in Trenton, NJ. She was awarded a scholarship to Villa Victoria Academy, where she graduated in 1951, and earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Trenton State University in 1955. She met and fell in love with Thomas J. Streznewski at a folk dance in Princeton, NJ, a union that lasted almost 63 years from their marriage in November, 1957 until Tom’s passing on August 28, 2020. They settled in Doylestown, in Bucks County, PA, where they raised their four children. Marylou taught English at Central Bucks High School East in Buckingham, PA, for 25 years while pursuing a master's degree in English from The College of New Jersey. Marylou was a proud and eclectic writer of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and journalism. Her published works include four poetry chapbooks (Woman Words and Rag Time, housed in the chapbook collection of Poet's House in New York City; Dying with Robert Mitchum, published by Aldrich Books; and most recently, a full-length collection, Sitting in the Shade of my Own Tree). In nonfiction, she wrote Gifted Grownups: The Mixed Blessing of Extraordinary Potential (John Wiley & Sons), a study of one hundred gifted adults, and in 2006, she published Heart Rending— Heart Mending—Saved by Modern Medicine, Healed by Ancient Wisdom, a memoir in poetry and research-based prose of her survival after open-heart surgery through the use of integrative-medicine modalities. Her short fiction and nonfiction works have appeared in national publications and professional journals. As a journalist, Marylou worked in various roles for the Daily Intelligencer of Doylestown, PA, and profiled Donald Hall and Jane Hershfield for the Wild, an online journal. She served as poetry director of The Writer's Room, a local non-profit in Doylestown, as well as poetry editor of The Bucks County Journal. As part of the active Delaware Valley Pennsylvania poetry community of writers, Marylou attended the Master Class conducted by the late Dr. Christopher Bursk at the Bucks County Community College for over thirty years, until his recent death. In 2018, Marylou received the college's Muse Award for “Contributions to Poetry in Bucks County." Marylou taught writing courses at levels from high school through college, and in community and senior venues. A long-time member of the International Women's Writing Guild, she served as a workshop director at their annual conferences, teaching workshops in imagery and poetry. She was happiest writing, teaching, working in her garden, and spending time with her four children. Marylou was predeceased by both of her parents, her husband, and her older sister, Praxeda Elischer. She is survived by her younger sister, Kathleen Kelly, and her partner James Thomas of New York City; daughter Marina Streznewski and her husband, Alan Alper, of Washington, DC; son Thomas Jr. and his partner, Lynn Richard, of Belgrade, ME; son Andrew of Schenectady, NY; daughter Alexandra and her husband, Robert Reilly, of Cohoes, NY; grandsons Taylor and Felix Streznewski of Albany, NY; grandsons Zigmunt and Thelonious Streznewski of Waterville, ME, and Belgrade, ME, respectively; niece Victoria Lang and her husband, Kevin, of New Hampton, NH; nephew Glenn Elischer and his partner, Theresa Paciga, of Blairstown, NJ, and nephew Shawn Elischer and his wife Joanne, of Robesonia, PA. Deep appreciation is also given to her caregivers at Eddy Memorial in Troy, New York, and to the hospice nurses at Schuyler Ridge in Clifton Park, New York, whose kindnesses and presence brought comfort and peace to Marylou’s final days. Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206 Saturday, April 25, 2026 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm. Her Funeral Service will begin at 3:30 pm. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Marylou K. Streznewski

June 13, 1934 - April 3, 2026