Fergus T. Mooney, 85, Branford
Master Sergeant Fergus T. "Sarge" Mooney (U.S. Army, Ret.), 85, of Branford, died peacefully at the Connecticut Hospice on Sept. 21. He was the beloved husband of 61 years to Anne Fitzgerald Mooney. He was born on June 24, 1925 in Ottawa, Canada, son of the late Joseph W. and Elizabeth O'Connor Mooney. He moved to Branford in 1933 and proudly served his country in World War II with Patton's 3rd Army, M10 Tank Destroyer Company in Europe. He also served during the Korean Conflict with the 102nd Tank Company, 43rd Infantry, and with the Army National Guard. He finished his military career as a major in the 2nd Company Governor’s Foot Guard.
Fergus served his community as a member of the Branford RTM for 10 years, the Planning and Zoning Commission for 12 years, and the School Building Committee for four years, and he also volunteered as an election worker. A devout member of St. Therese Parish in Stony Creek, he served as an usher for more than 60 years. In addition, he was a member of Stella Maris Council 12600, Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 83 in Branford, VFW Post 10186 in Branford, BPOE 1939 Branford, the Irish American Community Center, and the NRA. He was deeply proud of his Irish heritage.
As a past member of Stony Creek Fife and Drum Corps, Fergus was instrumental in forming the Totoket Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. He was also retired from the SNET Company after 38 years of service in cable repair.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, John Mooney and his wife Patricia of Branford, Joseph Mooney and his wife Nancy of Branford, Fergus Mooney and his wife Lori of Warren, New Hampshire, Elizabeth McAuliffe and her husband Kevin of New Port Richey, Florida, and Michael Mooney and his wife Eileen of Washington, D.C.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer McCaughtry and her husband Mark, Tech Sgt. Thomas Grantland and his wife Jacqui, Dennis Mooney, Stephen Mooney, Sara McAuliffe, Daniel McAuliffe, Kyle Mooney, and Stephanie Engstrom and her husband David Scott; six great-grandchildren, Mareyna, Alexander, Dale, Spencer, Scout, and Slade; and two sisters, Eileen Field of Branford and Elizabeth Desmond of Huntington Beach, California. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews and many relatives in Ireland. He was predeceased by his daughter, Cathleen Mooney Grantland; his granddaughter, Carolyn Mooney; his daughter-in-law, Elise Gant Mooney; two sisters, Julia Becker, and Deirdre Fitzgerald; and two brothers, Joseph O. Mooney and John E. Mooney.
His funeral procession will leave the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 504 Main St., Branford, on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 8:15 a.m. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Therese Church at 9 a.m., followed by burial with military honors in St. Agnes Cemetery, Branford. Friends may call on Friday, Sept. 24, from 4 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stony Creek Drum Corps Building Fund, PO Box 1886, Stony Creek, CT 06405, or to the Branford Community Foundation – Austin Ryer Memorial Fund, PO Box 462, Branford, CT 06405, or to a charity of one’s choice. For directions and online memorial see www.wsclancy.com.