Philomena Horgan

Philomena Horgan, 84 of Pompton Plains, passed away November 12, 2022.

Phyllis was born on the family farm, Derrymacar in Newtowncashel, County Longford, Ireland on August 4, 1938. Daughter of Daniel and Mary Ellen Moughty, she is survived by her brother Daniel Moughty and her children Daniel Horgan, Neil Horgan (Terri Horgan), Maureen Horgan and Teresa Horgan (Kevin Borden), and grandchildren Caitlyn Horgan, Timothy Horgan, Sara B Horgan, Michael Horgan, Finnbar Borden, Cormac Borden, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Timothy (Ted) Horgan; her sisters, Mary and Pauline; and brothers, Bernard and Michael.

Phyllis spoke often and fondly about life on the farm in Derrymacar. A favorite pastime of hers was attending the local dances and participating in local theatre with her brothers Bernard and Danny. Always the adventurer, she immigrated to the United States in 1963 to join her sisters Pauline and Mary in New York City. She started her work life as a cook and nanny for a family in NYC.

She met her future husband Timothy Horgan at an Irish dance in New York. He also came from Ireland out of County Cork. They were married on September 4, 1965, and started their life together on Nunda Avenue in Jersey City to be close to Timothy’s sister Mary and her family. They eventually moved to Pequannock, New Jersey and were founding members of Our Lady of Fatima Chapel and St. Jude’s School in 1976. The small school and chapel preserved the traditional Catholic Latin Mass and education that was so important to her.

Faith and family were central to Phyllis and Timothy. They delighted in hosting family and friends throughout the year especially the Christmas Eve family gathering and Phyllis’s Summer backyard parties. Her grandchildren brought her tremendous joy, and she loved a good adventure with them or just reading and chatting about history or religion on the swing on her back deck.

Philomena was a certified nurse’s aide at Lincoln Park Nursing home for over 30 years and a school crossing guard in Pequannock Township for 28 years. Many local children, including her grandchildren, experienced safe passage to school in her care.

Phyllis channeled her inner farmer and tended her vegetable and flower gardens with great care. She shared the bounty of her gardens with neighbors and friends and became a mentor to other gardening enthusiasts at the township community garden. She was an avid traveler and cherished many special trips and pilgrimages to places like Spain, Italy, France, Hawaii and Seattle; anywhere there was a beach; and of course, her homeland, Ireland.

Phyllis was known as a force of nature by all who knew her. She was the family matriarch and guided many in their spiritual life. She was always good for a Rosary whenever you stopped by and a sprinkling of holy water. She was a proud lifetime member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Society of the Sacred Heart.

Family and friends are invited for visitation Tuesday, November 15, 2022 from 4:00-8:00pm at The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home 86 Bartholdi Ave. Butler, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 10:30am at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Pequannock. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Butler, NJ.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Good Counsel Homes for Mothers and Babies, PO Box 6068 Hoboken, NJ 07030 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 www.stjude.org/give