Barclay, Anna May

DELMAR-Anna May Barclay, 91, died peacefully on March 7, 2019, at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland, NY.

Born in Glens Falls, NY, in 1927 to Joseph and Agnes (Castonguay) McGinnis, Anna May graduated from high school in Syracuse, NY, and from Mount St. Vincent’s College in the Bronx. She met Francis Barclay (1925-1986) while in high school; they married in 1949 in Syracuse. While raising her children in Delmar, NY, Anna May earned two Masters degrees from the College of St. Rose in Albany in Reading Education and Theology and worked at St. Thomas the Apostle School.

Anna May is survived by children John Barclay, Dan Barclay, Thomas Barclay (Natasha) and Patricia Barclay; grandchildren Jessica, Cate, Anna May, Ashlyn, Samuel, Julia, Emily, Hannah, and Andre, Lera and Pasha; great-grandchildren Jeffrey, Alyssa and Grant; siblings Eileen Perrin (George, deceased) and James McGinnis (Jackie); and many nieces, nephews and close friends. Predeceasing Anna May are her husband Francis, her siblings Joseph McGinnis (Veronica) and John McGinnis (Reoma).

Anna May was known for her kindness, sense of fun, dedication to family and Church, and deep, long-lived friendships. She was a great lover of books, education, philosophy and animals. For the family, friends and animals who have loved her dearly, Anna May embodied the attributes of the Prayer of St. Francis in creating light, joy and love around her; she truly was an instrument of God’s peace.

Calling hours are Tuesday, March 12, from 4 to 7 pm at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave. Albany. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 13 at 9:30 am in St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar, NY. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Glenmont.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 So. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208. Many thanks to the staff of Our Lady of Mercy Life Center for taking such good care of Anna May.