Louise Haight
By Louise Haight
What a pleasure to send happy birthday wishes to a lovely lady, Mary O’Neill, from her three loving daughters, Theresa Kavanagh, Margaret Gaydos, and AnneMarie Schupper, on her special day, April 28, celebrating 88 years of love and cherished memories. Mary and her husband, Michael, lived in Meadow Hill after they immigrated from Ireland to America, and this is where they raised their beautiful girls, who always appreciated their parents’ love and sacrifices and support given to them, when they were growing up. The girls respected hard work and responsibility, and they all chose careers that were nurturing and civic-minded, in our community. They lived in a home filled with lots of love and faith, and God was their ever-present friend. Mary and Michael retired to the Sunshine State of Florida in 1996.
It touched my heart when Theresa, a much-loved baby-sitter of our children, spoke for herself and her sisters saying, “Mom’s love for us was so great, we want Mom to know how much we love her and terribly miss her, as do her six precious grandchildren, (ages 15 to 40), and five great grandchildren, with one on the way, who simply adore their grandma, and are sending her happy hugs and kisses, galore.”
Honestly, Theresa’s words brought to mind a favorite book that I’ve read more than once, “Little Women,” and the dearest love and gratitude the sisters had for Marmee. This is the same love and gratitude imprinted into the O’Neill sisters, and it has remained with them throughout their lives and molded them, into the admirable young women they are today.
Mary has a great few close friends and neighbors who enjoy each other and care for one another. Her friends are blessed to have Mary in their lives, a blessed woman who is gentle and kind, and a devout Catholic who is happy to share her faith, and what a fine gift is that! And would you believe, Mary’s daughter, Margaret, continues to mail her mom the Mid Hudson Times, to keep up with good old Newburgh. Mary cherishes it and can’t wait to receive it, and by the way, Margaret was a valued MHT columnist, for the Town of Newburgh for several years.
Dear Mary, your old friends in Meadow Hill, join your loving family to congratulate you on this wonderful birthday and wish you God’s blessings, and may you continue to find peace and joy in all of God’s little treasures.
May you always have an angel at your side.