RSS Feed
|
|
|||||
|
for larger version       Hibernians Of The Year Recognized Ancient Order of Hibernians of Rockaways Beach, Division 21, will celebrate in honor of St. Patrick on Friday, March 9, 8 p.m. to midnight, in the auditorium of St. Rose of Lima Church, 154 Beach 84 Street. The evening festivities will include The Brose Walsh Show Band, direct from Ireland; dancing; and food (hot corned beef and cabbage buffet, coffee, tea, Irish soda bread, beer, soda, set-ups, BYOB). No tickets will be sold at the door. The deadline for reservations and purchasing tickets will be Monday, March 5. See the ad in this week’s edition for further ticket information. The "Hibernians of the Year" to be honored at the event will be Patrick Nee (Mayo) and Lena McManus (Cavan). Patrick Nee was born in Co. Mayo, Ireland. He arrived in American in 1956, already a U.S. citizen because his father was a WW I veteran serving in the U.S military. He has five brothers, the late John Joe, the late Thomas, Vincent, and Father Eugene, who is a lt. colonel/chaplain with the U.S. Air Force, and three sisters, the late Mary, Beatrice and the late Patricia. In 1960 Patrick met his wife Bea Walsh from Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo at the Jaeger House in Ireland. They purchased a home in Rockaway in 1980 moving from the Bronx. They are the proud parents of five children: three girls, Patricia Reed, Nuala, and Mary, and two boys, Patrick Jr. and Michael. They also have five grandchildren: Patrick Nee Jr. (9), Dennis Nee (4), Caroline Nee (7), Maegen Reed (7) and Noeline Reed (16). Patrick attended St. Jarleth’s College in Co. Mayo for two years and was a member of their Gaelic Football Club from 1947-1948. Patrick is retired from Local 32 BJ, was a doorman for 20 years, and is a retired stagehand Local 829 where he worked for 15 years. In addition to always being a "union man," Patrick is a member of the local Democratic club, the Mayo Society, Rockaway Park Homeowners and Residents, Inc., and the GAA Mayo Football Club in New York from 1956 to 1958. Patrick is a member of St. Francis de Sales Parish. He joined the AOH in 1958 in Washington Heights, Division 9, and is presently a member of the Myles James McPartland Division 21 in Rockaway Beach. Born in Leeglan, Blacklion, Co. Cavan, Ireland, Lena is the sixth child of Terrance and Ellenia McCorry. She was raised on a farm with her brothers and sisters: Thomas, the late Hugh, Susan, the late Bridget, Mary Margaret ("Peggy"), and the late Terrance. In the fall of 1948, along with her sister Peggy, they left their family and home in Ireland to travel to a new life in America. In 1956 Lena and her sister Peggy became U.S. citizens. Returning home for a brief visit in 1952, she met up again with her childhood classmate Philip McManus, whom she married at St. John the Baptist Church in Manhattan in 1955. Over the years, Lena and her family lived in several homes in the New York area. First in Staten Island, then Brooklyn, before purchasing their home in Arverne in the fall of 1963. This home is where she, her son Hugh, and her sister Peggy Dywer reside today. After 29 years of marriage her husband Philip passed away. Like her parents, Lena and Philip were the proud parents of seven children: the lat Mary, John Francis, Brian, Cathleen, Hugh, Thomas and Philip Jr. She has one son-in-law, Martin; three daughters-in-law, Eileen, Tracie and Regina; and is the proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren: Ellenia, Teresa, Martin Jr., Erin (all Kean’s), Philip Jr, Megan, Caitlin, Regina Lena, Brian Jr., Mary Brigid, James, and Robert Emmet Sands. Lena had worked several jobs after arriving in America, as a housekeeper and nanny, a waitress in Schraffts Restaurant, a cashier and ride operator in Playland, a cashier in Pantry Pride. Her last job, before retiring in 1997 to enjoy her golden years and growing family of grandchildren, was at Madeline Chocolate Factory, where she worked for more than 22 years. Lena is a very active member of St. Rose of Lima’s Parish as part of the Perpetual Adoration Team and a Eucharistic Minister. She can always be found attending most of the church functions that are held. She has been a member of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 22 for more than 10 years, and at present she holds the position of missions of Catholic Charities. She is very devoted to her Irish roots and is proud of its history and culture she has instilled in her children. Both her sons John and Philip are past presidents of the Myles James McPartland, AOH Division 21, and her other sons, Brian and Hugh, are members. Her daughter-in-law Eileen (Tumelty) is the treasurer and Regina (Breen) is the recording secretary of Division 22.
|
|
||||
