Obituary of Mae B. Pauley

Mae B. Pauley, passed away on August 14 at the age of 100. She had resided in Merrick for 56 of those years. She is survived by two daughters, Peggy Dowling (Del) of Huntington, NY and Fort Myers, Fl, Veola Barlak (Tom) of Sunrise Fl and Franklin, NC, one granddaughter, Tara Casimano (Philip) of Merrick, NY, four great grandchildren, Nicole, Thomas, Sarah, and Margaret, and two nephews, Edward Sullivan (Dorothy) and Terry McConnell (Fran). She was preceded in death by her husband Henry and two sisters, Veola McConnell (Charlie) and Margaret Belmont (Vincent). Mae was known for generosity with her time, her treasure, her spirit, her family, her many friends, her community and for her wit. Mae was born in l918 in the family home in Rockaway Park, Queens, the middle daughter of Arthur and Mae Thoret Bowsky, She attended public schools in the Rockaways and was "skipped" twice. She graduated Far Rockaway High School as class salutatorian and was awarded a New York State University Scholarship. While at Far Rockaway High, she tutored Richard Feynam (later a winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics ) in German Mae graduated form Hunter College in l938. While in the midst of her graduate studies at Columbia, she met Henry. They married in l940 and moved to Washington DC. He often referred to her as "my redhead". In 1949, they returned to the New York area, spending a year with her family in Rockaway. In 1950 they bought a home in Merrick, NY Mae resided in that home until 2006, when illness triggered her move to Sunrise Assisted Living. Mae was particularly active in volunteer roles that benefited children. She was a Sunday school teacher, an officer at the community nursery school at the Merrick Jewish Center, a Brownie leader, and a reader for a blind student ant Calhoun High School. She was an active member of the Community Presbyterian Church, which she and Henry joined in l951. She enjoyed a number of library programs, such a current events discussion groups and book clubs. Professionally, she was a kindergarden teacher in Brooklyn for 13 years and successfully taught a number of her students to read. The Service will be held at 8:00 pm on Friday, August 17 at N. F. Walker Funeral Home 2039 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY with Rev. Moria Ahearne officiating. The Funeral will be Saturday at 10 AM. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx Visiting will be Friday, August 17 from 7 - 9PM at N. F. Walker Funeral Home 2039 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY. Donations may be made in Mae's honor to the Community Presbyterian Church of Merrick, 2101 William Place, Merrick NY ll566. .