Mary Ellen Rourke

Mary Ellen Rourke (nee Little), 88, of Montvale, NJ, formerly of Upper Saddle River, NJ, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2025.

A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Mary lived a life filled with love, faith, and community. She was a relentless and committed optimist. When she passed, she was a cherished member of her Thrive Senior Living Community and a devoted parishioner of The Church of the Presentation, where she found strength and joy in her faith. Mary was also a long standing member of The Ridgewood Country Club, where her primary goal was reaching the nineteenth hole.

Mary was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Robert and Agnes Little and raised with her four brothers in a close-knit community where she attended Holy Name Church and St. Anthony’s High School. She met her beloved husband, Michael “Mick” Rourke, while working at Sears in downtown Minneapolis. Together, Mary and Mike had five children, and throughout their marriage created homes and communities in Minneapolis, MN, Queens, NY, Tacoma, WA, Boise, ID and Upper Saddle River, NJ. In later years, they spent their winters in Spring Hill, FL at Timber Pines, where they were known for marshalling the annual St. Patrick’s day golf cart parade. With Mary taking the lead, they forged strong relationships at every stop with faith and family at the center, mixed with plenty of fun and friendship for balance.

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Michael J. Rourke, and leaves behind a legacy of love through her family. She is survived by her children: Tricia Whipps, Kathleen and Bill Houston, Michael Rourke and Wesley Powell, Erin and David Tashian, and Dan and Debbie Rourke.

She was a devoted and proud grandmother to Matt and Hilary Whipps, John and Susan Whipps, Dan Whipps, Lauren and Conor Marcus, Bill and Kate Houston, Mary and Jimmy Culp, Carly Corcoran, Leah Tashian, Cassie Corcoran, David Tashian Jr., Beckett Powell Rourke, Olivia Powell Rourke, Meghan Rourke, Ryan Rourke, and Connor Rourke. She was also blessed to be a great-grandmother to Noah Whipps, Arie Whipps, Sadie Whipps, Maeve Marcus, Shay Whipps, and Jimmy Culp.

Mary’s warmth, kindness, and unwavering love for her family and friends will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy and her unrelenting positivity will live on in the hearts of those she touched.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 3 PM - 7 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10 AM at Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Airmont, NY.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Church of the Presentation or to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF). 

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