Ursula O’Leary Kingston, 86

by Contributor | March 28, 2011 9:10 pm

Ursula O’Leary Kingston passed away peacefully in her home at 107 West Fourth Street on Saturday evening, March 26, 2011. She was 86 years of age.

Mrs. Kingston was born in Oswego, the daughter of the late Joseph W. O’Leary, Jr., and Pauline Kane O’Leary. She was a true daughter of Oswego and for the most part lived her entire life here. She loved the bells of St. Mary’s and “her” Lake Ontario in all its seasons. She attended St. Mary’s School, Oswego High School, and the Oswego State Teacher’s College. She received her M.A. from Syracuse University in an era when few women did so. For her outstanding scholarship there, she was inducted into the Pi Lambda Theta honor fraternity.

She began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse. She taught in both the Fulton and Oswego school systems, and taught German at Hartwick College for a short time. Ursula retired from teaching 9th Grade English at Oswego High School in 1986. She was a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association.

Mrs. Kingston was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, but would often attend Masses and luncheons at other parishes. She was an active member of the Legion of Mary.

“Urs”, as she was fondly called, was passionate about the arts, most especially the opera, theatre, and anything musical. She adored flowers and her home was filled with them.

She is survived by her four daughters: Pauline (Polly) McCarthy of Oswego, Marcia Nelson of Ridgefield, CT, Mary Hattie of Peterborough, NH, and Jennifer Rose of Farmington, NY; four sons-in-law, James (Judge Jim) McCarthy, Richard T. (Dick) Nelson, Jr., Dennis Hattie, and Robert Rose; eleven grandchildren, Brendan, Christopher, and Megan McCarthy, Kelly (Timothy) Howard, Thomas Ukleya, Joanna Kingston, Jonathan and Ryan Nelson, Riordan McCole, Stephani and Christine Rose; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Owen Ukleya and Mathew and Jason Hutson; and one brother, David J. O’Leary of Florida. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Kingston was predeceased by her son, Thomas J. Kingston, and her husband, John F. Kingston. She was also predeceased by her brothers Joseph and Paul O’Leary, and her sisters Pauline Meade and Rosemary Knight.

Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 30th. Funeral services will be Thursday at 8:30 A.M. from the funeral home and 9:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Contributions in Mrs. Kingston’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 103 West Seventh Street, Oswego.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/obituaries/funeral-homes/other-funeral-homes/ursula-oleary-kingston-86/

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