Obituary of Henry J. Lawlor

Henry J. Lawlor Henry J. Lawlor of Tafton, Pennsylvania, formerly of Wappingers Falls, entered into eternal rest Friday, October 7, 2005 at home surrounded by his family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 64. Son of the late Harry and Florence Kelly Lawlor, he was born on February 13, 1941 in New York City. He wed Frances B. Connor on April 20, 1963 at St. John's Church in Bronx, NY. They remained happily married for over 40 years. "Hank" was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend who was loved by everyone that knew him. He was a selfless, giving person who always put others first; family was always the center of his life. Although Henry was taken much too soon from us, he had a life full of accomplishments and achievements to be proud of. Mr. Lawlor served our country in the United States Air Force. He was also a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology. He went on to join the New York City Police Department where, in 1980, he was awarded the NYPD Medal of Valor. He remained there until his retirement from the 52nd precinct in 1981. In other professions he was the Assistant to the President of Lighting and Electronics in Wappingers Falls, a manufacturing manager for IBM in Fishkill for 15 years until his retirement in 2002 and acted as former Dutchess County Legislator for District 7 from 1990-1993. Henry was very involved in his communities acting as former Warden if New York State Council, Knights of Columbus, Past Grand Knight of Wappingers Council 1646, member of Wappingers 4th Degree Assembly, Secretary to State Deputy's James A. Foy in Beacon and Paul Esposito in Watervliet and former District Deputy for 2 terms. Hank lived life to the fullest; he loved to travel, especially to Arizona. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and loved to play golf. Besides his loving wife, Frances at home, Henry leaves behind his son, Michael Lawlor and his wife, Karen of Milford, PA; daughters, Christine Lawlor and son-in-law Don Tompkins of Wallkill and Patricia Dean and her husband, John of Pheonix, AZ; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Lawlor; brothers, James Lawlor and his wife, Carole and Martin Lawlor and his wife, Mary, all of Lanark Village, FL; sister, Patricia Lawlor of Tallahassee, FL; loving grandfather and Pop Pop to John Thomas Dean, Jr., Casey Lynne Lawlor, Shannon Ashley Lawlor, Madelyn Rose Lawlor, Sean Henry Dean, John Henry Lawlor, III and Michaela Kelly Lawlor; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and countless friends. Family will receive their friends on Monday, October 10 from 1-4 and 6-9 at Straub Funeral Home, 55 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. The Wappingers Falls Council Knights of Columbus will hold a service at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, October 11 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wappingers Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Henry's name to the American Cancer Society or the Dyson Center, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 205 East 42nd St., New York, NY 10017 or Hospice St. John, 1007 Oak St., Pittston Twp., PA 18640 For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website, www.straubfuneralhome.com.