Sister Ann Daly, friend to the dying, will lead St. Patrick's parade

GOSHEN — The Mid-Hudson St. Patrick's Parade committee is already thinking ahead to spring, naming Sister Ann Daly of Goshen grand marshal of next year's parade.

Sister Ann has devoted her life to teaching, to the care of patients with life-limiting diseases, and to the spiritual support of their families through Hospice.

At twice-yearly memorial services held by the Hospice Interfaith Advisory Committee, Sister Ann always reminds family members, staff, and friends that the greatest gift we can give to any person is the gift of our presence. She feels it a privilege that Hospice staff and volunteers share in the final journey with the patients and families they care for at this most precious time in life.

Born in Astoria, Queens, Sister Ann has lived and worked in the Goshen area for 52 years. Her mother was from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, Ireland. Her grandmother made her mother’s Carrickmacross lace wedding veil — by candlelight.

Her father came from Iniskeen, County Monaghan.

Sister Ann attended St. Michael’s Academy in New York City, where she met the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She entered the convent more than 50 years ago and started teaching in 1961.

She came to Goshen in 1963 and taught third grade at St. John’s in Goshen until 1971. At that point, she became director of religious education, a position she held through 1981. She became executive director of Hospice Planning and Educational Foundation in 1982 and Coordinator of Spiritual Care in 1988. She still works in Spiritual Care.

Three nursing professors from Orange County Community college were instrumental in beginning the Hospice Planning and Educational Foundation in 1981. Sister Ann was hired in 1982 as executive director of this educational foundation.

In 1988 Hospice of Orange became incorporated under the New York State Health Department. Sister Ann became the coordinator of Spiritual Care for this new organization. The mission of Hospice is to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care to patients and to provide bereavement support programs to their families. Hospice serves more than 1,000 patients throughout the region each year.

Hospice expanded to serve Sullivan County in 1993. Sister Ann has ministered to many patients and their families from 1988 to the present — in their homes, in nursing homes and hospitals, and in the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh, which opened in 2006.

Sister Ann was voted Irish Woman of the Year in 1998 by the Irish Heritage Festival Committee. She attended all of the festivals throughout the years. She has been the Chaplain of LAOH Division 5 since 2009 since its inception.

“It has been great to see the growth here in Orange County of our Irish roots through the Irish Heritage Festival and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee,” said Sister Ann.

She loves the faith that St. Patrick brought to Ireland and is still evident in so many of the people both in Ireland and here in the United States. Such faith is evident in the pilgrimages that many make to Knock Shrine and the Sanctuary of St. Patrick in Lough Derg.

Sister Ann will be the parade's 40th grand marshal. The parade will be held in the Village of Goshen on Sunday, March 13, 2016.