Father James O'Brien: Maryknoll Missioner

Father James Michael O'Brien M.M. of Belmont, Massachusetts, died April 27 at St. Theresa's Residence in Ossining after a long illness.
He was 84 and a priest for 56 years.
Ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949, Father O'Brien was first assigned to Wuchow in south China. Due to the 1949 Communist takeover of that country, his assignment was changed to Peru, where he was to serve for all but six years of his mission career.
After studying the Spanish language in Arequipa, Peru, his first assignment was to San Juan Bautista Parish in the small city of Puno, located on Lake Titicaca. He then studied Quechua, the principal language spoken there at the time.
He later worked in Assumption Parish in the Quechua town of Azangaro, where he started a movement which developed local lay leaders into catechists. This enabled him to extend his pastoral reach throughout the sprawling parish with its many chapels.
During a sabbatical leave in 1956, O'Brien studied the management of cooperatives and credit unions at St. Francis University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in an effort to improve the prospects of his parishioners in Peru.
When he returned to Peru in 1957, he was elected Vicar General for the new Prelature of Juli, which encompassed all of the Aymara-speaking people on Lake Titicaca. Once again he had a new and difficult indigenous language to learn.
In 1967, O'Brien was transferred to the large urban parish of Santa Rosa in Lima, where he worked for just one year prior to being assigned to the United States. He spent the next six years doing mission promotion and education work in Los Angeles, Boston and Arizona (1968-74).
Returning to Peru in 1974, O'Brien was assigned to a parish on the outskirts of Lima, called Ciudad de Dios. In 1981, he was transferred to San Francisco in the Pamplona Alta section outside Lima.
With the help of benefactors in this country and his parishioners, he and the Peruvian pastor built a combination church and parish hall, a retreat center and a "comedor," which also serves as a library and study hall. The principal reason for opening the comedor was to feed the small children of poor families, especially in their earliest years. Because of the burgeoning population, with people migrating from villages in the Andes to the city in search of work, they also built four more churches in the area.
"I'm certain that St. Francis of Assisi helped us build our parish named for him," O'Brien wrote in a 1996 MaryKnoll magazine article. "In 1990, the saint known as
Ll Poverello, the little poor man, saw his combination church and parish hall rise as a center for worship and instruction for the people in this poor neighborhood."
O'Brien formerly retired in 1993, though he remained active as Pastoral Vicar in the parish church of San Francisco de la Cruz, working in the family catechetical programs in the community as well as running the Center House, and welcoming visitors, supervising the staff and overseeing maintenance of the grounds. When he retired, the people gave him a painting of Jesus holding a lamb in his arms, to let him know that he was their good shepherd.
O'Brien returned to the United States in 2002 and took up residence at St. Theresa's Residence in July of that year.
Born in Cambridge on May 24, 1921, he moved with his family to Belmont, where he attended J.S. Kendall grade school and graduated from Belmont High School (1939). He attended Boston College for two years (1939-41) and then entered Maryknoll Apostolic College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.
Father O'Brien is survived by his sisters, Mary Gallagher and Ann Finigan, of Belmont, and Gertrude Flynn, of Arlington, and his brother and sister-in-law, John and Nancy O'Brien, of Naples, Florida.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Chapel, followed by Christian burial at Maryknoll Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made in Father O'Brien's name to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, N.Y., 10545.

Muriel Rubenfeld:Peekskill resident

Muriel Rubenfeld, a longtime Peekskill resident, died April 26.
She was 88.
She was born October 30, 1917, in Mount Vernon to Barney and Bella Goldstein. She graduated from Peekskill High School in 1936.
After working in Peekskill and Manhattan, she married Leonard Rubenfeld in 1945. Together, they operated Rubenfeld's Ladies Wearing Apparel until their retirement in 1991.
Mrs. Rubenfeld was active in the First Hebrew Congregation for 75 years: a member of the choir, Sisterhood and Hadassah, and the Hebrew School's Board and Treasurer. She was also a member of the Board of Peekskill Interfaith Housing and a volunteer for various organizations, including Hudson Valley Hospital.
She cherished time with her family. She loved to entertain, and enjoyed reading, tending her gardens, being current with world events, and traveling to worldwide destinations.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard and sister Adelaide.
She is survived by her son, Stephen (Charlotte) of Duluth, Minnesota, and Robert (fiancée Rachel Schindler) of Peekskill and Manhattan; two granddaughters, Brena Rubenfeld of St. Paul, Minnesota and Becca Rubenfeld of Oakland, California; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime friends.
The family wishes to thank her health care providers, the staff at Drum Hill Senior Living Center, and her aides, Mary Warren and Toni Bizzaro, for their care, comfort and concern extended.
Services were held at First Hebrew Congregation, followed by interment at the cemetery of the congregation.
Donations may be sent to First Hebrew Congregation,1821 East Main Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or the American Cancer Society.

