Donald Joseph "Pop" Hanafin

On his passing, Don was a resident of Palm Bay, FL, formally Newburgh, NY
Our hero, Donald Hanafin, entered into heaven on April 19, 2025, at the age of 89. He passed surrounded by his three children and son-in-law.
Don was pre-deceased by his loving wife Eileen Hanafin, their daughter Susan Anne Hanafin, his parents, John & Bridie Hanafin, his father and mother-in-law, William & Eileen Kiely, his brother John Hanafin, his brother-in-laws Frank McConvery and Charles Fox.
Don is survived by his children Eileen & Terry Healey, John Hanafin and Karen Hanafin. He leaves behind 8 grandchildren and their partners: Kiely Healey & Robert Romano, Caitlyn Hanafin & Kevin Park, Donald Hanafin, Shawn Healey & Sarah Reading, Connor Hanafin, Jamie Hanafin, Kraig Hanafin & Lucy Jung and MacKenzie Hanafin.
Since the birth of his grandchildren, he expressed a desire to be called "Pop." It's a name that held a lot of meaning for him and brought him joy.
He is also survived by his sister Marie McConvery and her children Timothy, Michael, Gerald, Kelly and Kathleen along with their partners and children. His in-laws Patricia Fox, William & Missy Kiely, Elizabeth & Nick D'Angelo and Ann Kiely along with their children Deborah, Charles, Elizabeth, Patricia, Lynn, Brian, Melissa, Alexander and Theresa and their partners and children, who will all cherish his memory.
Don was born in New York City where he met the love of his life, Eileen Kiely. They were married almost 59 years when she passed in Jan. 2023, he has missed her so. He has shared many memories of their cruises and trips into NYC to see plays. They are now together again, forever.
He was in the US Army where he served in the Korean war, he worked and retired from the NY Transit Authority after 20 years inspecting the cars on the #1 line trains. He was an avid NY Giants fan, holding season tickets for 50 years, as well as a dedicated NY Mets fan.
A longtime member of the VFW, American Legion and Southern Dutchess Country Club. He enjoyed his annual trips to Myrtle Beach, where he played as much golf as he could. An avid golfer, he proudly achieved four holes-in-one and taught his son and son-in-law how to play the game. They often competed as a team or against each other in the yearly member guest tournament at the Southern Dutchess Country Club. He was also known for teaching his grandsons how to swing a golf club.
Don was a quiet man, with a twinkle in his bright blue eyes and a smirk in his smile, that will be remembered always.
He is now golfing in heaven, if Mean Mean lets him.
Please join us on Saturday, May 31st for a Funeral Mass that will be held at St. Joseph's Church, 5330 Babcock St. NE, Palm Bay, Fl 32905 at 11am. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Pavilion at the American Legion Post 117, 189 Veterans Drive SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909 from 12pm to 4pm.