At age 88, sunset came to long-time Ossining resident, John Creary, at Rosary Hill Home, Hawthorne on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Before his illness, John noted the number of sunrises and sunsets he witnessed in his daily log.
His parents, Herman Beresford and Ivy Elicia (Satchell) Creary, named him Herman John at his life’s sunrise on October 28, 1927 in Kingston, Jamaica - West Indies. And John’s brilliance shone in his education in Montclair, NJ and Kingston, graduating from St. George’s College in 1945. John earned his BA in Foreign Language and Philosophy from Fordham University, Bronx, NY in 1952 and MA and Professional Diploma at Teachers College at Columbia University.
Of his 32,000 sunrises, 23,000 were spent in his marriage to Audrey Roberts beginning on August 8, 1953 at Resurrection Church in New York, NY. He also rose to the rank of Captain in the US Air Force from 1953-58 in active duty and 1958-66 in the reserves.
For over 30 years as a Language Teacher, Mr. Creary enlightened secondary school students in New York City and Bedford, and for a short period after retiring in 1986, at Cardinal Hayes High School and Archbishop Stepinac High School.
John was a parishioner at St. Augustine Church, Ossining. He sang with the St. Augustine Choir and the Old Mill singers. An avid marathoner, he set trails ablaze completing over 20 marathons.
His torch is carried on by his wife of 62 years, Audrey; his children, Marianne O’Loughlin, Kenneth (Lauren,) Joseph (Christine,) Martin (Therese,) Eve, Rose Sharp (David,) Nicholas, Regina Molinelli (Michael,) and Christin; brothers, Peter, Xavier, Paul and Harold; 17 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He is pre-deceased by his son, Michael Christian.
Calling hours are Friday, January 15, 2 – 4 pm and 7 – 9 pm at Hawthorne Funeral Home, 21 W. Stevens Ave., Hawthorne NY 10532. Mass of Christian Burial is at St. Augustine Church, 381 N. Highland Ave., Ossining NY 10562. Interment will be at Long Island National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends may send memorial donations to Rosary Hill Home, 600 Linda Ave., Hawthorne NY 10532 and/or Phelps Hospice, 701 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow NY 10591. Arrangements under the care of John G. Crawford Funeral Director