Jennifer Suzanne Mirecki

Jennifer Suzanne Mirecki, 54, of Washingtonville, NY, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, July 8th, surrounded by her beloved family. She will be missed dearly. Known to family and friends as Jenny, she was born in Cornwall, New York on April 21, 1970, to Douglas and Suzanne (Finnerty) Ferrigno.

Jenny loved and was loved by so many people, most of all, her family. Predeceased by her father Douglas Ferrigno and nephews Nathaniel and Matthew, Jenny is survived by her loving and devoted husband Greg, to whom she was married for 25 years, and her three children: Victoria, Nicholas and Sophie Mirecki.

Jenny is also survived by her mother, Suzanne Ferrigno; her mother-in-law, Heidi Mirecki; her siblings and their families: JD Ferrigno and Alvaro Lopez, Patrick Ferrigno, Rebecca Ferrigno-Ohm and Michael Ohm, Paul and Adele Ferrigno, Marybeth and Greg Sheppard, Katherine Ferrigno and Margaret Mirecki; and by her eleven nieces and nephews: Anna and Lucy Powell, Benjamin, Maggie, and Dorothea Ohm, Bella Ferrigno, Owen and Sean Ferrigno, and Andy, Suzanna and Grace Sheppard.

Jenny was a lifelong resident of Washingtonville, NY. After graduating from Washingtonville High School in 1988 where she was a standout musician, Jenny went on to study at Rutgers University, graduating with a dual degree in Music and Education in 1992. Upon graduation, Jenny returned to Washingtonville to begin her teaching career and work on her Master’s Degree, which she completed in 1993 at Mount St. Mary’s in Newburgh, NY. It was during this time that Jenny reconnected and fell in love with long-time friend and former classmate, Greg Mirecki. They married in December 1998.

Jenny was passionate about helping and engaging with kids from an early age. She turned that passion into her profession. She taught at Taft Elementary School in the Washingtonville School District for seven years. Taking a break from teaching, Jenny devoted the next nine years to raising her three beloved children. Her dedication to parenthood and love for children was evident in the strong bond and relationships she fostered with them. She then continued her teaching career at SUNY Orange in Middletown, NY, as an associate professor of Early Childhood Education. Through her passion, she helped shape and prepare her students for the future, so they could continue to pursue their careers in education. Jenny was also an outgoing and active member of her local community. She went above and beyond in every role that she held. Jenny volunteered on the Washingtonville Teacher Center Policy Board starting in 2003 and RECAP of Western Orange County Head Start Policy Council, as well as helping run the local Alex’s Lemonade Stand each year. She was also co-advisor to Future Teachers Association, and played a very active role as a chair of the Safety and Security Committee at SUNY Orange.

Jenny had a strong devotion to her faith. She was a parishioner of St. Mary’s of Washingtonville and a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Because of her passion for teaching and deep belief, she became a religious education instructor. Through her dedication to God, she set the ultimate example for her family and friends. Despite her diagnosis, Jenny never lost faith and trusted what God had planned for her.

Jenny was a faithful wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She expressed her love for everyone through her actions. Whether that was being there to support concerts, games, recitals; spending the day enjoying a Broadway show; sending gifts to her children or nieces for every occasion; bowling with friends; or getting ice cream in a blink of an eye. She also hosted large and wonderful holiday gatherings, and never missed a birthday (which is no small feat with such a large family and so many friends). Not only was she empathetic for her loved ones, Jenny wanted to help anyone who asked; with a huge smile on her face. She found joy and fulfillment in making others happy, which was a blessing to those who knew her. Her family is heartbroken and devastated to lose her, and will cherish all the wonderful memories they had with Jenny.

The entire Mirecki and Ferrigno families would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff at Hospice of Orange County along with Crystal Run Oncology, whose kind, gentle and loving care was a great support during this difficult time.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10th from 4-8pm and on Thursday, July 11th from 2-4 pm and 7-9pm at David T Ferguson Funeral Home, 20 North Street, Washingtonville, NY 10992.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Friday, July 12th at 10am at St. Mary’s Church, 42 Goshen Avenue, Washingtonville, NY 10992. Funeral will be livestreamed and can be accessed at https://youtube.com/live/Bc6MqAizGgY?feature=share. Interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 2 Fr. Tierney Circle, Washingtonville, NY 10992.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jenny’s honor to https://birthright.org/nanuet

Birthright of Nanuet

257 S. Middletown Rd.

Nanuet, New York, 10954

Phone: 845-623-9098