Lawrence J. Furey passed away peacefully on New Year’s Eve day surrounded by his loving family at his home in South Dennis, MA at the age of 92. Born in Palmerton, Pennsylvania to Lawrence and Mary Furey, he grew up in Lansford, Pennsylvania as their first son.
He married the love of his life, Ann B. (Kilroy) of Barnesville on June 2, 1956. Together they started a family in Lansford and were blessed with six children and nine grandchildren – Mary Patricia of West Seneca, NY, the late Kathleen Furey Virk (Som), Ann Kiceluk (Michael) and their three daughters Kristin, Colleen and Kelly of Marstons Mills, MA; Lawrence M. and his two children, Kathleen and Timothy of Westwood, MA, Patrick (Lisa) and their three children Nick, Sarah and Reagan of Breinigsville, PA and Michael and his son Michael J. of South Dennis, MA and Summit Hill, PA, respectively. Larry is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents and daughter, Larry was predeceased by his only sibling, brother Francis who passed away in 1982.
An excellent athlete in his youth, Larry is well known as one of the first players to ever hit a baseball over the old “Car Barn” roof at Lansford Stadium. His quick feet on area baseball diamonds and running tracks earned him his original nickname “Speed”. Larry graduated from St. Ann’s High School in 1944 and shortly after joined the United States Navy during World War II.
After returning from military service, Larry joined the United States Postal Service serving as a Postal Clerk in the Lansford Post Office. He was named Acting Postmaster in 1968 until his permanent appointment as Lansford Postmaster in 1971, a position he held until his retirement in 1985 when he relocated to Cape Cod. Larry then worked for Baskin’s True Value Hardware Stores of Cape Cod from 1986 to 2012.
Larry served as the Head Basketball Coach of St. Ann’s High School in Lansford from 1949 to 1954 leading his team to many league championships. With the founding of Marian High School in the fall of 1954, Larry helped establish its basketball program until the arrival of the school’s first official coach, the legendary Hugh “Wink” Gallagher. Later, Larry volunteered for many years as Wink’s “right hand man” in the athletic director’s office.
Besides his family, among Larry’s proudest accomplishments was that of being one of the six Founding Members of the “Men of Marian”, the booster organization that has supported Marian High School for over 54 years. He served as a member of the organization’s Executive Board for many years and as President from 1972-74.
As a proud Irishman, Larry was an active member of the Panther Valley Irish American Association for many years, holding various officer positions. Larry received the association’s coveted “Shamrock Award” on March 17, 1984.
Larry’s faith inspired him throughout his life and he volunteered as the St. Ann’s School CYO Basketball Coach, St. Ann’s CYO Flag Football Coach, served as both Usher and Lector at St. Ann’s Church in Lansford, was a Third Degree member of the Father Henry Baker Council #2711 of the Knights of Columbus and founding member of Men of St. Ann’s.
Since retiring and moving to Cape Cod, Larry was involved in Our Lady of the Cape Men’s Club, an Usher at Our Lady of the Cape Parish and the Notre Dame Club of Cape Cod.
Larry grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, making many trips to Ebbets Field and numerous other sporting venues as a young man. Larry also loved the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox.
After his wife Ann and family, Larry’s other true love was Notre Dame and following everything about the University. A proud “subway alumni”, Larry witnessed over 150 Notre Dame football games both in South Bend, and throughout the country starting with his first game in 1946. He will be forever known by many as “Notre Dame Larry”.
Special thanks to the wonderful nurses and staff at Hope Health who provided invaluable care to Larry for past two years.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Larry’s name to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601, or to Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road, PO Box 1799, Brewster, MA 02631 or to Marian High School, 166 Marian Avenue, Tamaqua, PA, 18252.
Friends are invited to share their memories of Larry with his family during visitation at the Doane Beal and Ames Funeral Home, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, on Friday, January 4, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Larry on Saturday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady of the Cape Catholic Church, Stony Brook Road, Brewster, MA.
