Obituary of Muriel P. McGovern

Muriel Elizabeth McGovern, 92, passed away on April 23, 2021, surrounded by family at her Poughkeepsie, NY home. The daughter of William J. Patterson and Christine Brady Patterson, Muriel was born in Warwick, NY, on January 29, 1929.

A graduate of Warwick High School, Muriel was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls, NY. For many years, she worked as a secretary at the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway and later at IBM in Poughkeepsie. She retired in 1959 to spend time at home as a devoted wife and mother.

Muriel is pre-deceased by her loving husband, Bernard J. McGovern (July 27, 1926 - November 4, 2013). The two were happily married in St. Stephen’s Church in Warwick on June 23, 1951. The eldest of her siblings, Muriel is also pre-deceased by her brother, William J. Patterson, III and her two sisters, Mary Bell and Christine Ann Byrum.

Muriel is survived by sister-in-law, Jackie Patterson, Venice, FL; brother-in-law, Robert Bell, Odenton, MD; brother-in-law, Robert Byrum of Rensselaer, NY; brother-in-law, Thomas McGovern of Warwick; daughter Nora Bocchino and son-in-law John Bocchino, Port Saint Lucie, FL; and daughter Christine M. Furey and son-in-law Craig Furey, Sr., Wallkill, NY.

She was also blessed and proud to have four amazing grandchildren who were the loves of her life including Amanda Fikar, engaged to Dave Aderson, Poughkeepsie; Craig Furey, Jr., engaged to Jackie Starr, Gardiner, NY; Hannah Christine Furey and Kiersten Elyse Furey, Wallkill.

Muriel was also blessed to have spent the past four years with her great-grandson, Devin James Aderson, who would always make her smile, along with many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

The family wishes to give a special thank you to Muriel’s caregivers over her last few weeks, Sunshine, Nicola and her girls, Meals on Wheels of Wappingers Falls and the entire staff of Hudson Valley Hospice, including Dawn, Petal and Sophia for their constant support and friendship, as well as Father Daniel and Deacon Mark of St. Mary’s in Wappingers Falls for their continued spiritual support.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. In compliance with NYS guidelines, social distancing and face masks will be required and capacity may be limited.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 29 at St. Mary’s Church, Clinton Street in Wappingers Falls. Interment will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Galloway Road in Warwick.

Donations can be made to Hudson Valley Hospice, Meals on Wheels of Wappingers Falls, or Saint Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls.

To send the family a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.