Brewster School Bus Driver Mary Ellen O’Rourke, 87, Died Wednesday June 25

Information provided by Beecher Funeral Home--

Mary Ellen O’Rourke, age 87, of Brewster, NY, died on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at her daughter's home in Dover Plains, NY.

Mrs. O’Rourke was born in Wilmington, DE on February 14, 1927 to 
Lea J. and Mary Ellen (Churnside) Kirk. She graduated from Pierre S. Dupont High School in Wilmington and Wesley College in Dover, DE. 

Mrs. O’Rourke married Francis X. O’Rourke on November 18, 1950 in Wilmington. Mr. O’Rourke died June 6, 1999.

Mrs. O’Rourke greatly enjoyed her time working for the Town of Southeast Recreation Dept. for many years. She had been a school bus driver with the Brewster Central School District as well. Mrs. O’Rourke may have been best remembered as a cashier for Helen & Ed’s grocery store, later becoming Kobackers Supermarket. 

Mrs. O’Rourke was a 57 year resident of Brewster having lived in Mt. Vernon, NY prior. She was an avid bingo player, enjoyed many trips with the seniors to Atlantic City and Foxwoods, and traveling, her favorite destination having been Alaska, a trip taken with a dear friend. One could find Mrs. O’Rourke working the polls in Brewster as well.

Mrs. O’Rourke is survived by her daughter Mary Ellen Durkin of Dover Plains, NY, and her sons, Francis X. O’Rourke of Sherman, CT, John C. O’Rourke and his wife Valerie of Brewster and Timothy K. O’Rourke and his wife Lisa of Wappingers Falls, NY and a brother, William Kirk of Wilmington, DE. Nine grandchildren, Connor, Xavier, Timothy, Thomas and Matthew O’Rourke, Martin Durkin, Tyler, Shayna and Katherine O’Rourke. Also numerous nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by two brothers, Francis and Martin and a daughter-in-law Annette O’Rourke.

A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 30, 2014, 10am at St. Lawrence O’Toole Church in Brewster, NY. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. Friends may call at the Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster on Sunday from 3-7pm. www.beecherfuneralhome.com 

In Lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. O’Rourke’s memory may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice, 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.