Maryann (Grabusky) O'Brien

Maryann (Grabusky) Coburn O’Brien, 82, of Middletown, beloved wife of 45 years of David O’Brien, went home to the Lord peacefully on February 25, 2026. She was born in Norwich, CT to the late David and Dorothy Kilcollum Grabusky. Maryann attended school in Norwich and the Academy of the Holy Family in Baltic, graduating in 1961.

Maryann leaves behind her beloved husband, David, and two loving sons, Bert Coburn and his wife Karin (Palm) Coburn of Waterford, and James Coburn and his wife, Johanna (Klomp) Coburn of Wethersfield. She was predeceased by a son, David John Coburn and her two brothers, Robert and David Grabusky. She leaves behind two beloved grandchildren, Olivia (Coburn) Braddock and her husband, Marc Braddock,  and her grandson, Derek Coburn with his partner, Blake Decoteau, her brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Arlene (Draizen) O’Brien of New Britain, and her nephews; Michael O’Brien and his wife, Tammy and grand-nephew, Deon Vieira, and nephew, Matthew O’Brien and his wife, Jana and grand-niece, Nathalia O’Brien. In addition, Maryann leaves many close friends, including Michael and Deb Draizen and Guy and Pat Ulery.

Maryann began a career in banking in 1971, as a teller at Eastern Savings & Loan in Norwich. After her marriage to David, in 1980, they made a home in Middletown with her two sons. Then Maryann began a career at Liberty Bank, as an auditor at their Middletown main office. She was later promoted to branch manager in various offices where she was twice awarded the prestigious SBLI President’s Council Award. She retired from Liberty Bank in 2007, as a branch manager and AVP after 27 years. Maryann was a woman of deep faith and was an active member of the Wethersfield United Methodist Church for many years, where she had many friends. She served as an aid to the preschool teachers and exchanged much love with the children, their parents, and teachers. As part of the church’s knitting group, she knit hundreds of baby hats and blankets and prayer shawls. In addition, she knit countless sweaters, hats, baby blankets and mittens for family members and friends. She also went on a mission trip to Haiti, with the church, to help people in a small village.

Maryann loved traveling with her husband, David, following her suggestion that they should “do it now.” So, they enjoyed visiting and learning about Ireland, Alaska, Hawaii, Paris, and Rome among many stateside adventures. She had a love of Broadway that she shared with her sister-in-law, Arlene O’Brien, and together they saw twenty-five Broadway plays. Maryann’s loving and caring husband, David, shared that even with the debilitation of dementia and loss of short-term memory, Maryann remained, as always, a strong lady, very positive, caring and loving. And that Maryann was, “the most beautiful of people that could ever have lived.”

The family extends their gratitude to the staff as well as the Hospice team at Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation in Middletown.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 9th at 10:30 at Wethersfield United Methodist Church, 150 Prospect Street, Wethersfield.  Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park.  Family and friends may call on Monday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 am at the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Maryann’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis TN 38101-9929. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservcie.com.

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