Theresa A. (Coury) Gaffney, 86, of New Bedford passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving and adoring family after a battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Joseph H. Gaffney.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Antone and Julia Coury-Zilah. She was a devout Catholic and communicant of Our Lady of Purgatory Church.
Survivors include her sons, Anthony Gaffney and his wife Jennifer of Berkley, MA, Jonathan Gaffney and his wife Tracy of Arlington, VA, and Christopher Gaffney and his wife Erin of Worcester, MA, and her daughter, Theresa Oxley and her husband Randall of Belmont, MA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jessica Stephens, Anthony Gaffney Jr., Amanda Anderson, Brian Gaffney, Julia Gaffney, Whitley Gaffney, Coury Gaffney, Kelly Gaffney, Tyler Gaffney, Chelsi Gaffney, and Charlie Bonar; her great-grandchildren, Jackson Stephens, Landon Gaffney, and soon to arrive Skylar Anderson; many nieces and nephews, and many loving friends.
She was the sister of the late Annie Dow, Alice Coury, Elizabeth Casey, Mabel Banville, Joseph “Eddie” Coury, Maurice Coury, Ernest Coury, and Edward “Tophie” Coury.
After graduating from New Bedford High School, she worked for the Union Street Railway in New Bedford and helped her siblings in their business enterprises. After her marriage, she traveled across the country with her husband who was in the Air Force. Eventually, she moved to Bourne, MA where she lived for 25 years and raised her children before returning to New Bedford. While in Bourne, she was a communicant at St. John’s Church and worked at the Cape Cod Federal Credit Union for many years. She loved going to the beach, and was an excellent gardener, cook and seamstress. She participated in two New Bedford bowling leagues and was an avid Boston sports fan.
Her Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Our Lady of Purgatory Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street in New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.