Adelaide Margaret Connaughton, of Forest Hills, New York passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 12th, 2018. Adelaide was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 24, 1958 to Veronica (Ronnie) and Kenneth Connaughton. Adelaide led a vibrant life, had a kind heart, and took pride in her work. After her retirement as a Lieutenant with the NYFD EMS, Adelaide worked for the NYC Council as an aide to Council Member Margarita Lopez. She also briefly sold real-estate, and achieved “million dollar” agent status at a local real estate firm.
With her love of public service, Adelaide joined the Fortune Society as a Senior Entitlements Coordinator in 2010. At Fortune, Adelaide provided assistance to formerly incarcerated men and women, and supported them as they re-entered society. In her spare time, Adelaide loved to be with family and friends and held many volunteer political and civic positions in New York City.
In fact, for the past five years, Adelaide and her West Highland Terrier, Elvis, participated in a therapy dog program sponsored through the Auxiliary of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. Adelaide and Elvis visited patients once a week at Jacobi to help with their healing process. In addition, they visited patients in the psychiatry department once a month at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. For all of this effort, Elvis and Adelaide were the first dog/human team to receive an Auxiliary Award from NYC
Health + Hospitals.
Adelaide was preceded in death by her mother Ronnie and is survived by her partner Lynn Schulman, her father Kenneth and step mother Monica, her brothers Martin, Colin, and Kenneth, her sister in-laws GeriAnn and Maryann, her nieces Kaitlyn and Nicole, and her nephews, Bryan, Brandon, and Dante. Adelaide’s enormous personality, selflessness, and infectious smile will be missed profoundly by her family, friends, colleagues, and everyone she has touched.
Adelaide’s wonderful spirit, joyfulness, and graciousness will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 4pm to 8pm at Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home 61-40 Woodhaven Blvd, Rego Park, NY 11374. A mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 9:45am at Resurrection Ascension Church, 85-25 61st Rd, Middle Village, NY 11379. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Adelaide’s name to The Fortune Society and Canine Companions.
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