Philipstown Obituaries

Helen Hosmer (1929-2017)

Helen C. Hosmer, 88, of Cold Spring, died at her home on July 17, 2017.

Helen was born on June 25, 1929, in Beacon, to John and Frances (Flanagan) Mac Bride. She married Alfred M. Hosmer, who died in 2014.

She was a member of the Philipstown Democratic Club and the Cold Spring Lions Club and was an avid bowler and tennis player.

Helen is survived by her sons, Michael J. Hosmer (Ileana) of Cooper City, Florida, and Gary T. Hosmer (Gail) of Wappingers Falls; her brother, John Mac Bride (Nicki) of Sarasota, Florida; four grandsons, Michael Hosmer (Nicole), Eric Hosmer, Justin Hosmer and Austin Hosmer; and her niece, Demetra.

A memorial service was held July 21 at Cold Spring Cemetery.

Sister Edmund (Jane Mary) McGourty (1918-2017)

Sister Edmund (Jane Mary) McGourty, 99, a Franciscan Sister of the Atonement, died at Graymoor in Garrison on July 26, 2017. She was an Atonement Missionary for 77 years.

Sister Edmund was born in Cornamuckla South, Ballanaglera, Co. Leitrim, Ireland, on Feb. 19, 1918, the daughter of Michael and Margaret McGourty. Her brothers John, Patrick, Charles and Michael McGourty and her sister Mary McGourty Rynn died before her.

A service will be held on July 30 at 4 p.m. and the wake at 7 p.m., followed by a funeral mass at 11 a.m. on July 31. at Graymoor Sisters’ Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524.

Father Mark O’Connor

Father Mark O’Connor (nee Lawrence), 87, a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement at Graymoor in Garrison, died July 14, 2017. In June 2016, Father O’Connor celebrated his 60th year as a friar.

A native of Boston, O’Connor was a former member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Forest Hill. He served in the U.S. Navy before entering the Community of the Friars of the Atonement in 1956. He professed his first vows in 1959 and made his final vows in 1964.

In preparation for ordination, he received a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and a master of divinity degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He worked at the Graymoor Press in Peekskill for many years before becoming the business manager of The Lamp and Ecumenical Trends.

He was assigned to St. Francis De Sales Parish in Lumberton, North Carolina, and then he took an assignment as the Ecumenical Secretary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Father Mark also served in pastoral ministry at Chapel of Our Savior in Brockton, Massachusetts, before he was assigned to the Spiritual Life Center at Graymoor.

A funeral mass was held at Graymoor on July 20, with interment in the Friars’ cemetery.