Obituary, Martin Joseph Rahilly, Jr

Martin Joseph Rahilly, Jr, 69, a lifetime resident of Beekman, NY, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at his home.

“Marty” to his family and friends was born on October 23, 1953 in Poughkeepsie, NY and was the son of the late Martin J. Rahilly, Sr and Ellen Marie Brennan.  On May 16, 1998 he married Teresa “Cissy” Jaeger in St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction, NY; she survives at home.

Marty was a correction officer at Green Haven State Prison in Stormville, NY and most recently at Beacon Correctional Facility in Beacon, NY. While a correction officer, Marty was a proud member of the department’s Emerald Society.

A former member of the Beekman Fire Department and one of the first members of the Beekman Rescue Squad, Marty loved restoring antique cars and trucks. An excellent harmonica player and lover of music, he was an avid concert and festival-goer and collected many T-shirts along the way. Marty loved gardening and the natural environment, and all animals, but especially dogs.  He was an avid collector of Matchbox cars and loved firetrucks.

Marty was always up for a good adventure.  He began studying Russian as a 7th grade student at Arlington Junior High School and in his Senior year, when he was able to speak Russian, he traveled with his class to Russia.  One of his prized possessions which he brought home from that trip was a balalaika which he learned to play.  Marty also enjoyed a good road trip. One of his longest trips was to the West Coast where he enjoyed riding the cable cars in San Francisco.  He followed that with stops at our National Parks in the western half of the country and was particularly impressed with Muir Woods.

In addition to his bride, he is survived by his rescue-dog, Audie; three sisters, Bridget R. Steller of Millbrook, NY, Mary Jude Calderaro, and Ita M. Rahilly and husband Louis W. Fish of Stormville; his mother-in-law Eileen B. Jaeger of Poughkeepsie; his sister-in-law Sharon M. Calder and husband Jeff; two brothers-in-law, Ronald J. Jaeger and wife Noi of Bristow, VA and Robert G. Jaeger and partner Karin of Big Pine Keys, FL; and many, many nieces & nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews, cousins, and friends.

In addition to his mother and father, he is predeceased by his brother Gerard F. Rahilly.

Family and friends may pay their respects at the Horn & Thomes, Inc Funeral home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling Monday, May 15th from 4-7 PM.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 16th, which would have been Marty and Cissy’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, at 10:30 AM at St. Denis Church, Hopewell Junction, NY.  Burial will follow in St. Denis Cemetery, where Marty’s parent’s and brother are buried.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Marty may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 39101, Hudson Valley Folk Guild, PO Box F, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602

Author: Harlem Valley News