Obituary of Eilís "Betsy" Mairead O'Hara

EILÍS MAIREAD O'HARA Loudonville- Eilís "Betsy" Mairead O'Hara, 72, of Loudonville and Dublin, Ireland, died Friday, November 4, 2016, after a brief illness. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she graduated from Vincentian Institute in Albany in 1961, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Russell Sage College in 1965 and obtained a Master of Arts degree in 2005 from SUNY Empire State College. She was a dedicated public servant who pursued her passion for historical and genealogical research following retirement from New York State service, living in Ireland for a number of years where she completed her Certificate in Local History from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in 2008. She was an avid reader who loved gardening and crafts, with an adventurous spirit and an irresistible laugh. She was a member of the Irish Georgian Society (Dublin), the American Society for Public Administration, the Garden Club of the Back Bay (Boston), the Royal Horticultural Society, Mystery Writers of America, the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society, and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust. She will be sorely missed by her daughter and traveling companion Lisa and future son-in-law Dave. She is also survived by a son, Patrick. She was predeceased by her brother, James P. Cowan, of Delmar, N.Y., and her parents, James Cowan and Elizabeth O'Hara Cowan. Her family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of St. Peter's Hospital. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday November 11, 2016 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Dufresne and Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd, Latham. Her mass will be held on Saturday November 12 at 10:00 am at St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Glenmont, N.Y. In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to the Garden Club of the Back Bay, PO Box 991017, Boston, MA 02199; the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society, Bury Quay, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland; or the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, Cultural Education Center Suite 9C49, Albany NY 12230. For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufrenseandcavanaugh.com.