Maureen Dempsey Keenan Of Southampton Dies May 31 - 27 East
logo logo logo logo

News / Obituaries / Southampton Press / 1458889

Maureen Dempsey Keenan Of Southampton Dies May 31

icon 1 Photo

author on Jun 23, 2015

Maureen Dempsey Keenan

Maureen Dempsey Keenan of Southampton died on May 31 at Southampton Hospital. She was 80.

Born in Bay Shore on July 19, 1934, she was the daughter of Anne and Brian Dempsey. With her parents and twin brothers, Charles and Patrick, she moved to Southampton at an early age and attended Sacred Hearts Elementary School and graduated from Southampton High School in 1952 as salutatorian.

Upon graduating from high school, she attended St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Manhattan. While attending nursing school, she met Richard T. Keenan of New Hyde Park, and they married on October 6, 1956. She worked at Nassau Hospital for 10 years while the couple lived in Levittown.

Ms. Keenan and her husband moved back to her hometown of Southampton on August 18, 1967, with their three children. She continued her nursing career as a nurse at Southampton Hospital, a pediatric nurse practitioner for Dr. Sherburne Brown in Southampton, and completed her career as a school nurse at Southampton Intermediate School. Upon retirement she was an active member of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Southampton and a devoted mother and grandmother.

Ms. Keenan was predeceased by her husband in 1983, and a brother, Charles Dempsey, in 1994. She is survived by a brother Patrick Dempsey and wife Beth of Locke, New York; sons, Michael Keenan and wife Laura of Southampton and Terrance Keenan of Southampton; daughter, Erin Morris and husband Daniel T. Morris of Southampton; and granddaughter, Katelyn Morris. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Barbara Horton of Florida, Florence Keenan of St. James and Mary Burke and husband Anthony of Huntington Station; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton on June 4. A funeral Mass was held at the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Southampton on June 5, with Monsignor William J. Gill officiating.

You May Also Like:

The Final Step

As Southampton Town considers aggressive action on sand mines, with plans to use amortization — a tool last used effectively to rid the town of nightclubs and bars the town considered nuisances — to finally end the practice, it’s important to cut through the rhetoric and state some facts. Sand mines serve a clear purpose and have economic value in a region where construction is a primary driver. But the town quite simply does not allow sand mining — that decision was made years ago, and what mines exist today are preexisting and nonconforming. Amortizing the properties is the last ... 11 Dec 2024 by Editorial Board

Keep Talking

Talk is not a solution, but solutions won’t be found without a great deal of interplay between the officials making the decisions and the public that will be affected by them. So The Express Sessions event last week in Sag Harbor, which focused on the village’s parking woes, was, along with future public hearings before the Village Board, necessary for there to be any traction on the subject. In fact, one clear message at Thursday’s session, delivered by those in attendance: Communication is absolutely crucial. And it has been one area where the village can improve. Restaurateur Jesse Matsuoka, who ... by Editorial Board

Great Buys

It’s not every day that an opportunity comes along to buy a castle. But that’s exactly where Southampton Town officials found themselves this week. Using $4 million in proceeds from the Community Preservation Fund, the Town Board agreed to buy the Casa Basso property in Westhampton — which contains a restaurant and a 120-year-old diminutive reproduction of a Spanish castle. The town plans to create a waterfront park on the newly preserved property. And not only did the town buy a castle, in a separate transaction it also agreed to buy 25 acres in East Quogue — 10 acres of ... by Editorial Board

Croquet Club Pleas to Town for New Home, but CPF Rules a Sticky Wicket

The Southampton Town Board has, for at least the time being, shelved a pitch by ... by Michael Wright

Expanded Retirement Benefits Legislation Could Help Address Shortages for Paid EMS Staff

New legislation introduced by State Senator Monica Martinez will soon give paid first responders in Suffolk County the option to retire after 25 years of service, an enticement that could help address staffing shortages and boost recruitment of paid EMS workers. Service districts will be able to elect to include certain EMS personnel in the state pension plan. Originally approved in 2023, the plan was able to move forward thanks to a companion bill outlining a clear mechanism for fire districts to opt in. Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of the new measure now establishes that process. “Serving your community as ... by Cailin Riley

Southampton Town Will Pay $1 Million To Ensure Sag Harbor Hunting Preserve Remains

The Southampton Town Board will pay the new owner of the former Spring Farm game ... by Michael Wright

Battle Lines Form as Southampton Town Board Holds Hearing on Sand Mine Amortization Law

The battle lines were clearly drawn as the Southampton Town Board on Tuesday opened a ... by Stephen J. Kotz

Weekly Roundup: Bridgehampton, Southampton Boys Start Hot; Hampton Bays Girls Top Miller Place; Clarke Taylor Leading 'Canes

Bees Off to Solid Start In a rematch of last season’s Suffolk County Class D Championship, the Bridgehampton boys basketball team opened the season with a 52-30 victory at Smithtown Christian on Thursday, December 5. Jai Feaster led the Killer Bees’ offense with 24 points and Jaylin Harding scored 13 points in his Bridgehampton debut. On Monday, Bridgehampton had five different players score in double digits in its 61-57 home victory over Southold. Xavier Johnson’s 13 led the attack, and he also had five steals. Jaylin and Jordan Harding each scored 12 points and Feaster and Alex Davis each scored ... by Staff Writer

Bonac Wrestlers Boast Plenty of Varsity Experience This Season

The East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton wrestling team turned the proverbial corner last winter, accomplishing a lot that ... by Drew Budd

Bonacker Boys Swimmers Already Boasting Best Times To Start the Season

These East Hampton/Pierson boys swimmers are already making a name for themselves. Despite a losing ... by Desirée Keegan