Leonora P. Girrier

Born June 22, 1933, in New York, NY, Lee was the eldest of four children of Mortimer Aloysius McNamara and Leonora Patricia McNamara. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, and graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy High School, Syosset, NY, in 1951. After raising four children and running an active household, Lee was eager to pursue further education. She enrolled at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating Magna cum Laude in 1999.

When her youngest child began school, Lee made her entrée into public service as a volunteer with the Huntington Hospital Auxiliary. Her experience with arts and crafts and connecting with the inquisitive as a Boy Scout mother led to an invitation to run a crafts program for local senior citizens. Soon Lee was on a career fast track working for the Senior Citizens Center in Huntington, then becoming the program’s director, which included running Meals on Wheels, and eventually a promotion to head of Human Resources for the Town of Huntington. She was popular around town; cheerful and reliable, known for her ability to organize, manage and lead with a light touch and efficiency. She retired from public service in 1994.

Lee married William Henry Girrier in 1951. The two met on a blind date and immediately fell in love. He, the dashing midshipman from Kings Point and she, the teenage society belle, made their wedding vows just weeks before William left to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean war. Their first child, Patricia, was born during his two-year deployment. The couple later bought a home in Huntington, NY, where three more children, William, Catherine and Robert were born. Active in the community and members at the Centerport Yacht Club, Lee became known for her hors d’oeuvres recipes that highlighted many a social gathering and swim meet reception. The couple retired to Tiverton, RI, in 2000, to the “Log Lodge” which became the center for family activities where children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a large extended family gathered for special events and holiday celebrations. Lee remained in her Tiverton home after her husband died in 2023, enjoying the beaches, tourist spots, and local deer population that visited the property daily.

Sunlight dancing on water, its rays warm on the face, the sound of the surf, toes in wet sand, the smell of salty sea air, and seashells, always seashells – these are the precious natural pleasures of life Lee enjoyed the most. She was passionate about learning, always curious to find something new, like a good book to read or classes at Salve Regina College’s Circle of Scholars program in Newport, which she attended throughout her eighties. She was always up to the challenge of a good game of Scrabble and finished several crossword puzzles daily, which she continued to complete into her final days. She also loved travel, driving cross country, up and down the eastern seaboard, up into Canada and across to Alaska and down to Hawaii. With her husband there were sailing trips in the Caribbean and a trans-Atlantic cruise. Together they visited Mexico, England, France, Spain, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy and Japan. Lee hosted many holiday dinners and family gatherings with traditional and gourmet fare, but above all, she enjoyed a beefy hamburger cooked on the grill with a glass of pinot noir. The height of decorum, she taught her female relatives to drink their tea with pinkies up, always write a thank you note, and never to say anything if you have nothing nice to say. For the boys she advised treating women well (meaning respect, flowers and fine jewelry) and clean behind your ears. At the same time she managed a wry and knowing smile for everyone’s silly jokes and wild antics.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Girrier, her son, William J. Girrier, her grandson Kai Girrier and her three brothers, Jim, Roger and John. She is survived by her children Patricia Casey, of Tiverton, RI, Catherine Christensen (Craig) of Boxborough, MA, Rear Admiral, retired, Robert P. Girrier (June), of Oxford, MD, daughter-in-law Denise Girrier of Bristol, RI, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Leonora’s family will greet guests from 10:00 to 11:00AM prior to her Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 11:00AM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River. Relatives and friends invited. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Operation Smile P.O. Box 758588, Topeka, KS 6675, www.operationsmile.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Children’s Research, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org. Burial private.