Elizabeth Foley

The Honorable Elizabeth Anne Foley was born January 30, 1950. She died Thursday, January 4th at her West Brighton home, after a hard fought battle with Leukemia. Elizabeth, known to friends and family as Betteanne, was pre-deceased by her parents, the late Kenneth T. and Anne McGinley. She was the beloved sister of Maryclare McGinley (Tom Flood), K. Terrance McGinley (Arlene McGinley) and Ellen Pascucci (Pat Pascucci). She is survived by 8 nieces and nephews; Laura Hynes (Timothy), Alison Flood, Emily Flood, Beth Anne McGinley, Jesse Pascucci, Terrance Patrick McGinley, Brianne Kelly (Billy) and Ryan McGinley (Alissa). She was a great aunt of Abigail and Casey Hynes, Dylan and Brayden McGinley and Liam, Emerson and Riley Kelly.

Betteanne graduated from St. Peter’s High School for Girls in 1968. In 1972, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Richmond College. After college, Betteanne worked at St. Michael’s Home for Children before working for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Victim Assistance Service Unit, while attending New York Law School in the evening. After graduating Law School in 1983, she became an Assistant District Attorney for Richmond County where she worked for 20 years. During her tenure at the Richmond County District Attorney’s office, she served for 10 years as the Bureau Chief of Narcotics. She later worked for the New York State Attorney General’s office in the auto insurance fraud bureau, and then as Director of Special Investigations for the Department of Education.

In 2007, Betteanne was nominated and appointed to serve as a Court of Claims Judge for the State of New York. She served two years in the Criminal Term of the Bronx Supreme Court before transferring to Kings County Supreme Court. Betteanne remained in Kings County Supreme Court until June of 2017, when she was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Betteanne loved the law, American history, her Irish heritage, traveling, reading and music. She enjoyed her book clubs, the theatre, and lectures at the NY Historical Society and the 92nd Street YMCA. Betteanne loved spending weekends at her second home at the beach in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Betteanne is survived by countless cousins and friends with whom she has maintained relationships with for a lifetime. Betteanne was loved and respected by her colleagues, her friends, and most especially, by her family. She will always be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Funeral services from Harmon Home for Funerals; 571 Forest Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310; Monday, January 8, 2018 at 10:15 am. Mass and Christian burial will immediately follow at St. Peter’s Church at 11:15 am; 53 St. Marks Place, Staten Island, NY 10301. Interment will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Friends and family will be received Saturday, January 6th from 4pm to 8pm and Sunday, January 7th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm.

Betteanne spent many months under the care of the Leukemia Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Their knowledge, support and compassion for Betteanne and her family during this very difficult time was unparallelled.

If so desired, donations in Betteanne’s name can be made to the Leukemia Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering by visiting:

mskcc.convio.net/goto/elizabethfoley or by mail at

Memorial Sloan Kettering

Attn: Stephanie Rigione

885 Second Avenue, 7th floor

New York, NY 10017

Donations in Betteanne’s name can also be made to Staten Island University Hospice by visiting:

www.hpcanys.org/donate/ or by mail at

North Shore LIJ Staten Island University Hospice

78 Meisner Avenue, Ground Floor

Staten Island, NY 10306