Marjorie M. Mooney

Marjorie Mooney (née McLaughlin) died peacefully in the early morning hours of March 2, 2024 at the age of 95. She had been a resident of Dowling Gardens, in Rockland County, New York for almost fourteen years. Before then, she had lived in Whiting, New Jersey for more than twenty years.

Marjorie was born in Inwood in New York City on April 7, 1928, the second child, and only daughter, of John J. and Marjorie (Collins) McLaughlin. She was raised in Inwood with brothers Jackie and Bobby. She graduated from Good Shepherd Grammar School and then from the Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown and then a Master’s Degree from Fordham University. She then began her long career as an elementary school teacher, initially in the New York City Public School System.

In 1951, she and her beloved husband, Jack (John Joseph Mooney), were married at Good Shepherd, and a short time later her teaching career was put on hold to allow for more important work. It was there, in Inwood, over the decades that followed, that she and Jack raised their five children.

Once the children were all school aged, Marjorie returned to teaching, this time at Good Shepherd. While there she demonstrated devotion to her students, both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities, for more than twenty years. During that time she served the Good Shepherd Parish in countless ways as a volunteer and in leadership positions on various bodies including the Parish Council.

Her passion for service never wavered and remained apparent both in Whiting and at Dowling Gardens. She stayed busy with volunteering and leading a number of organizations and activities. Jack’s premature death in 1989 was a terrible loss, but she continued to live a vibrant life filled with travel and good friends. She traveled all over Europe and the Caribbean with friends. Much of her winters were spent in Florida until she neared ninety years of age,and there she found new friends that she cherished along with lifelong friends from Inwood and Marymount.

In the nearly ninety-six year span of her life, Marjorie experienced a world of tremendous change, and she adapted well. She read widely for most of her life and, at an age when many struggle with new technology, she became an active user of both iPhones and iPads. She never lost interest in the lives of her entire extended family, and took special delight in hearing about the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She remained a Yankee fan and a lover (and singer) of music of all types, from Irish ballads to Frank Sinatra to the Beatles—and lots more! She never lost her faith in her church or her country nor in the different communities in which she played vital roles over the years. And despite those years in residence elsewhere, she never ceased to consider Inwood to be home.

She is survived by four children and their spouses: Gregory and Anne Marie of Covington, VA; Sheila and Donald (Minogue) of Lewes, DE; Danny and Maura of New York, NY; and Deirdre and Johnny (Sullivan) of New City, NY. In addition, she is survived by fourteen grandchildren and spouses: Liam and Stephanie, Dennis and Bobbie, Katie, Nic, Michael and Damaris, Stephen and Ali, Maggie, Patty and Jamel, Kevin and Katelyn, Noni, Johnny, Conor and Beth, Brendan, Patrick and Rachel, and Sheila, together with sixteen great-grandchildren: Elias, Charlie, Lex, Willa, Calla, Michael, Fiona, Will, Lucy, Arianna, Donovan, Kiernan, Tristan, Brielle, Jack, and Emmett. Also surviving are more than a dozen nieces and nephews, her godchildren, and her sister-in-law, Pat Lane.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack; her son, Kevin; her grandson, Danny; and her parents and brothers. In addition, she was predeceased by brothers-and sisters-in-law who were dear to her: Ann McLaughlin, Irene McLaughlin, Peggy and Fred Canavan, Donald and Florence Mooney, and Tom Lane.

The Family will receive friends on Sunday, March 10 from 3:00 PM to 7:00PM at Higgins Funeral Home, 321 South Main St., New City, NY. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 11, at 10:30 AM, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in New York City, followed by interment at St. Raymond’s Cemetery, Bronx, NY.

For those who wish to make memorial donations, the Family suggests that consideration be given to Good Shepherd School or the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill.