On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, Florence A (O’Brien) Kissane, an associate with the Dominican Sisters of Hope, passed away peacefully, at her home in Hampton Bays. She was just five days from her 89th birthday.
Florence was born January 17, 1932 at Southampton Hospital, to John and Josephine (Butler) O’Brien. She was the fourth child born to the couple. Josephine (Butler) O’Brien passed away in 1943 when Florence was only 11 years old. Her father then married Alice (Malone) O’Brien.
She attended Kings County Hospital and earned her Nursing Degree (RN). She assisted with the first open-heart surgery performed there.
Florence was an Operating Room nurse for over 39 years at Southampton Hospital. She retired in 1995. At one point in her career, she was president of the local chapter of the Catholic Nurses Association. It was her nursing vocation that drew Florence to become involved with the mission of the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor (DSSP). As a result of their shared mission Florence was invited to become one of the first associates with the sisters. She continued this relationship as an associate when the DSSP joined with two other congregations to become the Dominican Sisters of Hope.
Florence was very involved as an associate with the Dominican Sisters of Hope, she was on committees with the sisters and with St. Rosalie’s R.C. Church: Her passion for social justice led her to work on the Peace and Social Justice Committee and the Committee for the Common Good. For years, she bought, cooked, and served Thanksgiving Turkeys in Harlem, volunteered in Mississippi and Belize for weeks at-a-time to serve in clinics run by the Dominican Sisters.
Florence was a Lector and an extraordinary minister at St. Rosalie’s Church in Hampton Bays, NY.
Florence is predeceased by her son, Richard D. Kissane Jr. (September 9, 2020), as well as her parents, John J. O’Brien, Josephine (Butler) O’Brien, Alice (Malone) O’Brien. Her sisters, Virginia (O’Brien) DeLauro, Rosemary (O’Brien) Marcincuk, and her brother, John F. O’Brien.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Kissane) and her husband Richard Lewis of East Quogue, her daughter in-law, Laura (Dawkins) Kissane of East Quogue and her grandchildren, Matthew (Tegen) of Colorado, Kate (Donald) Brooks of Florida, Bridget Lewis of Hampton Bays, Owen and Liam Lewis of East Quogue, and her Great granddaughter, Elliot Grace of Colorado. Her sisters Josephine (O’Brien) Cassidy, (Tom) and Maryalice O’Brien and best friends Sister Anne Marie Bucher of the Bronx and Sister Margaret Mary Rottinghaus of Mt. Vernon, NY. Florence is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends whom she loved dearly.