Helene Ann Hurley (nee Gilligan) passed away on August 8, 2023, at the age of 96. Helene was a recent resident of Palm Harbor, FL.
Helene was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, to Helen and Dominic Gilligan, moving to Queens Village, New York, in her early childhood. She recounted many moving stories of living with her parents and extended family during the great Depression and the lead up to WWII.
She married the love of her life, James Daniel Hurley, whom she met while in nurses training at the end of WWll, when he had just returned from military service in the Pacific Theater. They had seven children. Starting in 1952, they resided in Brightwaters, New York, before moving to Setauket, New York, in the mid-’70s. They moved to Bucks County of Pennsylvania in the late ‘80s.
Helene had a busy life raising her seven children and took great pride in creating a beautiful home for them. She was especially proud that all of her children lead successful lives and happily married, with 18 children and an ever-growing number of great grandchildren. She especially enjoyed her many trips to Europe with James in their later years. She was a devoted wife, and as his health grew worse, cared for him for many years until his passing in 2010.
Helene will be remembered for her dedication to family and to her faith. Until the last days of her life, she was intensely interested in events of the world, politics, business, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are scattered across the country. She took life’s challenges in stride and was a model of strength and resilience for the family. As an only child, she remained defiantly independent from childhood and did not want to burden anyone. Above all, she looked for every opportunity to enjoy life and loved to laugh. Wherever she went in her life’s journey, she always spread kindness on those who will now treasure her memory in their hearts.
Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral Mass at 11 a.m., Friday, August 25, 2023 at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church, 1 Riverstone Circle, New Hope. Interment will follow Mass in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown. There will be a viewing Thursday evening, August 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown.