Dear Jane 1984

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Mireille Duhon

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Aug 3, 2024, 11:51:53 AM8/3/24

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Bettejane was the daughter of the late Bertram N. (1979) and Grace M. Needham (1984) Tully of 78 W. 8th St. Oswego, the house she was both born and grew up in. She was also the granddaughter of John R. Tully, a prominent alderman for the 4th ward in the 1930s. She was the widow of the late Leo A. Mahoney (2006), a well known auto mechanic and former proprietor of the Mobil Station on W. 7Th & Bridge, which they ran together from 1959 through the early 1970s. They bought the house across the street from her parents on the corner, 97 W. Seneca St. where she lived for over 50 years.

Mrs. Mahoney was a 36 year veteran teacher for the State of New York, becoming the longest 3rd grade teacher at Fairgrieve Elementary School in Fulton until her retirement in 1985. She was an intense advocate for the fair and equal education for girls of all skin colors and denominations during her tenure and a constant ambassador for a formal lunch room cafeteria at the school. Her classroom #113 which she had for 35 years was demolished upon her retirement to finally build the cafeteria she fought so long for. She adored the irony and felt both of these were her greatest achievements in education politics.

She was a graduate of the Class of 1949 at Oswego State Teachers College, later renamed SUNY at Oswego, with a K-12 Bachelor of Education. She was both a second generation teacher and graduate of the college. She inspired ALL of the next generation of her family to become teachers and pursue higher education for themselves and their children. Mrs. Mahoney was also a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association, Oswego County Retired Teachers Association, Fulton Retired Teachers Association and Oswego Retired Teachers Association.