Maureen H. Finnegan

Maureen Helen Finnegan, née Daley, was born in Boston and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts. After finishing high school, she attended Emmanuel College and earned a degree in English. One of her proudest moments was interviewing Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, for her college newspaper. 

She then moved to Sayville, New York, with several friends, sharing a house on Hamilton Street, and started her teaching career in the Sachem school district. She met her future husband, James Finnegan, at Michael’s restaurant. They married in August 1965 and moved to Nancy Drive.

While raising her two daughters, she volunteered with the Southside Hospital Auxiliary and St. Ann’s Nursery School in between sets of tennis at the Shoreham Beach Club. When she resumed teaching, she was thrilled to land her dream job as a third-grade teacher at Brentwood Southwest School. She taught there until her retirement in 2002, just in time to become a grandmother, “Rhea,” to Sydney and Caroline.

She spent her free time volunteering with the Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts, singing with the Sweet Adelines, and playing bridge with her “Traveling Tootsies” gang. She and Jim also loved traveling. Their favorite destinations were Hawaii, Bermuda, and Ireland. She maintained close ties to her New England roots and never missed an opportunity to visit her Daley family at annual cookouts and Thanksgiving gatherings.

Maureen spent her last two years happily at Bristal Assisted Living in Sayville, where she made new friends and received excellent care from the attentive staff.

Maureen leaves behind her daughter, Susan Finnegan, and her husband, Thomas Simone; her other daughter, Kathryn Lewkowicz, and her husband, Anthony Lewkowicz; and her grandchildren, Sydney and Caroline Lewkowicz. She was a loving sister to the late Margaret Underhill, Michael Dailey, and William Dailey, and a sister-in-law to Mary Ann O’Connell. She was also a cherished aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Family will receive visitors on Wednesday, July 30 from 2-4 p.m. & 7-9 p.m. at Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Home 245 Montauk Highway West Sayville. The Island Hills Chorus will perform at 8 p.m.