Obituary from Tracy O'Keefe:
Dec. 16, 2020
Teresa O’Keefe, 95, of Westfield, NJ
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Teresa O’Keefe (Drury) was born in the village of Derry Cough, Kingsland, County Roscommon, Ireland on May 26, 1925, to the proud parents of Mary Ann Brennan and Thomas Drury. She was one of nine children; predeceased by James, Bertie, Nora, Nan and Kathleen.
Her remaining siblings, Claire, Madeline and Vincent all still reside in Ireland. Teresa attended the Convent of Mercy in Boyle and after graduating in 1943 and worked for Delany’s Jewellers in Castlerea before leaving by boat for the United States at age 25.
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She met the love of her life, Joseph William O’Keefe (deceased), at an Irish dance in Jersey City, NJ. They married on September 11, 1954, settled in Elizabeth, NJ and raised five children: Thomas (Barry Brooks), Ann Marie Scanlon (Tom Della Badia), Terry Sheils (Chris), Claire Bockenhauer (John), Joseph (Tracy).
She worked for many years at Sears Roebuck until she and Joe happily retired to Brick, NJ. She moved to Westfield, NJ in 2010 and resided there under the loving care of her daughter Ann Marie and her husband Tom until her passing.
Teresa is survived by her five devoted children, as well as nine beloved grandchildren (Ryan, Aiden, and Connor Scanlon, Claire, Colleen and Brendan Sheils, Luke Bockenhauer and Finn and Riley O’Keefe), a cherished great-grandson Sullivan Scanlon, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Teresa enjoyed attending the famed Irish dances in New York’s Catskills, and was known for her strong Catholic faith, her quick wit and humor, and for her everlasting joy in singing Irish songs, especially with the grandchildren. She passed peacefully at home, still singing one of her favorites in her last days: “It's a hap-hap-happy day, Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra-Rai, You can't go wrong if you sing this song, It's a hap-hap-happy day.” In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, NJ (click here).
This obituary was produced by Tracy O'Keefe. The views expressed here are the author's own.