Mary Jane O'Mara: Ossining resident

Mary Jane O'Mara, a longtime resident of Ossining, died April 26.
She was 67.
She was born May 9, 1938, and raised in Woodside Queens.
She was a former Maryknoll Sister and served in the missions in Peru and Bolivia. For the past 24 years, she was a teacher at St. Theresa's School in Briarcliff Manor. She was a communicant at St. Ann's Church in Ossining, where she was very active with parish committees and activities.
Mrs. O'Mara is survived by her son, Patrick (Mary Ellen); her daughter, Anne (William) O'Malley; her brothers, Eugene and Charles Feldman; and four grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, on June 13, 2001, and her brother, Henry Feldman.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Ann's Church in Ossining. Interment followed at St. Augustine's Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were handled by Dorsey Funeral Home in Ossining
Family and friends are making donations to St. Ann's Church, 25 Eastern Avenue, Ossining NY 10562 or the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll NY 10545.

Eileen Williams: Buchanan resident

Eileen M. Williams, a longtime Buchanan resident, died April 26 at her home among her family members.
She was 44.
She was an artist and classroom coordinator for A.C. Moore in Yorktown. A decorator and teacher of the arts, she was an accomplished craftsperson, and her work is on display at many locations in the community. She also held many arts and crafts shows from her home.
She was born in Cold Springs on August 9, 1961, to Myron and Christine Markley Tice.
On August 17, 1985, she married Dennis Williams at Bear Mountain.
Known for her quick wit and humor, Mrs. Williams also enjoyed watching her son's sporting events in the area.
Survivors include her husband, Dennis, and children, Alex and Rebecca, of Buchanan; her mother, Christine Markley of Montrose; her father and step-mother, Myron and Susan Tice of Cold Spring; her sisters, Holly (John) Brecher of Danbury, Connecticut, Lisa Jordan of Pawley's Island, South Carolina, Tina Tice of Cold Spring, and Chantal (Nick) Lisikatos of Cold Spring; and many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service was held at Episcopal Church of the Divine Love. Burial followed at Sunset Cemetery.

Anna Burns: Verplanck resident

Anna P. Burns, a longtime Verplanck resident, died April 29 at Hudson Valley Hospital.
She was 71.
She was born August 13, 1934, in Derry City, Northern Ireland, to Patrick and Martha Gallagher Cassidy.
She came to the United States and married George H. Burns Jr. on December 1, 1956, at St. Patrick's Church. Mr. Burns died in 1992.
Mrs. Burns had been an active parishioner and volunteer at St. Patrick's Church since coming to Verplanck. She was employed for a short period at Standard Brands in Peekskill.
Mrs. Burns is survived by her children, George P. (Marianne) Burns, of Germantown, New York. Brian Burns, of Verplanck, Harry (Erin) Burns, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Annmarie (Carl) Trischetti, of Palenville, and Martha (Scott) Clearwater, of Stuart, Florida; two brothers, John and Brian Cassidy, both of Derry City; two sisters, Kathleen Williams, of Staines, England, and Bernadette Finucane, of Derry City; and nine grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by two brothers, Patrick and James Cassidy.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick's Church. Burial followed at St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Richard Cuozzi:ex-Yorktown resident

Richard Cuozzi, a former Yorktown resident, died April 29 at Westchester Medical Center, just 14 days before his 60th birthday.
Mr. Cuozzi retired from the Town of Yorktown Parks and Recreation after nearly 30 years of service and moved to High Point, North Carolina, to be closer to his son, Rick, who had just completed a five-year tour of duty in the Marine Corps.
His youngest son, Tommy, moved to North Carolina with his family and the plan was for his two daughters to move down shortly after.
Mr. Cuozzi was up in Yorktown visiting his grandson Joey for his first birthday when he suffered a massive heart attack and a month later died from complications. He was loved by everyone and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
He is predeceased by his wife, Susan.
Mr. Cuozzi is survived by his brother, Joseph, of Florida; two sons, Rick of High Point North Carolina, and Tommy of Ruffin, North Carolina; two daughters, Dana Arditi and Lisa Raguso, both of Yorktown; and eight grandchildren, two from each child.
Funeral services were held at St. Patrick's Church. Burial services followed at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla.

Elaine Gebbia: Ossining resident

Elaine Gebbia, a resident of Ossining, died May 2 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx.
She was 66.
She was born in the Bronx October 7, 1939 to Donato and Louise Ritucci.
Mrs. Gebbia was a retired administrative assistant with the Westchester County Youth Bureau. She was a communicant of St. Augustine's Church in Ossining.
She is survived by her husband, William; two sons, Russ and Richard; one daughter, Susan Cioffi; two brothers, Robert and Vincent; and nine grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Augustine Church in Ossining. Entombment followed at Ferncliff Cemetery Rosewood Mausoleum in Hartsdale. Funeral arrangements were handled by Dorsey Funeral Home in Ossining.
Donations can be made to St. Augustine's School, c/oSusan Gebbia, 83 Diamond Ave., Cortland Manor, NY 10567.