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Jean Hickey Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Jean Hickey
Lynwood Shiva Sawyer
September 5, 2007
One consolation: A few years ago we were casting for a small independent film, about the Greek gods being downsized from Olympus. Through Frank's encouragement, Mr. Hickey drove Mrs. Hickey down to the producer’s apartment to read the part of Hestia, the spinster, frumpy Goddess of the Hearth. Alas (or perhaps not alas), our uniform opinion was that she was far too glamorous for the role. She could indeed act very well, but frump was just not part of her repertoire.
Anna Myer
September 3, 2007
Dear Jane, I can only imagine how hard it is to loose your mother, I send you my heart felt love. What a charcater your mother was. You have her in you and I know will carry her forward, with talent and character you inherited from her. My love always, Anna
frank hickey
August 29, 2007
Today is not a day for sorrow. Our mother is with God today. And she is wearing one of her big purple hats. If you doubt that, she has some pamphlets to give you.
Mom was a single woman in Brooklyn when she came out of a wake like last night’s service. She saw a man in an ice cream parlor hold the door for his two aunts. He wore a camel’s hair coat. Mom was always partial to men in camel’s hair coats. She said to herself ‘That’s the kind of man that I want to marry.’ They met and chatted. Boy meets girl, 1951 style.
Hickey family lore says that two months went by. No contact. Then our Dad was pounding down giggle water with one of his many bachelor buddies. Dad was urged to call that nice Jean Hogan girl. After two months! And Mom agreed to a dinner date. As my sister Jane screeches, “She was desperate!”
Today, you see the results. 56 years of marriage. And they never argued. Except about being late for mass.
She sacrificed a fast-moving showbiz career to marry and raise us. Recently, she used to complain that her memory was fading. I would tease her and ask her what it was like playing Wyoming in the 1950 season with her play “Burlesque.” Then she remembered Wyoming, and playing British Columbia, all the way down to Hollywood.
“200 plays,” she said. “ Maybe more.”
She taught us to care about everyone. Not to just be part of the crowd that goes along. When I find myself doing something ridiculous, career-ending and controversial, all for the under-dog who has no one else, it is Mom’s hand on my back pushing me forward and speaking truth to power. Whatever courage I have then, I get from her. Who the hell cares? My Mom cares. Forever.
She believed in Dorothy Day of the “Catholic Worker” and often demonstrated for what she believed.
At the age of 80, on a frosty frigid morning, she marched from the East River to the Hudson River for peace. It was too cold for me to wiggle my eyebrows.
“I don’t care if they arrest me,” she said. “Somebody must speak out.”
Mom was Blanche Dubois in “Streetcar” and Mina Harker in “Dracula.” But she played Mrs. Gilchrist in the play “The Hostage.” Mrs. Gilchrist is a prostitute who quotes the Bible while working sweatily in a Dublin house of ill repute. I hunted all over the city for a copy of that play and found one the day before she died.
I knew that it would be the last book that I bought her.
“Frank, “ she reproached me. “You live in the past.”
I told her that the present was looking a bit austere. She liked me to use words like
‘austere.’ She felt that maybe I would become somebody important, slinging words like
that.
The night before she died, Mom shared a beer with me. I read her lines to her from that play.
The play ends with joy and hope. Like this service should. Mom would want that.
At the rousing end of the play, Mrs. Gilchrist and company lift their voices in joyous song.
They sing:
The bells of Hell go ting-a-ling,
For you but not for me,
O death, where is thy sting-a-ling?
Or grave, thy victory?
And if you meet the undertaker,
Or the young man from the Pru,
Get a pint with what’s left over,
Now, I’ll say goodbye to you.
Joan Ferraro-Cox
August 23, 2007
My sincere condolences. May Jean's spirit and grace live on through the rest of the family as I know it does in her beautiful daughter Magee.
Roger Brunswick
August 23, 2007
Jane,
After reading about your mother's life, it becomes clear what a special person she was, beautiful, accomplished, spiritual. My deep condolences to you and your family. She is in good hands.
Best Regards,
Roger Brunswick
vivienne halpern
August 17, 2007
magee
my condolences and sympathy to you and your family
please let me know if i can be of any help
chevas Rolfe
August 15, 2007
Jane,
My deep condolences to you and your family... indeed it seems certain that she will be amoung the army of saints in the heavenly of heavenly!!
bless you , chevas
Judi Lehman
August 15, 2007
Jane . I read the obituary in Sunday and Monday's New York Times. I knew immediately it was your mother. She was so beautiful and lived such an interesting and exciting life. You were very lucky to have such a good mother. My sincere condolences.
Sumi Shirai
August 15, 2007
I am so sorry about the loss of your mother. My grandmother in Japan is also sick and it has been difficult for all of us. My deepest sympathies to your famiily, especially to you Jane.
Samantha Bennahum
August 14, 2007
Dear Mr. Hickey,
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I was very saddened to here about the loss of your wife. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely, Samantha
Romy Porrazzo
August 14, 2007
Liz,
I was so sad to hear about the loss of your mother. My husband John died suddenly last December and I know the terrible pain of losing a love one. Your mother must have been an incredible woman. I pray that God will comfort you and your family.
Romy Porrazzo
Convent of the Sacred Heart
Class of 1971
Lynn Schulman
August 14, 2007
My condolences to the Hickey family. As someone who recently lost a parent, I understand the sorrow and send my deepest heartfelt sympathies to all, especially to my friend Magee.
George Poillon
August 14, 2007
Dear Larry. Was sorry to read in the Times about Jean.My deepest sympathy to you and your family. You will all be remembered in my prayers.Sincerely, George Poillon
Barbara J. Brandon
August 13, 2007
My heartfelt prayerful condolence, Larry, for you and your family. May your beautiful Jean dance her way into the arms of the Lord.
Bill Seiden
August 12, 2007
My deepest condolences on the loss of a great lady.
Toni Callahan Powers
August 12, 2007
No wonder Mrs. Hickey's daughters are such accomplished beauties! Liz, I so feel for your loss. I just lost my father, in late May, and know you will miss your sweet Mom daily. Much love, Toni Callahan Powers, Sacred Heart 91st Street, Class of 1970
Mark O'Friel
August 12, 2007
My condolences to Larry and all of the Hickey family who have lost a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Katie Kelly
August 12, 2007
Oh, my. Our world has lost quite a gal! Thanks to my friend and colleague, Magee, I met Jean many years ago. I regret I was never able to get to one of her shows--especially those early ones! (She appreciated the fact that I was a frustrated, late-life tap dancer!) We had good times together, and I treasure those. Bon voyage, Jean.
Toni Schang
August 12, 2007
I'm sorry to learn of your loss, Liz. Your mother was an impressive woman!
Anita Halton
August 11, 2007
My condolences and love to Magee and all the Hickey's
Anita (Kernan) Halton
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