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Irene Doherty
In Memory of
Irene B.
Doherty
1930 - 2018
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Obituary for Irene B. Doherty

Irene B.  Doherty
Irene B. Doherty (née Conlon), 87, of Sea Girt, New Jersey, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully late Tuesday afternoon after an otherwise perfectly normal, beautiful day at home spent doing exactly what she wanted to do - looking at the ocean, going to mass, spending time with her son and talking with friends. She fought fiercely for herself and others throughout her entire life as a daughter, wife, mom, educator, administrator, and caregiver, including that afternoon. It was just her time to leave us.
Irene was born in Buffalo, New York on July 2, 1930 (as she would regularly state with pride), but moved to the Bronx as a young child with her parents James and Mary Ellen (O’Connor) Conlon, who had emigrated separately from Ballymote, Sligo and Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon through Ellis Island (Irish immigrants meeting in America), respectively, in the early 1920’s. Irene’s younger sister, Mary, joined the family in 1934. Irene attended a music school during her youth where she became a skilled violinist, a talent that she would display throughout her life at competitions and later at family seisiúns. After her father’s premature death in 1952, the three women of the family were inseparable for the rest of their collective lives together.
Irene attended St. Angela Merici School and the Academy of Mount St. Ursula before graduating from The College of New Rochelle in 1951. Irene later earned her Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from NYU in 1962.
While a student, Irene worked in various roles at King Features in Manhattan including as a print model, but, after graduating from CNR, she followed her passion for education and communication by joining the NYC Board of Education to pursue a career in speech therapy. Irene eventually became the Assistant Director of Speech Services for all of New York City, a position she held until her retirement in 1988. She loved her career and was instrumental in helping countless others launch their careers in education.
During a chance visit to the Jersey Shore in 1967, Irene Conlon met a Navy veteran of WWII and Korea, who was then a pilot with American Airlines named Jim Doherty, at the Allaire Hotel in Spring Lake. That was it – their searches were over. They married the following February at St. Margaret’s in Riverdale and welcomed their son, James Edward in November of 1968.
The Dohertys lived in Scarsdale, New York as active members of Our Lady of Fatima Parish and spent every summer in Sea Girt where the couple then chose to retire and become regular members of St. Mark’s Parish. They had a wonderful life together that blended two enormous, Irish-American extended families that meant there were always gatherings or sporting events to attend throughout the Tri-State area and beyond. Jim and Irene also traveled extensively regularly visiting Ireland and their home in Lauderdale By-The-Sea, Florida most frequently. There was never a dull moment.
In later years, they continued to face life’s challenges together. Irene was the primary caregiver not only for her mother until she passed away in 1997, but for Jim, who suffered a severe stroke in 1993. Irene made sure that her mother spent her final years in a dignified manner while, at the same time, worked tirelessly with Jim and his care team during his 16 year rehabilitation so that the man who could once fly would be able to walk again.
Irene continued to enjoy her life in Sea Girt after Jim’s passing in 2009 by spending treasured time with her son, attending daily mass, visiting with friends and family, loving dogs, going to pool therapy, teaching ESL at St. Rose in Belmar through this academic year and simply enjoying the view. Irene had a tremendous life with a healthy, relaxing and peaceful last few years.
Irene is survived by her son, James, of Manhattan and Sea Girt and her sister’s children Maureen Lynch (Bill), Kathleen Breen (Jim and their son Connor) and Jim Sullivan as well as a fleet of Doherty, O’Connor and Conlon cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Jim, her sister, Mary and her brother in law, Charles Sullivan.
Family and friends wishing to pay their respects may do so on Sunday from 3-7pm at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Highway 35 Wall, NJ. Funeral Mass Monday at 9:30am, St. Mark’s R.C. Church, Sea Girt, NJ. Interment immediately following at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, Westchester County, NY at approximately 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite charity dedicated to child education, cancer treatment, Alzheimer’s or animal rescue in Irene’s name would be appreciated.
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