Harriet Lyons

Harriet B. Lyons 1926-2010 Harriet B. Lyons, most recently of Sweetwood Care Center, died peacefully at Sweetbrook Nursing Home on September 6, 2010. She was born in Mineola, Long Island , on January 1, 1926, to the late Harry and Bernardine Brinkman. She attended schools on Long Island followed by Albany Teachers College, now SUNY Albany, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Latin as well as a teaching certificate. She first taught high school English in Walkil, NY, and then, after her marriage, at Oberlin High School in Oberlin, Ohio. She married Charles H. Lyons in her hometown of Belrose, NY on August 2, 1947, after which they moved to Ohio so that her husband could complete his college education. When her husband became a teacher at Scarsdale Junior High School, they settled in Westchester County, NY, first in Hartsdale and then, for most of their lives, in Scarsdale. After the birth of her daughter, Margie, she became a fulltime homemaker and mother, which gave her great joy. She was an active member of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, in Scarsdale, NY, and enjoyed participating in various community activities as well as spending time with her many wonderful friends. Harriet dearly loved her home and life in Scarsdale, NY, where she lived for 44 years. She was a caring and caregiving wife for almost 60 years, until dementia diminished her ability to manage her life, as well as a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. Everyone who knew her remembers her warmth, intelligence and graciousness. She is survived, by her husband, Charles, also of Sweetbrook; her daughter and son-in-law, Skip Durning, of Williamstown; two devoted grandsons, Matthew, and his longtime partner, Krista Northup, of Oakland Calif., and Peter, and his wife, Erin Carney, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a sister, Nancy Hoffman, of Greenbrae, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Alice Eckardt, of Coopersburg, PA; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Joni Lyons of Vineyard Haven, Mass., and Edward and Cory Lyons, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; nieces and nephews. She will also be greatly missed by her special friend, Jackie Kay, of Scarsdale, N.Y., and her longtime caregiver, Amy Cariddi, of North Adams, Mass. FUNERAL NOTICE: There are no calling hours. The family plans a private celebration of Harriet's life at a future date. We'd like to express our appreciation to the many dedicated staff members at Sweetwood and Sweetbrook whose caring personal touch meant so much to us and Harriet during the final years of her life. Those wishing to make donations in her memory may do so to their local library or to the Alzheimer's Association in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPELS, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247.