Gwyneth Moore

Gwyneth Theresa Blessitt Moore was born on April 13, 1921, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Theresa Atkinson Blessitt and Alexander Hamilton Blessitt, and passed on July 22, 2024 in Valhalla, New York. She was the second of six children, including Bernadine (d), Ursula (d), Carmel (d), Bernella and Alexander Jr. (d). The family was part of the great migration north, arriving in Harlem, New York in the 1930s.

She attended Resurrection Parish School, Hunter and George Washington High Schools, all in New York City. Gwyneth graduated from the Harlem School of Nursing in 1944. She understood the power of education and returned to school in the 1970s, obtaining a Master of Nursing degree from Mercy College.

In 1944, she joined the Army Nurse Corps as a First Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain upon discharge. She worked at the German POW camps in Florence, Arizona and St. Luis Obispo, California. Gwyneth was part of a war love story, helping her friend and sister nurse, Elinor, sneak out of the barracks at night to meet her boyfriend, Frederick. Later, the Black nurse and German POW married and had a family. Their story, including Gwyneth’s role of writing a letter in support of their union, is included in the narrative, Enemies in Love by Alexis Clark.

Her final post was to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she met her late husband, Robert B. Moore of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Nicknamed “The Triple Nickles,” Mr. Moore’s unit was an all-Black airborne team of the United States Army during World War II.

After the war, Gwyneth and Robert (Bob) were married on August 8, 1948 in Mount Vernon, New York where they started their family. She worked at Mount Vernon Hospital as a registered nurse and Head of the Recovery Room for more than 35 years. The family moved to Greenburgh, New York in 1963. She is survived by her children, Owen (wife, Sahra), Kevin (wife, Allyson), and Allison (husband, Terence); three grandchildren, Kevin Jr. (wife, Aurelie), Sahara, and Markus; and one great-grandson Jahmei; her younger sister, Bernella; three sisters-in-law from St. Louis, Marcella, Bertha and Thelma; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Her love for her children knew no bounds. She always fostered their interest and desires. She took Owen to the Broadway show “Hair” and to folk concerts in Central Park; watched the 1977
World Series with Kevin and took him to his first baseball game, the Mets at the former Shea Stadium; used her own summer vacation to work as a summer camp nurse at Camp Sloane, so that Allison could attend sleepaway camp for free, and so much more.

Gwyneth and her family loved the greater outdoors, spending summers in Haines Falls, New York and on numerous camping trips. She was a mean campsite pancake-maker, not stopping until all the kids had their fill.

Her kind, caring and helpful nature was a natural fit for nursing, she was dedicated to her profession. Immediately after a well-deserved retirement in 1985, she and Allison enjoyed a lovely mother/daughter trip to Europe, visiting Switzerland, France and England. She and Bob traveled to Alaska, China, Kenya and Senegal, in addition to taking numerous Caribbean cruises.

Locally, Gwyneth, an enthusiastic gardener, helped lead the Parkway Homes/Gardens Garden Club for many years. She volunteered at the Lee F. Jackson School where she read to the children, and she served on the Advisory Board of the Theodore D. Young Community Center.

After her husband’s passing in 2011, Gwyneth found new interests, including becoming a New York Knicks fan in her 90s – Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony were her favorites. She was an avid reader and read The New York Times daily.

Her grandchildren were her world and nothing they needed went undone. Gwyneth was a gentle, quiet soul, who didn’t like a lot of fuss. She forgave the worst in all of us and believed there wasn’t much a few Hail Marys couldn’t fix. She will be missed by her large, extended family, friends and neighbors. We cherish our memories of her and will forever keep her loving spirit in our hearts.



IN APPRECIATION
The Moore and Lake families wish to express
their deepest appreciation and sincerest
gratitude to everyone for all the acts
of kindness shown to them during
this time of great sorrow.


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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Gwyneth Moore entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the family of Gwyneth Moore during their time of bereavement.

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Private memorial & cryptside services have already been held. Though services were private, please still leave condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor.

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As private services have already been held, NO flowers should be sent to the funeral home now. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly prefers a contribution be made in her name/memory/honor to Westchester Children's Association and/or YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester (may be done on your own or through the donation tabs/links here in website at the bottom of this page), and/or you may choose to plant a tree in tribute. If sending flowers to private family residences despite their contribution request, smaller plants or vases are preferred. The Family Thanks You!