JOSEPH O’CONNOR CUNNINGHAM
SHERBURNE – Joseph O’Connor Cunningham, lifelong resident of Sherburne, age 89, died peacefully Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Born March 18, 1922 to Elizabeth O’Connor Cunningham and Jeremiah R. Cunningham, he lived his entire life in Sherburne. A graduate of Sherburne High School, he was a lifelong farmer, working his dairy for decades and continuing to grow Christmas trees after he sold his cows. While working the farm, he also began work as a substitute, and then a full-time rural mail carrier, a job he did for 28 years, retiring at the age of 75.
Joe served on the USDA Farmer’s Home Administration Committee for many years and was a member of the Rural Letter Carriers Association. Following his retirement, he enjoyed riding around the Chenango Valley checking on all the other farmers. These rides always ended up at a diner or an ice cream stand with his wife and at least one of his children.
As an active parishioner of St. Malachy’s Church in Sherburne, he served on the church council and was a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served a term as Grand Knight. He was a member of the Elks Club in Norwich, and for many years he volunteered for Meals on Wheels.
Joe was fond of poetry, especially Irish poetry, and was know for spontaneously breaking into verse at every opportunity. He was perpetually on his way to ‘Frisco Bay from the rockbound coast of Maine. He was cheerful and kind and made friends immediately wherever he went. Everyone who knew him was the better for it. Of his many accomplishments, he was proudest of his children and their achievements.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Ann Dromgoole Cunningham; daughters, JoAnn (Dennis) Harrod of Cazenovia; Julia (Daniel) Wagner of Sherburne; Joseph (Mary) Cunningham of Manlius; and Jeremiah (Margaret) Cunningham of Ashburn, VA; grandchildren, Nathan (Carolyn) Reid of Marstons Mills, MA; Andrew Reid of Fort Lewis, Seattle, WA; Julia Harrod of DeRuyter; Anna Harrod of Cold Spring; Jeremiah Cunningham, Jessica Cunningham and Connor Cunningham, all of Ashburn, VA; Abigail Cunningham and Matthew Cunningham of Manlius; great-grandchildren Connor and Cullen Reid of Marstons Mills; a sister-in-law, Florence Dromgoole of Liverpool; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Malachy’s Church, Sherburne, followed by interment in St. Malachy’s Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815, or to St. Malachy’s Church, PO Box 755, Sherburne, NY 13460.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.