Cecelia M McGivney

Cecelia was 88 years old and passed away peacefully in her home in Alpharetta, GA, where she resided since July of 2021, on October 28, 2022. She was born and raised in Staten Island, NY and attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School, and Notre Dame Academy High School. After High School she worked for the Telephone Company in New York and in 1955 she married the love of her life, Richard “Red” McGivney and they had three children. They were married for almost 25 years before Richard’s death in 1980.

After marriage, she worked for the Telephone Company in Maryland, the Staten Island Savings Bank, and Smiling Sunny’s during the Christmas Season. In 1982 Cecelia she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Wagner College and became a Registered Professional Nurse.

During nursing school, she worked as a nursing attendant at Silver Lake Nursing Home. Upon graduation she worked at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn NY. She worked in the Renal Unit and was instrumental in the development of their inpatient Peritoneal Dialysis Program.

For the latter part of her career, she worked as a home care nurse and supervisor with VNA of Staten Island, Mt. Sinai in Manhattan, and Girling Home Care in Brooklyn. She loved nursing and loved caring for others so much that she worked until she was 78.

Cecelia loved her Irish heritage and traveled to Ireland in 1982 with her children and grandchild, brothers and their families, to the home in Donegal, Ireland where her mother was born. Until recently she was in contact with her relatives in Ireland through Facebook. She was famous for her Irish Soda Bread and was a fixture at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island. She knew all the Irish dances and even took Gaelic classes to learn her mother’s language.

Cecelia loved gardening; her pride and joy were her beautiful gardens and flowers. She was also an avid reader and loved dancing to Big Band music.

Cecelia was a woman of deep faith. She faced many profound trials throughout her life; however, her faith allowed her to be transfigured by them. In many ways, and for many people she became an icon of suffering with great strength and grace through whom one could glimpse the Glory of God and Joy of Heaven that awaits.

Cecelia and her late husband Richard were founding parishioners of Holy Child Catholic Church where she was a Eucharist Minister of Holy Community and Eucharistic Guardian. They were active in Community Board 3, and Mount Augustine Retreat House. She was also a member of the Notre Dame Academy High School Alumnae Association.

Cecelia is predeceased by her husband Richard G. McGivney and son Richard E. “Rusty” McGivney, her parents Peter J. O’Connor and Hannah O’Donnell O’Connor, her brothers John P. O’Connor, James “Chiefie” O’Connor, and Edward J. O’Connor.

She is survived by her daughter, Ellen DeMarco and her son-in-law James, son Deacon Thomas McGivney and daughter-in law Maryann. Five grandchildren John DeMarco and his husband Robert Miele, Jessica DeMarco, Jacqueline Kozusko and her husband Shane, Matthew McGivney, Kaitlin McGivney and one great-granddaughter Isabella Giordano. Her family circle is completed by many cousins here, and in Ireland and Scotland, several loving nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cherished friends, wonderful neighbors and co-workers that have spanned decades and generations.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 6th from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Casey McCallum Rice Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave. Funeral mass on Monday November 7th at 10am at Holy Child Church, 4747 Amboy Rd. and interment to follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caseymccallumrice.com for the McGivney family.

The Richard E. “Rusty” McGivney Memorial Fund was established by our family after our brother passed away in 1999 through the New York Community Trust. The proceeds of the fund benefit the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation and the Wagner College Baseball Program.

In lieu of flowers, donations to “The Richard E. “Rusty” McGivney Memorial Fund”, Fund Number 3674, in memory of our Mom, Cecelia McGivney, would be greatly appreciated.

You may donate in two ways:

Online

1. Go to website nycommunitytrust.org

2. Click on “Give Online” at top of page

3. In field “Please use my donation for: Select “Fund “(enter name of the fund in the blank field: The Richard E. “Rusty” McGivney Memorial Fund

4. Click box “Make this gift in memory of someone” and complete rest of the fields with Mom’s name and your payment information

By Check/Mail In

Make checks payable to “Community Funds, Inc.” Write the fund name and number in the memo, with a note that your donation is in memory of Cecelia McGivney and mail to: Community Funds, Inc. P.O. Box 22472 New York, NY 10087-2472

With gratitude and thanks,

Ellen & Tom