Obituary of Winifred A. Long

GLENMONT - Winifred A. (nee Lally) Long, devoted, loving wife and mother of seven passed away peacefully with family by her side on Monday November 5, 2018 at the age of 85. Winnie was born in Bronx, NY on January 18, 1933. She was the daughter of the late Winifred (Burke) and John Lally from County Sligo and Galway, Ireland, respectively. Winnie graduated from Walton High School in NYC and entered the work force as a secretary for Con Edison in NYC. She enjoyed an active social life in and around NYC with her girlfriends as well as shopping at her favorite department stores like B. Altmans. One of her fondest memories of her young adulthood was taking a cross country trip in 1954 with her dear friends, the Norton's. While enjoying summer nights in Far Rockaway Queens, she met the love of her life and future husband Joseph F. Long. Winnie and Joe were married at St. Luke's on November 3, 1956 and began their 53-year journey together until Joe's death on March 4, 2009. The couple resided in Yorkville, NYC until moving to the family's long- time residence on Birch Drive in Nanuet, NY. Her greatest accomplishment in life was giving life to her seven children and serving as a true matriarch of her family. Winnie was a strong, independent Irish woman who embodied the qualities of love, loyalty, determination and respect. These qualities live on in her children and grandchildren. The greatest gift she gave her family was her "selflessness". She always put her family's needs above her own. Although she never fulfilled her dream of earning a degree in nursing, Winnie valued education and the importance of learning and gaining knowledge through books and her love of reading. She could often be found perusing the shelves of local libraries in search of a "good read". She and Joe sacrificed much so that all 7 of their children attended private parochial school and received a college degree. Later in life she was a part time service representative for Cresco Co. at Caldor in Nanuet. This allowed her to rekindle her love of shopping and actually buy a thing or two for herself but she never really took a break from the job she was most proud of, being "Mom"! Winnie was strong willed in life and death and she never stopped fighting until her last breath. In addition to her husband Joseph, Winnie was pre-deceased by her brother, Thomas Lally, and several brother and sisters-in-law. She is survived by her daughter Jo-Ann P. Long (Jim Georgia) of Cliffside Park, NJ, her sons Timothy J. Long of Glenmont, NY, Joseph F. Long II (Barbara) of Cedar Grove, NJ, John M. Long (Elizabeth O'Halloran) of Rock Tavern, NY, Daniel P. Long of Delmar, NY, and daughters Mary A. Long of Monsey, NY and Winifred Slawson (Frank) of Otego, NY. Winnie is also survived by her 6 grandchildren, Leland, Emily, Paul and Olivia Slawson and Ryan and Ethan Long, in addition to her sister-in-law Mary Lally and several nieces and nephews. Visitation hours will be from 9 to 11am at St. Matthew's Church at 25 Mountainview Street, Voorheesville, NY, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am on Saturday, November 24, 2018. A private burial will take place at a later date at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Winifred A. Long's memory may be made to NAMI-Rockland, P.O. Box 635, Orangeburg, NY 10962. (National Alliance for Mentally Ill).