Obituary of Maria Virginia Driscoll

MARIA VIRGINIA DRISCOLL Maria V. Driscoll 105, resident of Reeders Memorial Home in Boonsboro, Md. died peacefully with family members at her bedside on February 17. She was the wife of Joseph Patrick Driscoll who predeceased her in 1959. Born on February 22, 1908 in Manhattan, N.Y., Maria was the daughter of James and Agnes Bridget Beattie who emigrated from Scotland and Ireland and met and married in Manhattan. She was proud of her Scottish-Irish heritage and loved to tell stories of her youth growing up amidst a vibrant immigrant population in Manhattan. Maria and Joseph met at a USO Dance in 1933 and married in 1935. They lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn until purchasing their home in Valley Stream, N.Y. in 1941 where Maria lived until 2001. Maria often told stories of moving to the "Island" where there were dirt roads, few houses and everyone walked everywhere. She sorely missed Brooklyn. They settled in and were one of the founding families of Blessed Sacrament Parish in 1950 under the guidance of the first pastor Fr. Charles McKeon. Maria was very active in her church while raising three children. She especially enjoyed the Rosary Society, Sodality, Catholic Daughters and family services. Maria entered the work force in 1955 after Joseph became ill. She took a refresher course in typing, took the civil service exam and obtained a secretarial position for Central High School District Central Office, a position she retained and loved for 23 years, retiring in 1978. She was a dedicated and knowledgeable mentor to many in the district. Maria, with her vibrant personality and active nature, was not retired for very long. She accepted a part-time position with the Archdiocese of Rockville Centre Central Office and worked there for another 10 years. In her spare time, she enjoyed ceramics, gardening, sewing, reading, traveling and golfing. She was a proud member of Bay Park Ladies Golf Club founded in 1974. She continued her love of the game of golf as she wintered in Florida at Mid Florida Lakes until 2003. She was able to continue her active lifestyle at Dominican Village when she moved into an apartment there in November 2003. She was a weekly member of the Bridge and Canasta groups, attended every exercise class she could and was a frequent winning participant at Bingo. Her friends and family continued to marvel at her energy and drive for participation in all events. She was instrumental in the administration constructing a "putting green" for residents in May 2009. After suffering a traumatic fall in March 2010, Maria moved to Reeders Memorial Home to be close to her daughter Kathleen. Even with continued mobility issues, Maria thoroughly enjoyed Bingo, all music activities and occasional outings to church and family reunions. She particularly enjoyed the annual February Birthday Bash in her honor. Maria was a proud, confident woman with an indomitable spirit and love of life. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She leaves behind three children, Joseph and his wife Elsie of Lake Hartwell, Georgia, Virginia Barry of North Babylon, N.Y., and Kathleen Harrell and husband Frank of Middletown, Md. Also cherishing her memory are 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild. The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home on Sunday 2/24 from 2-4:30 and 7-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday 2/25 at St. Martin of Tours Church, Amityville, N.Y. at 9:30 am with burial immediately following at Long Island National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a contribution in Maria's name to the Activities Council of either Dominican Village, Amityville, N.Y. or Reeders Memorial Home, Boonsboro, Md. The family would like to thank the staff of the Burnside Unit at Reeders Memorial Home for their respectful care and attention to Maria's needs throughout her residency and to Hospice of Washington County for their additional care most recently.