Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.
Agnes M. McDermott (nee Pereira), age 71 of Wayne, died on November 11, 2015 with her family gathered at her bedside. She fought a relentless battle with cancer for more than two years, never surrendering hope, and she did it with uncommon courage, strength, and poise.
Agnes grew up in Hoboken, a cousin to world heavyweight champion Gene Tunney, and she had the occasion to hang out with Frank Sinatra from time to time; a perk of living in Hoboken during those days. The eternal optimist that she was, Agnes would find the silver lining in any situation. She took her first job at eleven years old and contributed most of her earnings to her family, helping them to stay afloat. After graduating from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Hoboken, Agnes attended Jersey State Teachers College in Jersey City. After graduation, she realized she could never be a teacher because it would break her heart to hand out grades to students. She had such a big, warm heart that even the thought of having to put “Needs Improvement” on a 1st grader’s evaluation was something she just couldn’t bring herself to do. Despite all of her education, she never taught professionally a day in her life.
Agnes began working at a department store in the Journal Square section of Jersey City. A woman shopping in the store one day was so taken in by Agnes’ kindness and warm personality that she asked Agnes if she might consider going on a date with her nephew. Agnes agreed and Neil gave her a call. On their first date, they went to New York City where they had a wonderful meal at Toffeneti’s and then took in a show. The evening was more than either had expected and Neil knew she was a great person right from the start. As he said ‘good night’ at her door step, he desperately wanted to give her a kiss, but rather than risk ruining a good thing he refrained and politely asked for a second date. They agreed to spend New Year’s Eve together at the “Fiesta” in Rutherford; 1963. They have been lovingly inseparable ever since. Neil’s family knew she was a ‘keeper’ too, as his mother threatened to kill him if he ever broke it off with her. After getting engaged, it took them two years to save up the money before they were married on November 19, 1966 at Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken. That entire week surrounding their wedding was defined by stormy, cold, November weather, but God always seemed to watch over Agnes and their wedding day was perfect; an unseasonably warm 70 degrees with sunny, blue skies! Their reception was remarkable as well; beginning at 1 PM at the “Union Club” in Hoboken, the party continued into the wee hours of the following morning, as any Irish wedding should, at McKelsey’s Pub! Anges and Neil didn’t have any money for a honeymoon, but Neil’s aunt (the same one who met Agnes in the department store and set them up in the first place), treated them to an all-expenses paid trip to Nassau, Bahamas. The only spending money they had was found in the wedding envelopes, which they stuffed in their pockets before leaving. They made it back home a week later with little more than 25 cents in their pockets! The love they shared on that honeymoon never diminished over the forty nine years since. The wedding song they chose so many years ago couldn’t have been more fitting; “Love me with all of your heart” by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Agnes and Neil settled into a home in Lincoln Park where they began to raise their family, eventually moving to Wayne in 1984. She was the consummate ‘mother’ and Neil did whatever it took to allow her to be home full-time raising their family. From early in their relationship, Agnes had planned to have thirteen children. She just loved babies and wanted to have lots of them. After her fourth boy was born, she had a change of heart and suddenly ‘four’ seemed like an adequate accomplishment. Her boys, the “four gorillas,” as they have been affectionately (and accurately!) referred to as, kept her plenty busy, to say the least. She had her hands full every single day but she did it with grace and confidence, raising each to be wonderful men she could be proud of. She was always there for them, at every school conference, sporting event, and honor ceremony. As she was blessed with grandchildren along the way, she stepped right in and took an active role raising them too, seemingly attending all of their dance recitals, softball games, and school events as well. Family was always the most important thing to Agnes, spending holidays and birthdays together meant so much to her. She always had a smile no matter what, and she was an unbelievable wife, mother, and grandmother. They will all miss her dearly.
Agnes is survived by her devoted husband Cornelius "Neil" McDermott of Wayne, her four sons; Kevin of Wayne, Scott and his wife Jennifer of Ridgewood, Keith and his wife Diane of Wayne, and Brian and his wife Shannon of Wayne, eight grandchildren; Erin, Madelyn, Ashley, Anna, Katie, Kelly, Carolyn, and Harris, one brother; Joseph Pereira of Florida, and her loving nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to make a donation in Agnes’ memory are asked to consider the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Donations should be made payable to the “Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation,” 360 Essex St., Suite 301, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 from 2-6 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.
