Winifred Mae Dwyer “Winnie” passed away peacefully on October 19, 2026.
Winnie was born on April 19, 1938 in Bronx, New York to John and Bridget (Ryan) Dwyer Irish immigrants from County Tipperary. Winnie cherished her Irish heritage, and her New York roots.
Winnie attended Sacred Heart Grade School in the Bronx and graduated from St. Patrick’s Cathedral High School in Manhattan. Shortly after graduation from high school she moved to Greenwich Village and then back to the Bronx to Bailey Avenue where she remained for the rest of her years and became the longest tenured resident in her building.
Winnie held various jobs throughout her life. Out of high school she was a volunteer at the New York Civil Air Patrol trained to fly light aircraft designed to assist in search and rescue missions. She shared many stories about her time at Abercrombie & Fitch on Madison Avenue in the early 1970’s where she met the likes of John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn and numerous stars of the Golden Era of Hollywood. Winnie also served as an NYPD Auxiliary police officer in the early 1990’s. Her most admirable job was taking care of her aging parents in their later years. She retired from the James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center after many years of service.
Winnie enjoyed old movies, true crime shows and feeding the birds on her way to her favorite stop of the morning, Starbucks. Winnie adored animals and took in numerous cats and dogs in need of a loving home. Snowy, Whiskers, Charles, Friday, Tipperary, Tina, Lily, BJ and Sage meant the world to her and held the most special place in her heart.
Winnie deeply loved her family and her life long friends. She kept in touch with her extended family in Ireland and took frequent trips to visit them. She was very close to her younger brother William otherwise known to her as Brother Bill or Billy as she affectionately called him. She missed him and his family terribly when they moved to Michigan. She was incredibly proud of her nephew, nieces and their children. She never forgot the people she cared about on their birthday or on any special and always made you feel special. Those that loved her will never forget her strength, thoughtfulness, humble nature, quick wit, her wonderful sense of humor, her laugh, her stories and her generosity.
Winnie’s Bailey Avenue friends and neighbors were very special to her and were really more like family. She loved any time spent with them, young and old alike. The Surprise 88th Birthday Party they had for her was one of her most treasured memories. Winnie was incredibly grateful for their friendship over the years and their unwavering and steadfast compassion providing meals, walking her dog Sage and taking her to and from doctor’s appointments to name just a few of the ways they supported her during her illness. During this time she often referred to her dear friends Gerri, Michelle and Nancy as her Angels.
Winnie is survived by her nephew Michael (Christine) Dwyer, nieces Deborah (Craig) Knight, Veronica (Michael) Madsen and their children Brendan and Elizabeth Knight, Lauren and Brian Dwyer, Sean and Tyler Madsen. In addition to her parents , Winnie was preceded in death by her brother William and her sister-in-law Jane Dwyer. She will be missed dearly by all who loved her and remembered for her love, devotion and purity of heart. In the parting words of her family- Winnie, we love you, we’ll miss you and thank you for everything.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret of Cortona 6000 Riverdale Ave, Bronx, New York, Friday, October 30 at 10am.
Interment to follow At Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 W. Stevens Ave • Hawthorne, NY
Her family is thankful for the medical staff and volunteers at Calvary Hospital for their compassionate care of Winnie. In lieu of flowers , the family requests that memorial donations be made to Give Once - The Calvary Fund