Obituary of Margaret Sullivan Mccloskey

Margaret Sullivan McCloskey Margaret Sullivan McCloskey, matriarch of the McCloskey and Sullivan Families, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 16, 2011. She was 96 years old. With her passing comes the end of the McCloskey family name, well known and respected in the Village of Wappingers Falls for over 200 years. Margaret, born in Sayersville, Rhode Island on June 21, 1914, was the oldest child of Lottie (O'Hanlon) and Patrick Sullivan. The family moved to Wappingers Falls when her father took a position with the Dutchess Bleachery. She graduated from Wappingers High School and went on to work for Shaker, Travis and Quinn, and later, DeLavalle Separator Company. In later years, she was employed at the Poughkeepsie Savings Bank and the Grinnell Library. On October 21, 1939 she married Joseph McCloskey at St. Mary's Church in the Village; he predeceased her on July 29, 1981. Margaret belonged to St. Mary's Children of Mary, The Mother's Guild and Altar Rosary Society. Along with her husband, she served as a Moderator of the first Pre-Cana Conference. She was also a member of the Wappingers Falls Historical Society and served as president of the IFOS Club. Margaret is survived by her three daughters, Pegeen and her husband, Thomas Wall of Poughkeepsie, Cathleen and her husband, Thomas Connolly of Lake Pleasant, NY, and Marie Connolly of New Windsor; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey and Mary Wall, Michael and Ann Wall, Susan and Richard Hollister, Matthew Wall and Joe Machota, Christopher Connolly, Elizabeth Connolly, Megan Connolly Wazewski and William Wazewski, Mark and Meg Connolly, and Kevin Connolly; thirteen great-grandchildren, Lauren, Emma, Brian, Kevin, Trey, Savannah, Alyssa, Austin, Tatum, Kevin, Sean, Aidan and Liam; a brother, Leonard Sullivan and his wife, Pat of Bedford, NH; two sisters-in-law, Henrietta and Margaret Sullivan; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a sister, Agnes Sullivan Carey; five brothers, Leo, John, Joseph, Gerald and William Sullivan; and granddaughters Nancy and Lynn Wall. She will be fondly remembered by all her family, most especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who got to enjoy her love, wisdom and sense of humor for many extended years. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 21 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street in Wappingers Falls. Interment will follow in the family plot in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wappingers Falls. Donations in honor of Margaret may be made in her name to St. Mary's Church, 11 Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. For directions to the funeral home or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.