The late Philomena Ahearne Strong left Tipperary for the United States when she was just 19

Philomena Ahearne Strong, 77, better known to friends and family as Phyllis, passed away quietly on December 29 last at her home in Bloomington, New York, surrounded by some of her beloved family.

Phyllis was born to Captain Paddy and Lena Ahearne on July 10, 1945, the youngest of fourteen children.

She spent her formative years in Donegal, Clerihan, near New Inn and Poulmucka in Tipperary. She emigrated from Ireland to the United States when she was 19, and began her nursing career at Tewksbury State Hospital, working on Ward C-5.

Upon retiring from nursing, she took a new path as a mass property appraiser with Finnegan Associates, working together with her husband on projects throughout New York State.

For most of her last fifteen years Phyllis returned to her nursing roots and was a home healthcare provider for families, helping them with their elderly parents, giving them dignified care while allowing them to stay at home.

Throughout her life, Phyllis loved to travel, camp and cook. She and her family travelled and camped throughout the United States and Europe when she, and they, were much younger.

More recently, despite having lost a leg fifteen years ago due to thrombosis, Phyllis never slowed down, accompanying family members to Six Flags on good weather weekends in the summer, and showing up to camping outings in the White Mountains with family and lifelong friends with the eggs, bangers (sausages), rashers of bacon and coffee that she and her husband had brought for the entire crew.

Phyllis’ cooking skills were legendary, and she could put together a professional meal for ten effortlessly.

She would watch cooking programmes and pick up new recipes and foods of which her family and friends were the beneficiaries.

She also maintained a small garden on her patio and loved all the birds that would visit. In short, she made every place she was in feel like home.

Phyllis is survived by Robert, her husband of 57 years; her son, Sean, of Londonderry, New Hampshire; and three grandchildren: Patrick, Dylan and Taylor.

Robert, Sean and Dylan were with Phyllis as she drew her last breath.

Phyllis is also survived by her sister, Margaret Whelan, in Harrow, Middlesex, England.

Other survivors include her stepdaughter Deborah Psaledakis of Lowell, Massachusetts; her granddaughter, Maranda Lussier and her husband Dan Lussier and great grandchildren Bobby, Rory and Kalvin; her grandson Justin Strong, and great grandchildren Alexia and Collin; her step daughter-in-law Karina Strong in Missouri, and her grandchildren Rebecca, Jessica, Bianca, Maggie and Sophia.

She is also survived by dozens of nieces, nephews and countless family in Scotland, England and Ireland. She will be missed and remembered by so many far and wide.

Graveside funeral services for Phyllis were held at the Brookside Cemetery in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, on Wednesday January 4. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.