Obituary: Helen Mayo Lafferty

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Obituary: Helen Mayo Lafferty

Friday, 26 October 2012 00:00

Helen Mayo Lafferty, of Hicksville, born Aug. 10, 1925, died peacefully in her sleep at home in the early hours of Oct. 15. She had just turned 87 years of age. Her husband of 46 years, Raymond Lafferty, predeceased her in 1993.

Helen Mayo Lafferty Helen was a lifelong advocate for justice and quality public education for all. In the 1950s, she actively worked to defeat a John Birch Society member seeking election to the Hicksville Board of Education. She pioneered preschool education in Hicksville at Burns Avenue School, writing the school’s first pre-school curriculum. She also advocated actively for the introduction of formal high school sex education classes in the mid-1960s. Always acting as an independent voice and voter, she ran for, and was elected to, the Hicksville Board of Education on two occasions, serving one term as president. There were several careers in her life: she was a medical secretary, preschool administrator and a licensed real estate broker. She was an active, founding member of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Brookville. One of her greatest joys was gardening, where she came to be known as the flower lady of Indiana Street. She was also a keen follower of local, state and national politics. One of her expressed regrets was that she would likely not be able to vote in this year’s presidential election.

She is survived by her sister, Kathleen Keefler Kinch, of Montreal, her two sons, Brian Francis Patrick (Nancy) of Andover, MA and Scott Daniel Patrick (Donna) of West Babylon, NY, three grandchildren Caitlin, Brendan and Fiona, whom she loved very much. She was predeceased by her brothers, Richard and Francis (2012) and two children, Thomas (1954) and Priscilla (1957).

Her wake was held at the Vernon Wagner Funeral home located at Jerusalem Avenue and Old Country Road, Hicksville, on Thursday, Oct. 18. A funeral mass was scheduled for her on Friday, Oct. 19, at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Brookville, NY. Donations to Catholic charities in lieu of flowers are suggested.

News

Hicksville Board Outlines District Profile

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Hicksville School District Superintendent Maureen Bright gave an overall picture of the district profile at the school board meeting last Wednesday night. The meeting was the final one before the upcoming budget vote, which will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at Hicksville High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The total number for the 2013-14 proposed budget is $124,595,008. This is a 3.29 percent increase or $3,963,375 from the 2012-13 school year. In 2012-13 the total budget was $120,631,633.

Sports

Hicksville Wrestlers Place In States

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

James Russo, 11, of Hicksville, came in sixth place in the States Competition at 120lbs. Ryan Schecht, 11, of Hicksville, placed third in the States at 105lbs, and is on his way to the Nationals Championship.

Beach Stickers Sale

Thursday, 09 May 2013 00:00

Begins Saturday, May 11

Seasonal beach stickers may be purchased beginning on Saturday, May 11, so that residents may get their beach stickers ahead of time and avoid the rush during the Memorial Day weekend, when some town beaches will open for weekends.

“So many residents enjoy the beautiful beaches that we have here in the Town of Oyster Bay and eagerly look forward to the first opportunity to enjoy those beaches during the Memorial Day weekend,” Councilman Joseph Pinto said. “Town residents, who purchase a town beach sticker in advance of the beaches opening, will avoid the possibility of waiting in line during opening weekend.”