Catherine M. Feeley

catherine feeley

February 15, 1924 ~ February 25, 2023

Born in: New York, NY
Resided in: Clermont, FL

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

 

Catherine Feeley was born Feb 15, 1924, to John and Delia (Carney) O’Brien in Queens, NY. Her mother died when she was a toddler and after her father remarried, they moved back to Ireland where she was raised. At the age of 16, she ran away from home to Dublin where she met the love of her life, her husband of 64 years, Jimmy Feeley. One of her jobs while she lived in Dublin was as a waitress. One night a customer came in who gave her an attitude and she poured hot soup into his lap.

Catherine and Jimmy ran back to the States as fast as they could and settled in New York. They were married in 1950 and began popping out kids left and right beginning in 1952. They had 7 children: Cathy, Marian, Jimmy, Kevin, Shannon, Eileen, and Sean. They also had 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was a devoted wife and mother. All seven children attended Catholic school and they always went to mass every Sunday. Every Easter they all got new shoes. Catherine and Jimmy worked multiple jobs to make sure their family was always provided for.

The family calls Catherine, St. Catherine because of her commitment to her husband, Jimmy, and her family. In 1983, they had to bury their youngest son, Sean, when he was only 17. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when Kevin died in 2000. Catherine buried 2 children and later buried her husband in 2014, but still kept her faith in God.

Catherine and Jimmy moved to Florida in 1990 where they got to spend time with some of their grandchildren. Kerry remembers sleepovers at their house and waking up to pancakes from the cast iron skillet and pots of hot tea. The grandkids loved going to their house and playing spy on the adults or making them drinks. Catherine was very involved as a grandmother. She took care of Tiffany when she lived with her. She drove Erin to and from middle school. She loved each of her family members unconditionally.

Catherine loved her shrimp, scotch and water, and chocolate martinis. She loved to knit and crochet. She always had so much fun at the Irish American when she lived in New York. Catherine was full of life and love!!!

Catherine was deeply devoted to the Blessed Mother and prayed multiple rosaries per day. She attended mass every week without fail. She had a great love for St. Gerard when she was pregnant with Sean, as well as St. Padre Pio, St. Thérèse, St. Anthony, and St. Jude. Her faith was a model for her children and grandchildren. Any time anyone asked her to pray for something, it always was answered. She always made sure to remind us that we go to mass for the man on the cross, not the man on the altar.

Catherine was constantly on the move. She never sat for more than a few minutes because she was always the caretaker. She always wanted to make sure that Jimmy and anyone who was in the house always had what they needed. She was the faithful servant we hear about in the Gospels. Catherine never had a bad word to say about anyone and always “told it like it was.” She will be remembered as a loving, nurturing, strong, Irish Catholic, family-oriented woman. St. Catherine will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Services

Visitation: March 2, 2023 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Branch Funeral Home Smithtown
190 E. Main St.
SMITHTOWN, NY 11787


Mass: March 3, 2023 11:30 am

St Patrick's RC Church (SMT)
280 E. Main St
Smithtown, NY 11787


Interment:

Holy Rood Cemetery
Old Country Road
WESTBURY, NY


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Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Catherine M. Feeley 's name.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN

https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html

Tunnel to Towers

2361 Hylan Blvd
Staten Island, NY

https://t2t.org/

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