Obituary of Bridget Callaghan

Bridget Mary (“Bea”) Callaghan (née Farley) passed away on October 1, 2024 after celebrating her 98^th birthday.  She had dementia in her final years but never lost her sense of humor or strong spirit.  In her final days she was surrounded by her loving children, aides Bah and Ayisha, sister Christine, grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 

She is pre-deceased by her husband James Callaghan, her grandson Gregory Callaghan, and her siblings Michael (Ellie) Farley, Patrick (Marie) Farley, Sarah (Michael) Mahon, Ann (Mick) McEvoy, Eugene (Mary) Farley, Eddie McPartland, Kathleen Parsons-Burke (Jack Parsons, Michael Burke) and Rose (Michael) Studdert.  Bridget will be missed by her adoring children John Callaghan, Mary Callaghan (Michael Dunworth), Geraldine Cheverko, Michael (Teresa) Callaghan and Patricia (Patrick) Carberry.

Her memory will be cherished by her grandchildren Christy Callaghan (Erika Barone), Kelly (Chris) Palmese, Jimmy Callaghan (Yi He), Colleen Cheverko, Jonathan Dunworth (Liz Forester), Jennifer Callaghan (Tim Kash), Jeffrey (Anna) Dunworth, Thomas Callaghan (Amanda Morici), Michael Callaghan (Arianna Borriello), Matthew Dunworth (Abigail Katz), Tim Callaghan, Sean Callaghan, Brendan Carberry (Sydney Howell) and Ryan Carberry. She leaves behind her precious great grandchildren James, Aidan, Maeve, Ellie, Liam, Nolan and Sophia.  She will be dearly missed by her sister Christine, many nieces and nephews here and in Ireland, many in laws and out laws and many friends.

Bridget was born on September 19, 1926, in Aughnacliffe, County Longford, Ireland to the late John Joe Farley and Mary Coyle.  She was the middle child of nine and loved to talk about her time growing up in Aughamore with her brothers and sisters.  She would often joke about sharing chores on the farm and how some were better at doing their chores than others.

Her fondest memories were at Molly’s School which they all attended together and Christmas Eve when they decorated the house with bells and a candle in every window. Bridget left Ireland in early 1949 to find a job in America. She was very homesick but soon found employment and started her new life.  Later that year, she used her savings to furnish an apartment in Hollis for her parents and younger siblings. Bridget worked as a nanny and a nurse’s aide for years, treating every person in her care like they were her own.

She was a kind and loving person to all who knew her. She met the love of her life, Jimmy Callaghan, on a warm spring evening in Manhattan in 1950 and they were married in St Vincent Ferrer church in September 1952. They raised their family in St Nicholas of Tolentine Parish on Fordham Road in the Bronx, a parish they cherished.  They also spent many happy years in Leeds, New York next door to their dear friends, Morris and Bridie McKenna. 

They were married for over 50 years until Jimmy’s death in June 2003. Bridget’s favorite hobby was her grandchildren, many of which she helped to raise.  She could often be heard telling them “I’m a tough old cookie” and she could whip up her famous pancakes in the time it took you to get to the table.  While she never had a formal secondary education, it was her passion to encourage education to all those around her. Bridget always held a deep connection to Ireland and treasured her visits back to “the old sod”.  She lived in Katonah until her death, just up the hill from St. Mary’s where she attended daily mass for 20 years.

Family and friends may call at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Rd. Katonah, N.Y. on Thursday, October 3 from 4 to 8 pm.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s RC Church, 55 Valley Rd. Katonah, N.Y. on Friday, October 4 at 10:00am.

Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital: www.stjude.org