Thomasina A. O’Shea, of Deerfield Beach, FL, formerly of the Town of Newburgh, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, entered into rest on Friday, January 19, 2024. She was 91.
Daughter of the late Angelo and Mary (Ponesse) Scalzo, she was born July 31, 1932 in Newburgh.
Thomasina was a graduate of the Newburgh Free Academy in 1949 and went to work in the mathematics department at the USMA, West Point. In 1957 she married, had two daughters, and was a homemaker until she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in education in 1969 from Mt. St. Mary College. She received her Masters Degree from the State University of New Paltz in 1973. She then went on to teach 3rd grade at New Windsor School for 26 years where she also served as a local union representative for several years. Upon retiring, she moved to Deerfield Beach FL. She then took care of her elderly mother, Mary until her death.
Thomasina enjoyed traveling. She drove cross country one summer from New York to Nevada with a co-worker in her Dodge Omni, spent one summer taking education classes at Guadalajara University, Mexico, traveled to Italy several times locating her extended family for the first time, to Israel once, and to Medjugorje twice on pilgrimages.
She was a devout Roman Catholic attending daily Mass after retirement. She served as Sacristan Eucharistic Minister and lector at St. Ambrose Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church in Deerfield Beach FL. She took perpetual vows as a Third Order of the Dominican Deity at St. Mary’s Campus.
She volunteered during her summers with Meals on Wheels, was a Ladies Auxiliary volunteer at St. Luke’s Hospital, served as Chaplain and member of the Women’s Club of Deerfield Beach, FL and volunteered working with the poor in Appalachia, TN. She loved family gatherings, cooked many Italian dinners for her family, and served as the family historian.
She is survived by two daughters, Thomasina MacFarland and Tara D’Amico; grandchildren, Jacqueline (Aaron) Welch, Ryan (Kailey) Blair, Domenico (Kristy) D’Amico; her beloved great grandchildren, Kaylee, Keagan, Kenzie and Kerryn Welch, Mikayla, Parker and Stefan D’Amico; and a sister Donna Lawrimore.
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by a sister, Rosemary Scalzo, and a granddaughter, Angelica D’Amico.
Visitation for family and friends will be Tuesday, January 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at White, Venuto and Morrill Funeral and Cremation Service, 188 N. Plank Road, Newburgh.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10: am, Wednesday, January 24, at Sacred Heart Church, 25 South Robinson Avenue, Newburgh.
Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Donations in Thomasina’s memory can be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan at hospiceoforange.com.
Arrangements are under the care of White, Venuto and Morrill Funeral and Cremation Service, 188 N. Plank Road Newburgh,.