Maureen H. Cohn peacefully slipped away from this life at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. Born Francis Maureen Hartigan, she is survived by her beloved grandson, Elliott Wilson; her two daughters, Nora C. Hanley, of Hammondsport and Margaret Hanley Welles, of Santa Fe, NM; her two step daughters and their families, Melanie Reynolds and Sarah Marcotte; her two step sons and their families, Harry Cohn and William Lane; and her extended family of nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Maureen, or “Midge” Hartigan was born on Nov. 8, 1934 in Astoria, NY to John and Ruby Hartigan. She started life with a brother, Thomas. Everyone knew our mother as an energetic, generous, friendly and funny independent individual. Sometimes down right quirky, our mother, Maureen Cohn, touched a great many lives through her work and her day to day. She held a solitary position as an adventurous individual throughout her whole life. A woman who was much fun and loved by many, Maureen always kept Keuka Lake in a special place in her heart.
Maureen married William I. Cohn in the early sixties and became a teacher at Hammondsport Central School, then on to Oswego, NY, where she enjoyed her career as high school guidance counselor during the eighties and nineties. She is also survived by many close friends in Oswego and many happy years of working there and visiting Keuka, where she kept a modest cottage. Maureen Cohn was a gorgeous and stylish woman with a dazzling smile and a willingness to laugh at herself.
She possessed a great love of singing and a strong voice, which in her early days, she took to the stage. Her sense of style showed in every dwelling she happened to call home.
She took her teaching education at Keuka College, and eventually Alfred University, where she received her masters in education. She ultimately decided to build a house on the shorelines of Keuka for her retirement. Outspoken, opinionated and sometimes hilariously funny, always a snappy wit and sharp cynicism honed from being a hard working woman- she always said she was ahead of her time- and difficult years of life’s sharpening. She was no doubt political activist. She spent years as an effective negotiator for NYSTA, fighting hard for decent retirement plans for district teachers.
She was a worldly woman with travels including Ireland, Singapore, Cuba and Greece. Guiding, suggesting, criticizing laziness, cheering on the under achievers to heights previously unimagined. People have continuously approached her over the decades and share with her their personal stories of her substantial positive influence.
She showed warmth and light towards most strangers, always comfortable wherever she went or whatever she did, ferociously independent, usually alone and with grace. She had an intense intelligence with a gift for analysis that was admired by many. She loved Champagne, The New Yorker, shopping, "all of her kids" and, most of all, her grandson, Elliott.
Being of progressive persuasion, Maureen wished to be cremated. There will be a mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 at St. Gabriel’s Church in Hammondsport in Maureen’s memory, with a Celebration of Maureen’s Life to follow at Snug Harbor Restaurant, West Lake Road, Hammondsport. A Sanctuary Lamp will be lit for the week of Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010- Nov. 13 for the week commemorating her birthday. A Mass will be offered at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 in Memory of Maureen Cohn by her daughters and her grandson at St. Paul's Church, 50 East Mohawk St, Oswego, NY 13126. Contributions in her memory can be made at Oswego Central School or Hammondsport Central School.
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Maureen H. Cohn peacefully slipped away from this life at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. Born Francis Maureen Hartigan, she is survived by her beloved grandson, Elliott Wilson; her two daughters, Nora C. Hanley, of Hammondsport and Margaret Hanley Welles, of Santa Fe, NM; her two step daughters and their families, Melanie Reynolds and Sarah Marcotte; her two step sons and their families, Harry Cohn and William Lane; and her extended family of nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Maureen, or “Midge” Hartigan was born on Nov. 8, 1934 in Astoria, NY to John and Ruby Hartigan. She started life with a brother, Thomas. Everyone knew our mother as an energetic, generous, friendly and funny independent individual. Sometimes down right quirky, our mother, Maureen Cohn, touched a great many lives through her work and her day to day. She held a solitary position as an adventurous individual throughout her whole life. A woman who was much fun and loved by many, Maureen always kept Keuka Lake in a special place in her heart.
Maureen married William I. Cohn in the early sixties and became a teacher at Hammondsport Central School, then on to Oswego, NY, where she enjoyed her career as high school guidance counselor during the eighties and nineties. She is also survived by many close friends in Oswego and many happy years of working there and visiting Keuka, where she kept a modest cottage. Maureen Cohn was a gorgeous and stylish woman with a dazzling smile and a willingness to laugh at herself.
She possessed a great love of singing and a strong voice, which in her early days, she took to the stage. Her sense of style showed in every dwelling she happened to call home.
She took her teaching education at Keuka College, and eventually Alfred University, where she received her masters in education. She ultimately decided to build a house on the shorelines of Keuka for her retirement. Outspoken, opinionated and sometimes hilariously funny, always a snappy wit and sharp cynicism honed from being a hard working woman- she always said she was ahead of her time- and difficult years of life’s sharpening. She was no doubt political activist. She spent years as an effective negotiator for NYSTA, fighting hard for decent retirement plans for district teachers.
She was a worldly woman with travels including Ireland, Singapore, Cuba and Greece. Guiding, suggesting, criticizing laziness, cheering on the under achievers to heights previously unimagined. People have continuously approached her over the decades and share with her their personal stories of her substantial positive influence.
She showed warmth and light towards most strangers, always comfortable wherever she went or whatever she did, ferociously independent, usually alone and with grace. She had an intense intelligence with a gift for analysis that was admired by many. She loved Champagne, The New Yorker, shopping, "all of her kids" and, most of all, her grandson, Elliott.
Being of progressive persuasion, Maureen wished to be cremated. There will be a mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 at St. Gabriel’s Church in Hammondsport in Maureen’s memory, with a Celebration of Maureen’s Life to follow at Snug Harbor Restaurant, West Lake Road, Hammondsport. A Sanctuary Lamp will be lit for the week of Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010- Nov. 13 for the week commemorating her birthday. A Mass will be offered at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 in Memory of Maureen Cohn by her daughters and her grandson at St. Paul's Church, 50 East Mohawk St, Oswego, NY 13126. Contributions in her memory can be made at Oswego Central School or Hammondsport Central School.
