Obituary of Muriel Heafy

Muriel Uhl Heafy Pine Bush, NY Muriel Uhl Heafy, 92 a long term resident of Pine Bush passed away on January 22, 2013 after a lengthy illness at the home of her daughter and son in law, Elaine and John Tinghitella of Pine Bush. Mrs. Heafy, wife of the late Joseph E. Heafy, was born and raised in Newfoundland, PA. The eldest of four daughters born to parents Christian and Elizabeth Uhl, she grew up helping her father on the family farm, joining him on fishing and hunting excursions. She graduated from Greene-Dreher High School in 1939. In 1940 she moved to NYC and trained as a dental assistant .There, she was to meet her future husband on a blind date arranged by a patient. When Mr. Heafy joined the US Marine Corps during WWII she changed employment to also support the war effort as a receptionist with an airplane manufacturer. After the war she and Joe married. While working as a dental assistant she supported his long medical rehabilitation and his academic pursuits. The Heafys relocated to Pine Bush in 1956 to property inherited from his brother. In 1963 she took a position as receptionist at the Ellenville Medical Group, moving to the Middletown Medical Group in the 80's from where she retired in 1985. Mrs. Heafy was always a strong supporter of her daughters' education, careers and families. She never missed a school event or important activity, a commitment she continued with her three grandchildren. She and her husband were early recreation vehicle travelers, outfitting a van before it was in vogue, with a goal of visiting all the states and the major national parks; eventually flying to Hawaii and Alaska to complete their goal. Mrs. Heafy was a lifelong hiker, a hunter including with a bow, and a long distance walker instilling a sense of healthy aging in her daughters and grandchildren. She was often seen speed-walking on back roads collecting refundable cans in a dual effort to keep the environment clean and litter free, all the while funding her replacement walking shoes. But her greatest passion was driving, and not surprisingly, she is known for scooting around the country side in her TR7. Until the death of her husband in 2010, and her own worsening health she was an active member of the Pine Bush/Walker Valley Methodist Church and was known for always providing neighbors with a helping hand. She lived life to the fullest, inspiring her daughters and grandchildren with a legacy of making the most of life. She is survived by daughters, Bonnie (partner Ann Reinhart) of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Elaine Tinghitella (son-in-Law John Tinghitella) of Pine Bush; and grandchildren, Matthew J. Spadola, of Harris NY, Erin J. Spadola, of New York, and Patrick T. Spadola, of Albany, NY. Visitation will be held on Sunday January 27, 2013 from 2-5pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham RD Pine Bush. Funeral services will be offered on Monday January 28, 2013 at 10am at the funeral home with Pastor Robert Hewitt officiating. Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Center for Discovery, PO Box 840, Harris, NY 12742 (on behalf of her grandson, Matthew Spadola). Arrangements entrusted to the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com