Dayle E. Hickey

Dayle Elaine Hickey (Harrington), age 78, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025, surrounded by love. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to her family and community.

She was a woman who loved with her whole heart. For 47 beautiful years, she shared a deep and enduring love with her husband, James Hickey. Her greatest joy was her family, her children, grandchildren, and her great-grandchild, each of whom was the light of her life. She gave endlessly of herself, offering love, support, and warmth not only to family and friends, but also to strangers who were fortunate enough to cross her path.

A graduate of Maine-Endwell High School, she went on to build a long and dedicated career at UHS, from which she later retired. In her quieter moments, she found joy and creativity in sewing and quilting, pouring care and intention into every stitch.

She was affectionately known as the “Duck Lady.” If you received a duck from her, you had the privilege of truly knowing her. Giving those ducks brought her immense happiness, especially knowing that each one sparked a smile, a laugh, or a moment of joy for the recipient. It was a small gesture that perfectly reflected her generous spirit and her belief in spreading kindness wherever possible.

She is survived by her beloved husband, James J. Hickey; her children, Lisa Alexander, Nicole & Gene Novitsky, James P. & Joanne Hickey and Lynn Hickey & Bob Langhans; her grandchildren, Thomas ”TJ” Novitsky, Nathan Novitsky, Giavanna Alexander and Philip “PJ” Alexander, Alexandra & Shawn Bergin and Kyle Kraus; and her great-grandson Theodore Bergin; siblings Ernest & Shirley Harrington, Charles & Susie Harrington, Sandra & Bernard Massis, Joan Samiani and Jocelyn James-Patch. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and her loyal and meaningful friendships with JoAnne Wayman, Gail Page, Linda Parrish, Gail Margaritis, Linda Erle, Angela Delanoy and the Michitti Family. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest Harrington and Joan Harrington and nephew Gregory Massis.

The family would like to make special mention of her youngest sister, Jacki James-Patch, whose extraordinary around-the-clock care was a profound gift of love and devotion. Heartfelt gratitude is also extended to her local medical providers, hospice caregivers, and the compassionate teams at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City for their exceptional care and support.

She will be remembered for her selflessness, her warmth, her humor, and the way she made everyone feel seen and valued. Her love lives on in the hearts of all who knew her, and her kindness will continue to ripple outward through every life she touched.

The family will receive friends at the Wm. R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 737 Chenango Street, Port Dickinson, NY on Saturday, December 27, 2025, from 10am-12pm with services to honor and celebrate her life at 12pm. Burial will be in the Floral Park Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any local food bank or to organizations dedicated to fighting hunger, honoring her generous heart and lifelong compassion for others.