Mary I. (Hanick) Merritt died at the blessed age of 99 on October 2, 2016 in Smyrna, DE where she resided with her loyal niece and caretaker, Dayna Galik Littleton and her two daughters, Macie and Carly Littleton and her beloved dog, Brownie. She was born in Bridgeport on July 13, 1917 and was a life-long resident. She was predeceased by her husband, Ernest Merritt; stepson, William E. Merritt; parents, John Hanik and Mary (Steher) Hanik; sister, Margaret (Hanick) Galik and her husband, Alex; brother, John Hanick and his wife and her dear friend, Florence and their little granddaughter, Erika Hanick. She was proudly employed as a factory worker at Harvey Hubbell, retiring in 1979 after 41 years. She was a devout Catholic and a member of the Holy Name of Jesus Church in Stratford. She was very proud of her Hungarian heritage and her family looked forward to her Hungarian cooking during the holidays. Although she never had children of her own, Aunt Mary, cherished all of her nieces and nephews. Survivors include niece, Karen (Hanick) Elliott of Boynton Beach, FL, her husband Brian and their daughter, Yvonne Roberts, her husband Sam and their children Isaiah and Layla; nephew, Keith Galik, his wife Denise of Stratford and their daughter, Heather; nephew, Bruce A. Galik and his friend Ellen Coyle of Barefoot Bay, FL; nephew, Jack Hanick, his wife Joann and their son, Jackson, currently residing in Russia; nieces, Kathryn (Hanick) Barnes of Boston, MA and Nicole (Hanick) Conlon, D.C.; nephew, Bryan Galik and his wife Jennifer, of Bethany; nephew, Greg Galik, his wife Christine and their children, Nicholas, Isabella, Ethan and Hudson of West Haven; nephew, Paul W. Merritt and his mother, Katherine. Special thanks to Maureen Smith for her help caring for Mary and being her friend. A brief viewing will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the Adzima Funeral Home, 50 Paradise Green Place, Stratford followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m. in Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1950 Barnum Avenue, Stratford. Interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, 2205 Stratford Avenue, Stratford. Contributions can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital www.stjude.org