Philomena Hayden

Philomena Hayden (nee Morrongiello) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 in St. Augustine, Florida after her battle with dementia.   She was born to the late Lilly and Anthony Morrongiello in Brooklyn, New York on July 19, 1931.  She is predeceased by her husband,George Hayden. They were married 63 years.

Philomena is survived by her children; daughter, Mary Ann and her husband Victor Mearini of St. Augustine; son, George and his wife Robyn of Marietta, GA; son, Lawrence and his wife Gina of Valley Stream, NY; son, Anthony and his wife Anne of Newport Richey, FL and daughter  Phyllis and her husband John Morley of St. Augustine, FL and daughter in law Nellie Hayden of Lynbrook, NY.   She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Victor Mearini, Brian Mearini, Bernadette DeGarmo, Timothy Mearini,  Lawrence Hayden , Nicholas Hayden, Joseph Hayden, Ryan Hayden, George Hayden, James Anthony, Hayden, Thomas Morley,  Kaitlin (Katie) Oliver, James Hayden and Bryana Hayden.  Philomena was blessed with eleven great-grandchildren, Emma Hayden, Ethan Hayden, James Hayden, Charleigh Hayden, Jaxon Oliver, Gavin DeGarmo, Mason DeGarmo, Matthew Mearini, Guile Mearini, Emerson Hayden and soon to arrive, Karoline Oliver as well as many nieces and nephews.  Philomena is the dear sister to Joseph Morrongiello, Rae (Rafaella) Fitzgerald, Mary Ann Manders, Frances Martini and Frank Vuolo (dec)

Philomena met George Hayden while working at the Brooklyn Union Gas Company. Her best friend and co-worker, Rose Lentini, suggested “she talk to the cute guy by the filing cabinets.” The rest is history and a long life of faith, love and family is Philomena and George’s legacy

George proposed to Philomena at a New York Dodgers game in 1954. They both shared a passion for sports, especially the horses and the New York Yankees.  You could find them at breakfast discussing the picks of the day and filling out the racing sheet.  If the Yankees went into extra innings they were up watching to the very end and then up in the morning discussing it at breakfast.

Philomena was a devout Catholic and her faith teachings live on in her children and grandchildren. George and Philomena said the rosary daily. When attending Mass, she was the last one to leave the church as she always carried a handwritten booklet of all the names of family and friends that needed her prayers.  She herself was the recipient of many prayers when she won her battle with breast cancer in the early 90’s.

Above all else, Philomena was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She dedicated her life to her family and she never missed a birthday, recital, graduation and there were many.  She made motherhood look like a walk in the park, having five children in five years.  If that wasn’t enough she had 14 grandchildren and never missed a chance to babysit them and shower them with unconditional love.