William Carney

Manchester, CT. - William H. Carney, 85, of Manchester, CT, formerly of Rensselaer, NY, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2018. He was born in Albany, New York January 15, 1933, son of the late James M. Carney and Shirley A. (Leazotte) Carney. Bill was employed in marketing for over 30 years by Joseph E. Seagram & Sons. He was a former member and Grand Knight at the Cardinal Spellman Council of the Knights of Columbus, East Greenbush, New York. In his younger days he was a party chairman for the Democrat Party in the City of Rensselaer. For several years he was an active volunteer fireman, house chairman and is an honorary member of the E. F. Hart Hose, Pumper 3, Fire Department. He was a compassionate civic minded and willing volunteer to the less fortunate during many holiday seasons and events all year round. Bill was a charismatic gentleman with a great sense of humor. He loved fishing in Cape Cod and especially in his adopted home of Bermuda. In his high school years at St Johns Academy, Rensselaer, NY he had a true passion for basketball. William was the loving partner of Jane (Noonan) Carney and father of Karen A. (Richard) Burness of Ellington, CT, Kathi M. (Thomas) Cuevas, of Glenville, New York and Kristi M. (Stephen) Dunkley of New York City and Bermuda. He is the loving Papa and Grandpa to Thomas W. Cuevas of Chicago, Il, Courtney (Ryan) Fletcher of Broad Brook, CT, Gabriele Dunkley (Brian Herrington) of Queens, NY, Chelsea (William Baker) Burness of Stafford Springs, CT, Harry Dunkley, of LA, CA, William Dunkley of New York City and Liv Dunkley (Mitch Cardoza) of NYC and great-grand father to Madison, Aaliyah and Brooke Burness-Baker. Brother of James (the late Mary Catherine), of Albany, NY and Thomas (Gail) Carney, of North Greenbush, NY. Several nieces, nephews and dear friends. Predeceased by his sisters Patricia (Donald) Bussey and Mary Carney and brother Richard Carney all of Rensselaer, NY. Bill ’s family would like to thank the staff and residents at White Oaks in Manchester, CT and A Caring Hands for their assistance, care and friendship. Also, thank the staff at the Bliss ICU and Conklin 2 Palliative care and hospice unit at Hartford Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 9:30am in the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday, from 4 to 7pm. Interment will be held in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Donations in Bill’s name can be made to St. Paul’s Center, PO BOX 589, Rensselaer, NY 12144. The members of the E.F. Hart Hose Co. are requested to meet at the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral home on Friday, January 4, 2018 at 5:45pm, to pay respects to our departed brother William H. Carney. John Mooney, Chaplin