Jeanne O'Malley Hertzog

Jeanne O'Malley Hertzog ("Jeanne"), was born August 8, 1930, in Rhinelander, Wis., and died peacefully at her home in Pelham Manor, N.Y. surrounded by her family on September 25, 2020. She died at age 90 after a long illness.
Jeanne is survived by her children: John Benedict, Mary Roberts and Matthew O'Malley (Laura) as well as her grandsons: Benedict Hertzog Jones, Brendan Donald Jones and Ryan Lacey Hertzog.
Jeanne is predeceased by her beloved husband Donald Paul Hertzog (d. 1980) and her eldest son Donald McGraw Hertzog (d. 1977).
She is predeceased by all of her siblings: Patrick O'Malley, Ann O'Melia, Ida Mary Pearce, Salley Kremer, Sylvia Eichner, and Nancy O'Malley, O.B., well as her husband's dear sisters: Rita Hertzog Schultze and Helen Hertzog Linhard.
Jeanne resumed her career after the death of her husband and served as the Director of Medical Records of Lawrence Hospital until her retirement in 1999. She continued to work part-time for another ten years.
Jeanne, was born during the Great Depression and truly lived "A Wonderful Life." Her life was defined by the rubric of an unwavering devotion to God, her family, her friends and her community. She was always proud of her roots in Rhinelander.
After attending Catholic grammar school and Rhinelander High School, Jeanne left for Duluth, Minn., where she graduated with a B.S. in Medical Records from St. Scholastica College. While there, she was the recipient of the school's most prestigious award, "All College Woman," which was voted on by the students, teachers and administers and given to the woman who most embodied the values and mission of the college.
Jeanne chose to leave Rhinelander and arrived in Washington, DC, in the 1950s, where she found a position as the assistant medical records director of then Children's Hospital. She immediately joined the D.C. chapter of "the All Catholic Alumni Association," where she quickly met her husband-to-be, Don, as well as many close friends who remained in their lives forever.
After marrying in Rhinelander, the couple settled in Peter Cooper in Manhattan, before joining their friends and neighbors who had already migrated to Pelham, NY. They arrived at 117 Monterey Avenue, which became the family home for 53 years.
Jeanne immediately immersed herself within her adopted community. She was a major contributor to the founding and building of the current OLPH church, where her name can still be seen in the lobby. At the church she joined the Rosary Altar Society, faithfully cleaning the church and the altar weekly. She later became a lector, a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the choir. For almost forty consecutive years, 7 days a week, she attended the 8 AM daily mass. She was privately a source of friendship and spiritual counsel to all in need.
Outside of church, Jeanne poured her energy into all things Pelham, never shying away from volunteering or running for office for every group. The activity perhaps dearest to her heart, which brought the most joy and with her fondest memories - were her years with the Pelham Larks. She loved to sing; she loved the amazing friends she made and she loved to be the "permanent" Emcee of the group. She also loved playing the bass for the Larks and also in the summer concerts of Pelham Community Orchestra.
Jeanne loved the Junior League of Pelham and her many friends, but her favorite initiative, was the Sustainers' "Pride in Pelham", where she spent many solitary hours planting and sprucing up small gardens around the train station.
Jeanne also enjoyed and is known for her important years of exemplary public service as a two-term Trustee for the Village of Pelham in the 1980s. She especially enjoyed her role as the liaison to the Pelham Police.
Jeanne's most physically enduring legacy to Pelham is her leading role, dating back to the late 1980's in the planning, purchasing, building, and founding of the current Library of Pelham (before that the Town Library was shared with Hutchinson School). Always an avid reader, she was on the original Steering Committee that looked for a place to build the new library and was involved in negotiations with the religious organization that owned the site. Once purchased, Jeanne served as a trustee and an executive on the Founders Committee. Her personal donation went towards the building of the Library and she served on the first board of the Town of Pelham Library.

A Celebration of Jeanne's life will be held on Friday, October 2, 2020, from 4PM-8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Saturday, October 3, 2020, 10AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pelham Manor, NY

Jeanne's remains will be interred next summer in the grave of her beloved sister Ida Mary at the Catholic Cemetery in Rhinelander, Wis.