Agnes M. McDermott (nee Pereira), age 71 of Wayne, died on November 11, 2015 with her family gathered at her bedside. She fought a relentless battle with cancer for more than two years, never surrendering hope, and she did it with uncommon courage, strength, and poise.
Agnes grew up in Hoboken, a cousin to world heavyweight champion Gene Tunney, and she had the occasion to hang out with Frank Sinatra from time to time; a perk of living in Hoboken during those days. The eternal optimist that she was, Agnes would find the silver lining in any situation. She took her first job at eleven years old and contributed most of her earnings to her family, helping them to stay afloat. After graduating from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Hoboken, Agnes attended Jersey State Teachers College in Jersey City. After graduation, she realized she could never be a teacher because it would break her heart to hand out grades to students. She had such a big, warm heart that even the thought of having to put “Needs Improvement” on a 1st grader’s evaluation was something she just couldn’t bring herself to do. Despite all of her education, she never taught professionally a day in her life.
Agnes began working at a department store in the Journal Square section of Jersey City. A woman shopping in the store one day was so taken in by Agnes’ kindness and warm personality that she asked Agnes if she might consider going on a date with her nephew. Agnes agreed and Neil gave her a call. On their first date, they went to New York City where they had a wonderful meal at Toffeneti’s and then took in a show. The evening was more than either had expected and Neil knew she was a great person right from the start. As he said ‘good night’ at her door step, he desperately wanted to give her a kiss, but rather than risk ruining a good thing he refrained and politely asked for a second date. They agreed to spend New Year’s Eve together at the “Fiesta” in Rutherford; 1963. They have been lovingly inseparable ever since. Neil’s family knew she was a ‘keeper’ too, as his mother threatened to kill him if he ever broke it off with her. After getting engaged, it took them two years to save up the money before they were married on November 19, 1966 at Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken. That entire week surrounding their wedding was defined by stormy, cold, November weather, but God always seemed to watch over Agnes and their wedding day was perfect; an unseasonably warm 70 degrees with sunny, blue skies! Their reception was remarkable as well; beginning at 1 PM at the “Union Club” in Hoboken, the party continued into the wee hours of the following morning, as any Irish wedding should, at McKelsey’s Pub! Anges and Neil didn’t have any money for a honeymoon, but Neil’s aunt (the same one who met Agnes in the department store and set them up in the first place), treated them to an all-expenses paid trip to Nassau, Bahamas. The only spending money they had was found in the wedding envelopes, which they stuffed in their pockets before leaving. They made it back home a week later with little more than 25 cents in their pockets! The love they shared on that honeymoon never diminished over the forty nine years since. The wedding song they chose so many years ago couldn’t have been more fitting; “Love me with all of your heart” by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Agnes and Neil settled into a home in Lincoln Park where they began to raise their family, eventually moving to Wayne in 1984. She was the consummate ‘mother’ and Neil did whatever it took to allow her to be home full-time raising their family. From early in their relationship, Agnes had planned to have thirteen children. She just loved babies and wanted to have lots of them. After her fourth boy was born, she had a change of heart and suddenly ‘four’ seemed like an adequate accomplishment. Her boys, the “four gorillas,” as they have been affectionately (and accurately!) referred to as, kept her plenty busy, to say the least. She had her hands full every single day but she did it with grace and confidence, raising each to be wonderful men she could be proud of. She was always there for them, at every school conference, sporting event, and honor ceremony. As she was blessed with grandchildren along the way, she stepped right in and took an active role raising them too, seemingly attending all of their dance recitals, softball games, and school events as well. Family was always the most important thing to Agnes, spending holidays and birthdays together meant so much to her. She always had a smile no matter what, and she was an unbelievable wife, mother, and grandmother. They will all miss her dearly.
Agnes is survived by her devoted husband Cornelius "Neil" McDermott of Wayne, her four sons; Kevin of Wayne, Scott and his wife Jennifer of Ridgewood, Keith and his wife Diane of Wayne, and Brian and his wife Shannon of Wayne, eight grandchildren; Erin, Madelyn, Ashley, Anna, Katie, Kelly, Carolyn, and Harris, one brother; Joseph Pereira of Florida, and her loving nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to make a donation in Agnes’ memory are asked to consider the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Donations should be made payable to the “Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation,” 360 Essex St., Suite 301, Hackensack, NJ 07601.
Guestbook