Bridget Agnes (Bridie) Gaffney, née Fitzpatrick, passed away on September 12, 2023, at Schervier Nursing Home in Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx NY at age 94.  

Bridie was born in Ballinagh, County Cavan, Ireland on August 14, 1929. She was one of 9 children born to Bridget (née Brady) and Charles Fitzpatrick. She was predeceased by her husband Michael Gaffney ; her siblings Anna Marie, Nora, Frances Joseph, Tommy, Tilly Crotty (and husband Peter), Sean (and wife Tessy), and Cathal. She is survived by her sister, Eileen Leddy, who lives in Dublin with her husband, Brendan. 

Bridie first worked on the family farm and her Aunt Nora’s bar. She was the first girl in the town to wear pants.  She was a savage Camogie player in her youth, winning an Ulster Junior Championship medal in 1956, and played again in late 1970’s - a tremendous competitor.

Bridie met Michael Gaffney, her husband, also a Ballinagh resident, in Ballinagh school. They emigrated to the USA in May 1957 and were married on November 30, 1957 at Saint Simon Stock church in the Bronx. In the Fordham section of the Bronx, they raised four children - Bridget, Mike, Thomas, and Eileen.  Bridie worked in two deli’s, and then as a housekeeper in Union Hospital.

Bridie was a devoted wife, mother, aunt, grandmother to 7 and great-grandmother to 2. She was also the friend and surrogate mom when needed to many of the miscreants and Irish emigrants that her four children would drag back to the apartment on 188th Street on a daily basis, or in an emergency like the NYC blackouts.  

Bridie was a hard worker and valued education – she only had a grade-school education, but was whip-smart and made sure all her children got college degrees.  She was deeply committed to her catholic faith, and volunteered for many years in her Our Lady of Mercy, Saint Philip Neri, and Visitation parishes.

Bridie was the best mom in the world.  She loved life, her family, her countless friends.

Never wanted to miss any Irish football and camogie matches in Gaelic Park, loved music and concerts (saw the Grateful Dead twice), never missed the Horizons Senior Group trips to Europe (banana splits for lunch !), and enjoyed taking the grandkids to the parks, and bragging about how well they ate.

Here are arrangements to celebrate Bridie’s life : 

Wake - Sunday, September 17th from 2pm to 5pm, at Riverdale On Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10471

Funeral Mass – Monday, September 18th at 9:45am, at Saint Margaret of Cortone RC Church, 6000 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, NY 10471

Riverdale-On-Hudson Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bridie Gaffney Funeral Mass Time: Sep 18, 2023 09:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89051374994

Meeting ID: 890 5137 4994

Please text or WhatsApp message Will Jacobson: (914) 357-3332 if you are having any issues with Zoom.

**If you have questions regarding in-person services, please call the funeral home directly.** (718) 884-6100