Julia E. Hayes of St. George, Staten Island, died peacefully on August 19, 2019 at Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Old Town. She was 93 years old.
Born Julia Elise Kneeshaw on Staten Island on July 5, 1926, Julia was a daughter of Thomas and Annie Woodnoth Kneeshaw, and sister to Thomas, John and Anne, her twin. Growing up in Midland Beach, she graduated from New Dorp High School in 1944 and later from Wagner College
At Wagner, Julia was an active member of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. An athlete, Julia played varsity basketball for Wagner College, and later was an avid tennis player and bowler. She was a volleyball mom for the Curtis High School Girls Championship team of 1976, packing as many players as she could into her station wagon for away games. Julia continued league bowling into her 91st year.
After graduation from Wagner College Julia went on to become an elementary school teacher, teaching first in New Jersey and then for years on Staten Island. She taught at several Staten Island schools over the years including PS 16 and St. Peter’s Elementary School.
Julia married John J. Hayes of St. George, Staten Island on August 6, 1955 at St. Margaret Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Midland Beach. They had been married for over 60 years when her husband passed away on February 5, 2016 and had eight children, followed by numerous grandchildren and great children.
Julia was a devout Catholic and, as long as she was able, a daily Mass goer. Julia was a long-time member of the choir of St. Peter’s R.C. Church in St. George. She is remembered for her devotion and good works.
Julia also sang for many years with the Richmond Choral Society and was active in the right to life movement on Staten Island.
As the mother of eight children, Julia was known and loved and now remembered not only by her own children but by scores of neighborhood children who spent time playing in and around the Hayes house on St.Marks Place. A den mother for the Cub Scouts, one of her former cub scouts said of Mrs. Hayes “She was so full of love… I’ll never forget her kindness…and strength. How did she do it all?”
Julia E. Hayes was predeceased by her husband, John, by daughter Betty Anne Szaro (Wayne), her brothers Thomas and John. She is survived by her daughter Linda Hayes Pischke (Karl) and her six sons, John (Kathleen), Thomas (Maria), James (Laura), William (Laura), Robert (Beth) and Richard, as well as sixteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, along with her twin sister Anne Mensing.
Visitors will be received at Harmon Home for Funerals on Wednesday between 7-9 P.M. and Thursday, 2-4 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter’s Church, Friday 10:00 A.M. followed by interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Twenty-Third Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters. He
restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou
anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth
over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18