Irene E. Molloy

Irene Elizabeth Molloy (née Durkin), age 90, passed away at home on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Irene was a resident of Freeport, NY since 1966 and for over 32 straight years, she continuously had at least one child in the Freeport School District. Irene graduated with a degree in Business Administration from New York University (NYU) after transferring from Fordham University. She worked a few years for the phone company before marrying and having 11 children over the next 21 years. Irene was the beloved daughter of the late Edward F. and Elizabeth Durkin (née Carey). Loving mother to Eamon (Ellen), Shane (Lisa), Alannah Spaulding (Alan), Tara Maire Molloy-Grocki (Tony), Leueen O’Connor (John), Cormac (Lisa), Kieran, Siobhan, Liam, Conor, and Riain (Erin). Adored grandmother to Benjamin, Seamus, Daniel, Conor Anthony, Brendan, Sean, Edward, Eli, Rory, Declan, Dylan, Deirdre, Emily, Ronan, Clare, Larcan, Riain Patrick, and Mary Rose. Dearest cousin to many, both here at home and abroad. For anyone who knew her, they would have received at least one holiday card every year, but most likely many. She loved sending out cards for many different holidays and for significant events in loved ones' lives. She would always include stickers marking the holiday on the back and inside the card.

Irene was happiest when surrounded by her large family. She loved watching her children and grandchildren on stage and on various playing fields and pools, including her four youngest in a synchronized swimming show. Not an easy feat for someone who never had a driver’s license and still managed to attend multiple school events on the same day by walking from one side of Freeport to another, pushing a stroller. She was a devoted Mets, Jets, and Islanders fan and she always enjoyed a good fight in her sports. Hockey fights were great, but nothing beat a bench clearing brawl in baseball that included the pitchers running in from the bullpen and always arriving when the fight was over.

Although Irene always expressed a desire to travel, most of her life was spent caring for children. Once the youngest were in high school, she really enjoyed getting the chance to see different parts of the country with them. While outdoors, she was always seen wearing sunglasses and her signature blue scarf on her head. That blue scarf was protected and protective. For example, on rollercoaster rides, she’d tie it tightly and tuck the ends into her mouth to protect her hair. Also, as a proud Catholic, Irene visited National Shrines and other religious sites in several states with her children, but was especially fond of her visit to St. Anne’s Shrine on Lake Champlain in Vermont and walking the Stations of the Cross at the Grotto Catholic Shrine and Sanctuary in Portland, Oregon.

Irene was very proud of her Irish heritage, especially when her cousin Dorothy Hayden Cudahy was chosen as the first female Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and marched down Fifth Avenue with many family members. Her mother emigrated from Roscrea, County Tipperary in 1930, and her father’s family was from Tubbercurry, County Sligo. She lost her mother at the young age of fourteen in 1950 and her father was immensely devoted to his only child, just as she was to him. Reunited with both of them again, she is now at peace.

Visitation will be held at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, 234 Broadway, Bethpage, NY 11714, US, on November 6, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and again on November 6, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Martin of Tours RC Church, 220 Central Ave, Bethpage, NY 11714, US, on November 7, 2026, at 10:00 am.

Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery, 49-02 Laurel Hl Blvd, New York, NY 11377, US, on November 7, 2026.