Fayne McGrath Daniels, 91, lifelong resident of Pawling, NY, died peacefully at home on January 5, 2023. She was born to Edward and Alberta McGrath on February 19, 1931. Fayne is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Ross; her children Charlie (Lisa), Dave (Susan), George (Laurie), Dan (Jennifer), and Tonia; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who knew her as “Deedee;” and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her siblings Mary, Patricia, Eileen, and Edward; and her son Edward, who died in infancy.
Fayne graduated from Pawling High School in 1948, where she was captain of the cheerleading team, and from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in 1952. She later taught kindergarten at Holy Trinity School in Poughkeepsie, where she corralled ninety children between the morning and afternoon classes (and only occasionally fell asleep during the children’s naptime, she liked to joke), as well as first grade at Pawling Elementary School.
Fayne was humble, faithful, funny, and frank, with a singing voice that brought congregations to their knees. A soloist for many years at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pawling, Fayne sang frequently for weddings, funerals, and social events, and was honored to perform the national anthem at a Mets-Phillies game in 1978. Fayne was also a voracious reader and avid traveler and kept abreast of world events right up until her death.
If Fayne’s elementary school classmate Ross was her first love, the town of Pawling was a close second. She loved sitting on “Ed’s Bench,” named for her late brother, in the mini park on Charles Colman Boulevard. She was a tireless fundraiser for local causes and served her community in countless formal and informal capacities over the years, never seeking accolades or attention for her work. She served as president of the Pawling Chamber of Commerce and sat on the board of directors of the Pawling Garden Club, Pawling Shakespeare Club, Pawling Free Library, Hammersley Beach Club, and Catholic Daughters of America. As a volunteer and board member of the Pawling Resource Center, she implemented the annual “Walk So They May Ride” walk-a-thon, which recently celebrated its 15th year. Ross and Fayne were also instrumental in creating the Pawling Teen Center for area youth. On the county level, Fayne served on the Dutchess County Mental Health Association and Vassar Hospital boards. In 1973, Governor Hugh Carey appointed Fayne to the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center Board of Visitors, where she helped establish and worked directly with patients at the “Bargain Boutique,” which provided clothing in a retail setting for patients.
Fayne battled trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition, for many years. In typical fashion, she poured her suffering into service, establishing a support group which met at St. Francis Hospital for over a decade.
Stalwart of Pawling and matriarch of her grateful family, Fayne will be profoundly missed. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 9 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Pawling. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Pawling Resource Center in her name.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY.
