Obituary for Audrey E. O'Hare (Greene)
Watervliet- Audrey O’Hare passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in Albany NY. Born on May 30, 1928, in Yonkers, Audrey was the daughter of F. Vernon Greene, Florence Yesilonis and her stepdad Steven Yesilonis. Audrey was predeceased by her beloved husband of 55 years, J. Donald O’Hare who passed away in 2007.
Audrey and her family moved to Nassau, NY when she was in elementary school and she graduated from Columbia High School in 1945. Audrey received a scholarship to attend St. Rose College where she received a BA in 1949. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany where she met the love of her life Donald.
Audrey has always had a love for children and music. While pursuing a teaching position she played the piano with a square dance band. In 1951 she obtained her first position teaching English at Jefferson Central School. She also served as librarian, homeroom teacher and coach for the cheerleading squad there. Audrey loved to sing and was known as Bunny Ryan when she sang at The NightCap Inn in Troy while Donald played bass. In 1965 she began teaching at HVCC where she taught English and Spanish for 25 years.
Audrey, Donald and the kids traveled around the country in 1970 with their camper. They spent many happy summers camping on Lake George. When they retired, they spent winters at their condo in Naples, Florida.
Audrey was a longtime member of St. Brigid’s church in Port Schuyler and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Watervliet. She had a strong connection to Mary and prayed the rosary every day. She made rosaries and taught many others how to make rosaries for missionaries.
Audrey spent much of her retirement enjoying activities and volunteering at the Watervliet Senior Center. She also did volunteer work at Church and The Eddy in Troy. In 2016 she received the Albany Diocese Senior Lifetime Achievement award from Bishop Scharfenberger. At the Senior Center she sang with the Watervliet Cannonaires for many years and worked closely with the choir director Paul Lamar who became her dear friend. She thoroughly enjoyed bridge and shared her expertise with others at the Center. She especially enjoyed dressing up for the annual Halloween costume contest and claimed first prize most years.
More than anything, Audrey loved spending time with her family. She loved hosting holidays and having all the family together. She especially loved being with her grandchildren and 2 great grandsons.
Audrey is survived by her son Michael (Patricia) O’Hare, daughters Mary Burrill, Catherine (Daniel) O’Hare Adams and Karen O’Hare, grandchildren Jason R. O’Hare, Elizabeth Burrill, Anna (Tom) Adams Pridham, Cassandra (Brandon) Adams, Margaret (John) Dudek and great grandchildren Jason K. O’Hare and Ezra Dudek. She was preceded in death by her sons John O’Hare and Robert O’Hare, her brother, Robert Ellis Greene - Holy Cross Brother, son-in-law William Burrill and daughter-in-law Elizabeth O’Hare.
The O’Hare family would like to thank the staff at the Teresian House for all the wonderful care that Audrey received. They are also most thankful to all the excellent caregivers Audrey had while she was still at home. In particular they want to thank RoseMarie, Renee and Cheryl who continued to brighten Audrey’s day with many visits at the Teresian House.
Her funeral mass will be Saturday at 11:30 am at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet. Interment will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Cummings Funeral Home, 643 Third Avenue (Rt. 32 South of Arsenal), Watervliet on Friday from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, https://www.jdrf.org/upstateny/) or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Watervliet.
Condolence book at cummingsfuneralhome.com.
Audrey and her family moved to Nassau, NY when she was in elementary school and she graduated from Columbia High School in 1945. Audrey received a scholarship to attend St. Rose College where she received a BA in 1949. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany where she met the love of her life Donald.
Audrey has always had a love for children and music. While pursuing a teaching position she played the piano with a square dance band. In 1951 she obtained her first position teaching English at Jefferson Central School. She also served as librarian, homeroom teacher and coach for the cheerleading squad there. Audrey loved to sing and was known as Bunny Ryan when she sang at The NightCap Inn in Troy while Donald played bass. In 1965 she began teaching at HVCC where she taught English and Spanish for 25 years.
Audrey, Donald and the kids traveled around the country in 1970 with their camper. They spent many happy summers camping on Lake George. When they retired, they spent winters at their condo in Naples, Florida.
Audrey was a longtime member of St. Brigid’s church in Port Schuyler and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Watervliet. She had a strong connection to Mary and prayed the rosary every day. She made rosaries and taught many others how to make rosaries for missionaries.
Audrey spent much of her retirement enjoying activities and volunteering at the Watervliet Senior Center. She also did volunteer work at Church and The Eddy in Troy. In 2016 she received the Albany Diocese Senior Lifetime Achievement award from Bishop Scharfenberger. At the Senior Center she sang with the Watervliet Cannonaires for many years and worked closely with the choir director Paul Lamar who became her dear friend. She thoroughly enjoyed bridge and shared her expertise with others at the Center. She especially enjoyed dressing up for the annual Halloween costume contest and claimed first prize most years.
More than anything, Audrey loved spending time with her family. She loved hosting holidays and having all the family together. She especially loved being with her grandchildren and 2 great grandsons.
Audrey is survived by her son Michael (Patricia) O’Hare, daughters Mary Burrill, Catherine (Daniel) O’Hare Adams and Karen O’Hare, grandchildren Jason R. O’Hare, Elizabeth Burrill, Anna (Tom) Adams Pridham, Cassandra (Brandon) Adams, Margaret (John) Dudek and great grandchildren Jason K. O’Hare and Ezra Dudek. She was preceded in death by her sons John O’Hare and Robert O’Hare, her brother, Robert Ellis Greene - Holy Cross Brother, son-in-law William Burrill and daughter-in-law Elizabeth O’Hare.
The O’Hare family would like to thank the staff at the Teresian House for all the wonderful care that Audrey received. They are also most thankful to all the excellent caregivers Audrey had while she was still at home. In particular they want to thank RoseMarie, Renee and Cheryl who continued to brighten Audrey’s day with many visits at the Teresian House.
Her funeral mass will be Saturday at 11:30 am at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet. Interment will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Cummings Funeral Home, 643 Third Avenue (Rt. 32 South of Arsenal), Watervliet on Friday from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, https://www.jdrf.org/upstateny/) or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Watervliet.
Condolence book at cummingsfuneralhome.com.