The Plandome Woman's Club (PWC) was saddened to learn of the death of their longest active member, Mary Morse Coffee, on Christmas Day 2007. Long an inspiration to the members of the PWC, Mrs. Coffee served in many capacities: she was head of the Arts & Antiques Department, the once active Garden Department and Crafts Department, organizer for many years of the annual Tag Sale, chairman of the Nominating Committee and for the past several years she held the title of Director Emeritus. Mary was a source of historical knowledge for the Woman's Club and for the Village of Plandome itself. She was the crusader for an elevator in the newly renovated Village Hall.

Mary Coffee came from an era of stay-at-home wives and mothers with a strong sense of civic duty and participation. She, along with other women in the club, decorated the Village Hall, made luncheon delicacies served at monthly meetings and welcomed newcomers to village life.

To be an active clubwoman meant having an interest in education. Lectures and tours on gardening, music, and theatricals were important activities for club members, and Mary Coffee was always looking for and promoting new areas of interest.

In addition, Mrs. Coffee was an active member of the Plandome Field and Marine Club where she organized boating cruises, children's sailing lessons, entertainment of all sorts, and picnics. Mary was always there to pitch in with ideas as well as doing the actual labor. Before women went back to the workforce in large numbers, Mary Coffee and other women like her had the time to plan activities for themselves, their families and their communities.

For over 65 years, she was the devoted wife of J. Collins Coffee, mother of sons John, Robert and Richard, and grandmother of Megan, Kerry, Clark and John Barton. Mrs. Coffee was born in Troy, NY in 1919, graduated from Albany High School and St. Rose College, Albany and proudly traced her ancestry back to the Morse family that settled in New England in the mid-17th century.

Mrs. Coffee was also a civic and community leader in Manhasset, having served for years in the School Community Association (SCA) on various school projects. She was a member of the Manhasset Student Aid Association board for many years and was an early and founding director of the first economic development and anti-poverty corporation established in the Town of North Hempstead--the Community Service Center of Great Neck/Manhasset (EOC). Mary was the first woman to serve as a Trustee of the Village of Plandome (June 1976-April 1981). Since her tenure, a woman has served continuously on the board of trustees.

Mary's friendship helped nurture the friendly atmosphere that prevails in Plandome and she will long be remembered for her quick wit, infectious smile and helping hand. A memorial service will be held by the Coffee family in the Plandome Village Hall--an unusual occurrence reserved for very special circumstances--on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. to celebrate the life of this remarkable woman, one of Plandome's oldest and most loved residents.

Bernadette (Bonnie) Marie Cusack, 60, of East Elmhurst, died Dec. 22, 2007 at New York Hospital, Queens, after a period of declining health. She was the eldest child of the late Lawrence and Margaret Mary Cusack, who lived in Port Washington, Strathmore and Flower Hill for more than 40 years.

Ms. Cusack graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1965. She had been a legal secretary in Manhattan for many years and in recent years lived in Glen Cove and East Elmhurst. She had a fantastic memory and rarely forgot a birthday, especially her nieces' and nephews'.

Bonnie leaves four brothers, Lawrence Jr., Paul of Massachusetts, Mark of Oyster Bay and Gregory of Massachusetts. She was pre-deceased by her sister Joan.

Funeral services and interment were at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.