IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lynch, 84, Oneonta;

Born In Ireland, Waitress In NYC, Miami

ONEONTA – It is with sadness and joy that the death of Susan Lynch, 84, on March 25, 2018, is told: Sadness for the loss of her and joy for her that she is now with family members and friends she loved and missed who are no longer on this earth.

Susan was born on Aug. 14, 1933, in Straths, Carndonagh, County Donegal, Ireland, to James Lynch and Rose Anne (Toland) Lynch.

She lived and worked on the family farm and a neighbor’s farm while young until she went to work off the farms at age 14.

One of the jobs she had was at the Northern Counties Hotel in Derry City, Northern Ireland, a city and job she loved. She worked helping to set up dining room and was eventually promoted to waitress.

Happy living in Derry with her mother and sisters, an opportunity came to come to the U.S.A.  With great courage and determination, at age 17, she took herself off to America, sponsored by a family friend, and made her life here.

Processing great energy and always a hard worker, she waitressed at Schrafft’s Restaurant in New York City for a few years before moving to Miami, Fla.  Susan worked at the Skyways Motel Dining Room, learned to drive, and bought her first and only car, a Studebaker Lark.

She loved going to the beach, Matheson Hammock Park, swimming and exploring different places.  After having her daughter, Susan became a devoted mother.  Processing a good imagination, she made childhood fun.  When not working, mother and daughter were off to the beach, pony rides, fun parks, or taking long car rides somewhere.

After living and working in Miami for a long while, a move was made back to New York City.  Living in The Bronx and working over the years waitressing at the United Nations dining room, the Statler Hilton and other places.

Susan continued to love going to the beach, especially Orchard Beach in The Bronx.  She had a great sense of fun, loved staying in touch with family and friends, always writing letters and sending cards, and had a giving, loving personality along with a quick Irish temper.

When she could no longer do waitressing due to hearing loss, she did caregiving, enjoying the people she cared for and they her as she had a good sense of humor.

A number of years ago, she made the move to Oneonta to be near us.  She continued to stay in touch with letter writing and cards, loved to read books and read her favorite newspaper, The New York Daily News.

She had great faith, prayed the Rosary each day, and had a feisty personality to the end, along with a generous heart.  There is so much to a person’s life, hopes and dreams, hurts and disappointments, joys and sorrows.  This is just an outline of hers.

She is now with family members she had greatly missed: Her sisters, Rosie McLaughlin, Kathleen Nauwelaerts, Teresa Lynch; her best friend, Bridget [Dougherty] Zysk; her brothers, John and Edward Lynch; her uncles, mother and father; also, twin sisters who died in infancy and a brother, Neil who died around 2 years of age.

She leaves behind her sister, Ellen [Nellie] O’Connor; her brother, Anthony Lynch along with many nieces and nephews in Ireland and England.  She also leaves behind her daughter and son in law, Ruby and Patrick Rogan.

A funeral mass will take place at St Mary’s Church, Oneonta, at a later date.

Arrangements are entrusted by Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta. For online condolences visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com