Winifred “Winnie” Eileen Garvey, 83, of Port Charlotte, Florida entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at Southport Square Harbour Health Center.
Winnie, who was also known as Una, was born on February 11, 1936 in Bayonne, New Jersey to the late Winifred and Cornelius Clancy. She was one of 2 children, including the late Thomas Clancy. Winnie and her older brother, Tommy, were raised by their beloved father in Ireland as her mother died in childbirth; her father felt it would be easier raising a toddler and infant back home in County Limerick, Ireland. She returned back to Bayonne as a young teenage girl and as she got older, she worked in lower Manhattan as a bookkeeper.
As a young adult, she met her future husband, John Paul Garvey, at an Irish dance. John by this time lived in the Manhattan community of Inwood and would take the ferry on weekends to visit her in Bayonne. They married in October 1960 and settled in Inwood where they lived for 35 years.
Winnie and John became long-term parishioners of Good Shepherd Church and they raised 5 children in Inwood: Eileen, Maureen, John, Dennis and Steven. She also took care of young children at home along with her own children and the family pets and then in later years, was a caretaker to the elderly in the neighborhood.
Along with summer vacations in Rockaway and later in the Irish Catskills, taking her children to Inwood Hill Park, bumping into her friends on the street and chatting for hours, having meals at Piper’s Kilt or the Golden Rule diner, and attending many school functions at Good Shepherd School, her life was happy and full of good memories.
In 1995, after John retired from NYNEX where he worked for 40 years, Winnie and John along with their two youngest children relocated to Port Charlotte, Florida and fulfilled their dream of buying their own home. Upon moving to Port Charlotte, Winnie found a job at Fisherman’s Village, a local resort / marina in Punta Gorda where she worked for over 15 years. She loved the Florida weather and lifestyle.
Winnie was a sweet, quiet, gentle and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved being with her family, enjoyed shopping and going out to dinner. She loved all things Irish and especially listening to Irish music. She was loved by many.
She is survived by her loving family, daughters Eileen (John) Garvey Atkinson of Huntington Station, NY; Maureen Garvey of Bronx, NY; sons John (Mary) Garvey of Cortlandt Manor, NY; Dennis Garvey of Port Charlotte, FL; Steven (Allison) Garvey of Wimauma, FL; grandchildren Sean Garvey and Caitlyn Garvey of Cortlandt Manor, NY and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Paul Garvey who died February 13, 2019.
Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24, 2020 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Roberson Funeral Home, 2151 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, Fl 33948. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2500 Easy Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Interment will follow at 2:00 PM on February 25, 2020 at Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota, FL.
Go bhfeicfidh me aris . . .
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfl.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home Port Charlotte Chapel.