Mary Foley, age 84, formerly of New Fairfield, CT, died Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne, PA, surrounded by her loving family. She was married to the late Thomas Vincent Foley, also of New Fairfield.
Mary was born September 28, 1934 in Co. Mayo, Ireland, the daughter of the late John and Ellen (Nealon) Staunton. The youngest of six children, Mary was raised and educated in Ratoath, Co. Meath, and emigrated to the United States in 1962.
Mary resided in Queens, New York, and it was there she and her husband, Thomas, were married in St. Rafael’s Church in 1966. They later resided in Whitestone, New York until moving to New Fairfield in 1979, where they lived for nearly 35 years.
Mary was employed at J.J. Newbury and Barden’s as a keypunch operator and worked for many years as a home health aide, taking care of ailing patients in their homes. She was a longtime parishioner and volunteer at Saint Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield, where she worked on the FISH ministry, driving homebound elders to appointments and errands. She was also a member of the Ladies’ Mary McWhorter division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, where she served in numerous positions such as Financial Secretary and Chairwoman of the Hospitality Committee for the Greater Danbury Irish Festival. The division also named Mary its Lady Hibernian of the Year.
In addition to her loving husband of nearly 47 years, Tom, Mary is survived by three children: Sean Foley of San Francisco, CA, Kevin Foley and his wife Christine of Riverside, CT, and Brenda Foley Ott, M.D. and her husband Greg of New Hope, PA; sisters-in-law: Bridget Keating of Whitestone, NY and Kathleen Staunton of Ratoath, Co. Meath; nephew John Keating and his wife Nicole of Wantagh, NY; four grandchildren: Maura, Brady, and Liam Ott, and Luke Foley; and grandnephews Ryan and Brendan Keating.
Mary was a devout Catholic, tireless worker and a devoted friend, always available to lend a helping hand. In her spare time, she also loved gardening, listening to Irish music, hosting family gatherings and baking Irish soda bread. She was happiest when she was surrounded by family and friends, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
The family would like to thank the staff and fellow residents at The Birches in Newtown, PA, for their care, love and support, when Mary resided there over the past 5 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am on Friday Aug 30th at Saint Edward the Confessor Church, New Fairfield. Burial will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery, New Fairfield.
The family will receive friends at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury on Thursday Aug 29th from 5pm through 8pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, 2050 Ballenger Ave, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.
