Bridget Lane

Bridget Lane (née O’Brien) the 7th of 9 children was born at home on December 7th, 1930 or thereabouts in the Kingdom of Kerry to John and Mary O’Brien. In 1948 just after turning eighteen Bridget arrived on the shores of America aboard the Queen Mary and never looked back.

She first made Springfield Massachusetts her home but the lure of Big Apple was just too great and she soon moved there.  A proud Kerry girl her entire life, Bridget’s heart belonged to New York.  In large part because that’s where she met the dashing Dennis Lane (and yes I do mean dashing) 

In the early years, Bridget worked at Stouffer's in Chicago and New York before settling down in Valley Stream with dashing Dennis.  

On Fairmount Street she raised eight children and was an active member of her church Blessed Sacrament. Always willing to lend a hand with the Rosary Society, as a Scout Den Mother, on bingo nights or for any number of social and fundraising events. During the 70s, 80s, and 90s the church could always count on Bridget!  In her later years, she was known to attend mass there every day; except Sunday!

During those same years when not running around town with, and for, one of the kids Bridget could be found, and heard, on the front steps calling out the name of one of her wayward children. (Probably Dennis or Kevin, but never Stephen)

A Mother-in-Law to 7, a Grandmother to 18, Bridget was also blessed to be able to welcome into the family two adorable great-grandchildren.  

An avid traveler Bridget enjoyed going home to Ireland to visit with her sisters, to traverse the sights of Europe, the blue waters of the Caribbean, or cruising the beautiful Alaskan coast with the Rockaway crowd.  One of Bridget’s most memorable trips was visiting Israel with friends and being humbled by the grandeur and history of The Holy Land. Regardless of the adventure she always approached them with a sense of curiosity and excitement. 

Bridget was preceded in death by her Husband of 61 years Dennis Lane who passed away last February and has been waiting patiently for his bride. 

 
She is survived by her sister Anne Lovett of Tipperary Ireland; brother-in-law Ed Lane of Rockaway New York as well as...

Children: Terryanne Shimmel of Wilton, CT; Dennis Lane of West Hempstead; NY, Kevin Lane of Suffern, NY; Kathleen Stimpson of North Reading, MA; Brian Lane of Wilton, CT; Stephen Lane of Homosassa, FL;Jeanne Murphy of New Hyde Park, NY and Sean Lane of New York, NY

Children in-law:Howard Shimmel, Helen Lane, Kathleen Lane, Maria Lane, Scott Stimpson, Nancy Lane, and Dennis Murphy

Grandchildren: Ryan Lane, Sarah Shimmel, Jason Shimmel, Kristen Lane, Evan Shimmel, Siobhan Stimpson, Cara Lane, Colin Lane, Aidan Lane, Courtney Lane, Alexandra Lane, Melissa Lane, Ronan Lane, RoryStimpson, Emmet Lane, Nolan Stimpson, Amelia Murphy, Dennis Murphy and granddaughter in-law Jessica Lane

Great Grandchildren:Giuliana Lane and Andrew Lane 

Bridget Lane’s soda bread is legendary; from our family to yours, we'd like to share with you her recipe:  

BRIDGET'S SODA BREAD

Ingredients

3 1/2 - cups flour
1 tablespoon - baking powder
1 teaspoon - baking soda
dash of salt
sugar to taste
raisins to taste
caraway seeds 
2 eggs
About ½ cup buttermilk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch pan or better yet use an iron skillet!
Mix dry ingredients
Mix buttermilk and eggs
Combine them together and roll out to shape
 

Bake in preheated oven until the bread has risen and the top is golden brown.  30- 45 minutes at most, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. 
For scones use the top of an overturned juice glass to shape.  
Best served with a glass of whole milk, a thick slab of butter, some hot tea, and of course great company!