1934 - 2023
OBITUARY
A Life Well Lived…
Eileen C. McBride, a resident of Belle Harbor for the past 31 years, passed away peacefully on Monday surrounded by her family after a brief illness.
Born in Newark, Eileen’s family moved to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. She attended Our Lady of Angels Elementary school and then Bishop McDonnell High School. While attending high school, she met the love of her life, the late Jerry McBride who admired her on the train every day and worked up the courage to ask her out on a date. They married in Our Lady of Angels Church in 1957 and started their life together in Bay Ridge. When the Verrazano Bridge was built, Eileen and Jerry moved to Flatbush, Brooklyn where they established their roots in St Brendan’s Parish. There they raised their three children: Kathleen, Elizabeth and Michael.
All the children attended St Brendan’s Elementary School while both Eileen and Jerry became very active in parish life and Eileen became the first female Parish Council President. Kathleen and Elizabeth both attended Bishop Kearney High School and Michael attended Xaverian High School.
Kathleen and Elizabeth later attended the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Michael attended Iona College. Kathleen became a Registered Emergency Department nurse (44 years tenure and counting) and married Anthony Lacitignola, another St Brendan’s parishioner. After college, Elizabeth became an Elementary Educator, Reading Specialist and Administrator (39 years) and Michael became a New York City Police Officer following in dad Jerry’s footsteps where he retired as a Detective. Michael became a Funeral Director, and he is the owner of the New Hyde Park Funeral Home with co-owner Eileen and the McBride Family. Eileen attended Brooklyn College to continue her education at the same time Elizabeth was completing her degree. Eileen earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Administration.
Eileen had a long and fulfilling career in Healthcare Administration. At Community Hospital in Brooklyn, she was the first Director of the newly created Ambulatory Care Unit and later became the Director of Patient Relations. She retired at age 75. She was on the Advisory Board of St. John’s Hospital in Queens until her death.
She was well known in the Rockaway Area as a Supervisor with the Board of Elections and as a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales.
Eileen was a proud grandmother to Michael, Patrick, Katie and Caroline. Eileen and Jerry always had front row seats at the sports games, recitals and graduations. Eileen was also able to welcome her two great grandchildren, Molly Kate, and Patrick Jr. Eileen and Jerry lived a full and complete life heavily involved in family, deeply committed to their faith and totally devoted to each other. Jerry passed away in 2008 and Eileen joined him in Heaven on June 26, 2023.
Eileen is survived by her daughters Kathleen McBride Lacitignola (Anthony) and Elizabeth, son Michael (Jeanne), grandchildren Michael Jr. (Jennifer) and Patrick (Lauren), and Caroline Lacitignola, Great-grandchildren Molly Kate and Patrick Jr., Brother James Desmond.
Eileen shared a special love for her brothers and sisters-in-law. Patricia (nee McBride) and Al Guarnuccio, Ethel McBride (nee Perrine), Diane Desmond (nee DeRobertis).
Her nephews and nieces, Jeanne Tate (nee McBride) Joseph McBride, Maureen Houlihan (nee McBride,) James McBride, Christina Ruetschi (nee Desmond), Doreen Forsythe (nee Desmond), Sean Desmond, the late Mary Ellen Desmond, Thomas McBride Jr., Steven McBride, Kevin McBride, Nancy Auer (nee McBride), Michael Guarnuccio, Keith Guarnuccio, Alicia Crighton (nee Guarnuccio) James Desmond Jr., Christopher Desmond, Allison McGraw (nee Desmond), Rachel Desmond, Matthew Desmond, and all her great nieces and great nephews.
Eileen was vibrant, energetic and well-loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
VISITATION
Thursday, June 29
7:00 - 9:30 PM
Friday, June 30
2:00 - 4:30 PM & 7:00 - 9:30 PM
New Hyde Park Funeral Home
506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Saturday, July 1
9:45 AM
St. Francis de Sales R.C. Church
129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Belle Harbor, NY
Visit church website for live stream: https://sfdsparish.org
INTERMENT
St. Charles Cemetery
2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY
DONATIONS
Please make donations in Eileen's name to the Katie McBride Foundation (www.katiemcbridefoundation.org/support)