Berdan, Mary B.

Our wonderful mother, Mary B. Berdan, 89, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, on August 8, 2021. Mary was born March 11, 1932, to Howard and Agnes Beacham of Fayetteville, New York, one of four siblings (Jane, Howard, and Carol). She attended high school there, discovering an innate love of music which led her to pursue piano lessons, including lessons at Syracuse University. After graduating from Fayetteville Manlius High School, and while working in Fayetteville, she met and fell in love with Frederick Berdan, an elementary school teacher, and they married in Cazenovia, New York on October 6, 1956. They were blessed with three children, Gretchen, Steven, and Bruce. 

Mary was always extremely talented. She became highly proficient at classical piano and wanted to share the beauty of classical music with others. After marrying Fred, she became a piano teacher, a profession she deeply loved, teaching students of all ages in her various homes. The two teachers first lived in North Syracuse, then moved to Cicero, and eventually settled back in Fayetteville for many years, close to Green Lakes State Park. Mary became very well known in the central New York area for her keen teaching skills, and in particular, her patience and kindness with very young students. She held Spring and Fall piano recitals in her home, which were always carried out with meticulous attention to detail. She loved preparing programs for each recital, arranging bouquets of fresh flowers from her many gardens, preparing the house, and baking delicious treats for each occasion. 

Mary and Fred loved spending time with their family at their camp on Oneida Lake. Mary expanded her gardens along the lake shore, and enjoyed swimming, boating, antiquing, and shopping. In 1985, Mary and Fred built a log cabin along the lakeshore, and it became their favorite place for many years. Fred passed away in October 1994, after which Mary moved to the lakeshore during the spring and summer of the year.  During falls and winters, she lived in Fayetteville, and spent time visiting her children and grandchildren. She continued to fine tune her piano skills, learning new pieces every year, which she played on her beloved Steinway Grand piano. She also continued to teach piano lessons to several young students.   

Mary enjoyed the love of five grandchildren and one great grandchild before she passed.  Mary is survived by her three children, her grandchildren and great grandchild, and her sister Carol Perry, of Chittenango, New York. During her life, she was always there for her family, providing enduring love and support, as she insisted on making kindness, empathy, and compassion her priority. 

In her last years, Mary was loved and cared for by the incredible staff of Brookdale Pittsford, in Pittsford, New York, where she continued to fill many people’s lives with piano music, kindness, and joy, right up until her passing. She made the air sing with music, bringing happiness to all who heard it, and she will never be forgotten. 

A small service will be held during the Summer of 2022 for close family and friends at the Berdan family camp on Oneida Lake to celebrate, honor, and remember Mary. We love you so much, Mom, we thank you, and we miss you.