Obituary of Susan McGahey

McGahey, Susan K., age 59, passed away peacefully at home on February 7, 2010 under hospice care. A lifelong resident of Wyckoff, she owned and managed The Harp and Shamrock Irish Gift Shop in Wyckoff and Clifton for 20 years with her husband Eamon McGahey, former owner of the Harp and Bard Irish Pub in Clifton (NJ). She was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church in Wyckoff. She graduated from Ramapo High School in 1968 and continued her education graduating in 1970 with an AAS degree in textile design from the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduating in 1981, summa cum laude, with a BS degree in anthropology from Fordham University, Lincoln Center. She had many careers before settling into her great love for retail. Among them, textile designer and artist, horseback riding instructor, and paralegal. Susan loved helping customers at her shop and at the Harp and Bard where she served as hostess for fourteen years. Her survivors include her beloved husband Eamon of Wyckoff and stepdaughter Denise McGahey of Ohio, her brother Arthur Condon II and wife Betty of FL, her sister Patricia Lapp and husband Bill of Blairstown, NJ. Also nephews and nieces Arthur Condon III and wife Linda of NM, Dave DeKoning and wife Jannine of NC, Denise Droege and husband Scott of FL, Sandy Jacobus and Jim Langendoen of Whippany, Trish Draughn and husband Lewis of NC, Janice Gerisch and husband Glenn of Stockholm, Britton Lapp and wife Anna of Toms River, Christopher Lapp and wife Kelly of Sparta, grandnieces and nephews Sarah Danny and Derek Lapp, Nicholas DeKoning, Dylan and Derek Droege, Christopher and Alyssa Draughn and especially Madison and Dylan Gerisch who she considered her adoptive grandchildren. She is also survived by her very best friend Nancy Murphy and husband Ken of Florida. Susan was predeceased by her sister Mary Jacobus and sister Joyce DeKoning and nephew John Jacobus. Friends may visit the family on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. Funeral Mass, Friday, 10:00 AM at St. Elizabeth's R.C. Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, followed by interment in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa. Memorial Donations may be made to the ASPCA, attention Linda Tiramani 520 8th Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY 10018, or the Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco c/o Salesian Provincial Office, 148 Main St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-0639, or the Salesian Youth Ministry, 315 Self Place, South Orange, NJ 07079.