Malverne mourns deputy mayor Joseph J. Hennessy

A funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Saturday, December 27 to remember and celebrate Joseph J. Hennessy, who served Malverne as a trustee, deputy mayor and mayor over the span of more than two decades.

The mass was attended by nearly 200 people and was led by Father Christopher Keenan, chaplain to the New York City Fire Department, and parish pastor, Father Frank Parisi.

Among those who spoke about Hennessy included Assemblyman Brian Curran, who thanked Hennessy for “dedicating his life to making Malverne a perfect place for us,” and Malverne Mayor Patricia Ann McDonald, who recalled Hennessy’s personal and professional personality. “Joe could be blunt, abrupt, stern, sharp and confrontational,” she said, “but also kind, compassionate, very generous and thoughtful.”

Over a dozen Malverne police officers and those from the reserve came to pay their respects, as well as representatives and officers from various branches of village government and volunteer organizations.

A motorcade through the center of Malverne followed the ceremony. Hennessy was cremated and interred at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.