Mary Claffey

Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Claffey

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Mary Elizabeth Claffey, a resident of Massapequa, NY, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, in Newburgh, NY. She was 921/2 years old. Born June 19, 1922 to William and Sophia Sutphen in New Jersey, she graduated from Sewhanaka High School. Married to William John Claffey, her high school sweetheart on December 13, 1941, while Bill served his country with distinction during WW II in the US Army, Betty lived with her parents and in laws in Bellerose and Queens Village, NY. Shortly after Bill returned from the war, they purchased a home in Levittown, NY where they started a family- a son David who died shortly after birth, a daughter Mary and a daughter Eileen. They outgrew their and moved to Massapequa, NY, where they spent many happy years with wonderful friendships on Shinnecock Ave. and in Nassau Shores. Always a wife, mother and homemaker first, Betty worked at the Amityville Library as a clerk when her children were older – a job that she loved as it reinforced her love of reading. Her home was the gathering place for many holiday dinners and family celebrations. Her family especially loved her brownies, blueberry muffins, crumb cake and pot roast with gravy. She and Bill enjoyed a long retirement together and traveled with friends – she especially enjoyed Alaska and Australia. After her husband Bill passed away in 2009, after nearly 68 years of marriage, Betty resided at the Bristol at Massapequa where she maintained her independence. We are so grateful for the kindness and care that she received. After a brief course of illness and hospitalization, Betty transferred to Elant at Meadow Hill for rehabilitation and to be closer to her daughter Eileen and her family. Unfortunately, she did not recover and peacefully passed away. Her family cannot speak highly enough of the attentive and compassionate care from all of the staff at Meadow Hill – their professionalism and kindness made a difficult situation bearable. We are forever grateful. Betty was predeceased by her brothers, Bob and Jack, and their spouses, as well as her dear sister in law and brother in law Irene and Townley Potter. She is survived by her daughter Eileen Irish and her husband Bob and their children, Christopher, Michael, Rachel and grand-dog Teddy; her daughter Mary Cerullo and her husband Stephen of North Patchogue, grandson Patrick Ferrante and her great grandchildren, Alyssa, Samantha and Tyler of Nesconset, NY. She is further survived by nephews Lawrence Potter of Florida, William Potter of New Jersey, Richard Sutphen of Kentucky, William Sutphen of Texas and their families and her dear longtime friend, Dorothy Lunt of Millbrook, NY. Visitation will be held Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at the Powell Funeral Home, Inc., 67 Broadway (Rt. 110), Amityville, NY. Funeral services will be held at 12:45 PM in the funeral home, Interment to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Pinelawn, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to Elant At Meadow Hill, 172 Meadow Hill Rd., Newburgh, NY 12550 or Orange & Sullivan Counties Hospice, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Friday
30
January

Visitation

12:00 am - 1:00 pm
Friday, January 30, 2015
Powell Funeral Home Inc.
67 Broadway
Amityville, New York, United States
Friday
30
January

Funeral Service

12:45 pm
Friday, January 30, 2015
Powell Funeral Home Inc.
67 Broadway
Amityville, New York, United States
Service Time: 12:45 PM
Friday
30
January

Interment at: Pinelawn Memorial Park

1:45 pm
Friday, January 30, 2015
Pinelawn Memorial Park
Pinelawn Road
Pinelawn, New York, United States
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Mary Claffey

In Loving Memory

Mary Claffey

1922 - 2015

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