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CASTNER MARY MADELYN MM (GANNON) Mary Madelyn "MM" Gannon Castner, age 92, died peacefully on December 29, 2017, at Presbyterian Senior Care in Oakmont, PA. From her birth in Pittsburgh, on March 20, 1925, to her death she nourished her family and friends with love and faith. She was born in Squirrel Hill to Edward J.I. Gannon and Mary Dunn Gannon and was the oldest of three children. After graduating from St. Philomena's parochial school and Sacred Heart High School, MM attended the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College of the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh. MM was graduated in 1947 with a BS degree. While at Margaret Morrison, she helped to found the Beta Nu Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity in 1944. MM married Robert J. Castner on November 27, 1947. MM and Bob had ten children, which kept MM busy organizing school and after-school activities with the skills of an air traffic controller. MM had the gift of treating everyone as special and unique. She was a Cub Scout den mother and a leader in the Mother's Guilds at St. Philomena and Central Catholic. Once her children left the nest, MM shared her energy and warm personality by volunteering as a docent at Clayton, the Pittsburgh home of Henry Clay Frick, as well as at the Carnegie Museum of Art. MM loved to travel, organizing many vacation trips involving drives across the US or to the beach with her entire family and, later, with Bob or with friends. She especially enjoyed sharing stories of her trips to Ireland, Italy and Australia. Left to honor MM and remember her love are MM's ten children, Robert J. Castner, Jr. (Kathleen), Edward R. Castner (Nancy), William M. Castner, Michael F. Castner (Ann), Madelyn F. Castner, Lawrence V. Castner (Priscilla), John C. Castner (Jane), James G. Castner (Kelly), Mark J. Castner (Sondra), and Jeanne "Bitsy" Davis (John); 20 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Edward J. I. Gannon, Jr.; and many nieces and nephews. MM was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and sister, Jeanne Gannon Alvin. MM will be remembered as a bright, shining light in the various organizations and churches she served. The family will greet friends from 2 to 4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2018, at JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC., 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street (freyvogelfuneralhome.com). Funeral Friday, January 5, 2018, Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bede Church, 509 South Dallas Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in MM's name to the Clayton Conservation Project at the Frick Art & Historical Center. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb
