Ginny O'Keefe

On Monday, June 20th, Heaven was blessed with an angel as Ginny (Dooley) O’Keefe passed away while surrounded by her family and loved ones. 

Ginny, the seventh of eleven children, was born in New York City to her loving parents, the late William and Cecilia (Moran) Dooley. She attended Our Lady of Angels and Saint Barnabas High School and then spent over 30 years caring for others as a nurse at Saint Patrick’s Nursing Home before retiring to care for her grandchildren. 

Ginny was cherished by all who had the fortune of knowing her. She graced others with her generosity, sincerity, and genuine affection. This was symbolized most with her devoted husband, Neil, and her four daughters and their spouses, Courtney and Scott Mulcahy, Megan and Michael Ayala, Kaitlyn O’Keefe and her fiancee Ryan Cook, and Cyndi and Michael Samulowitz, as well her dearest treasures, her eight grandchildren, Cooper, Kylie, Carter, Alexis, Thomas, Alyssa, Alex, and soon, Baby Ayala. May they find comfort in knowing that they have a guardian angel watching over them. 

Ginny was equally beloved and adorned by her siblings and their respective spouses, Carol Ann and Kenny Brooks, Barbara and Kenny McLynch, Billy Dooley, Maryann Dooley, Kathy and Brian Waters, Marybeth and Mike Garbellano, Chris and Carol Dooley, Sandy (Ricigliano) Dooley, Jeanine Dooley and Marcie Mulé, and Annemarie and Phil Moynihan. Aunt G’s passing is also mourned by numerous nieces and nephews, whom she brought joy and a feeling of togetherness. Ginny is preceded in death by her parents, her much loved brothers, Gerry and Richard, and her sister-in-law, Cathy Burke-Dooley, the late wife of her brother, Billy. May their reunion be filled with laughter and a warm embrace. 

Words cannot justify the everlasting effect Ginny will always have on her family and loved ones. As her grandchildren said, “GiGi, will always be part of our hearts and we will be part of hers”. This sentiment is shared by everyone who was touched by her love and grace. If you asked Ginny what she enjoyed most, her answer would be simple; spending time with family and friends. Whether at a family outing, a gathering on the sands of the Jersey Shore, or sitting poolside, Ginny made every interaction and conversation all the more special and memorable. She furthered these moments with her altruistic spirit, sending cards or “Ginny” gifts to celebrate every possible occasion. Ginny modeled how to live, shared in every laugh, and most importantly, showed us how to love. She was truly one of a kind. 

Visiting hours will be held from 3:00 to 8:00pm on Thursday, June 23rd in the Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home located at 100 Franklin Avenue, Pearl River, NY. The funeral mass will be held at 10:00am on Friday, June 24th in St. Aedan’s Church located at 23 Reld Drive, Pearl River, NY. A final blessing will follow the mass at St. Anthony’s Cemetery located at 36 W Nyack Rd, Nanuet, NY. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ginny’s memory to the Lustgarten Foundation (Pancreatic Cancer Foundation https://lustgarten.org/) or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/). 

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