Obituary

Margaret Carrara, 93

Posted

Margaret Carrara, formerly of Valley Stream, died on July 18, 2012. She was 93 years old.

Born in Brooklyn to Irish immigrants John and Mary Toner, Carrara never forgot her roots and returned many times to Ireland as she served as the family historian, keeping in touch with relatives on both sides of the Atlantic.

She was an avid golfer and tennis player. Instilled with a strong belief in education by her parents, she earned bachelor’s degrees in math and business from Hofstra University.

While working as personnel director at St. Albans Military Hospital on Long Island, she met her future husband, naval officer Daniel Carrara. They loved to entertain and their dinner parties were well-known for fine food, drink and conversation. Carrara loved to dance and sing, and was known to break into “Danny Boy” and “Irish Eyes are Smiling.”

She volunteered extensively throughout her life, and was involved in her community and her parish, Holy Name of Mary in Valley Stream. Upon retirement, Margaret founded the Young at Heart club in Nassau County to give seniors opportunities to provide service to other community members. Her contributions were recognized in 1991 she was honored by the county as Senior Citizen of the Year.

Carrara later moved to Ormond Beach, Fla., where she became an active member of the South Forty community and was often at the clubhouse playing cards. She enjoyed her final years in Keepsake Village and as a member of the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

Survivors include by her sister-in-law Joan Toner, and more than 30 nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as many friends. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by siblings John, Agnes, Ellen and Jim, Charles and Mary.

Funeral services were held on July 24 at the Allen Memorial Home in Endicott N.Y. followed by a funeral mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Burial was at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.