Nadine was born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, to Mary (nee Heffernan), who immigrated in 1963 from Ballymoreen, Tipperary to New York, and Thomas Faughnan, who also immigrated from Ireland in 1963, leaving from Derry and arriving in the Bronx. Nadine’s mother Mary resided in the Bronx with her aunts May Normyle and Mary Heffernan. Nadine’s parents Mary and Thomas met at a local Irish community dance and married in 1969. The couple then settled in Jackson Heights, Queens, where they had their daughters, Nadine and Thomasina. After the death of Thomas in 1975, Mary and her girls moved back to Ballymoreen to be close to family. A year later they returned to the United States. The family made annual trips home to Ireland where Nadine and her sister spent the summers with their grandmother Ellen, their aunts, and their uncles. It is there over those many summers where she developed a love for Ireland and learned the vital importance of community and Christian charity.
Nadine attended Notre Dame School in New York City and from there continued on to Iona College. After the birth of her son Ciaran, born with Escobar Syndrome, Nadine was introduced to the special needs community where she formed many special relationships with families and professionals. Inspired by her son’s strength and courage, Nadine discovered her passion for helping others and returned to school at Rockland Community College to attain her degree in Occupational Therapy. Nadine currently serves as an Occupational Therapy assistant at a Starting Place in Pearl River.
Nadine met her husband, Shane Green, of 25 years in Queens, New York. They settled in Woodside/ Maspeth, Queens where they welcomed their four children: Ciaran, Colin, Kyle, and Aisleen. Nadine and Shane moved their family to Pearl River in 2007, becoming active members in St. Margaret’s Church, the Pearl River School District, the Ladies AOH Division 3, and the Pearl River community.
Wanting to continue her involvement in the Irish community, Nadine joined the Ladies AOH Division 3 of Pearl River where she became an active member at both the division and county level, sitting on various committees, helping with fundraising, and embracing the motto of “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.”
Nadine became involved with Lourdes Kids of Rockland when her eldest son, Ciaran, was selected to travel as one of the first pilgrims to Lourdes, France. Nadine’s involvement and example of leadership skills, caring, and dedication influenced Ciaran to spread his wings and see himself as more than a pilgrim. Ciaran took on several roles including returning to Lourdes first as a jetsetter, serving as a role model for other pilgrims, and then as a member of the team becoming the group’s spokesperson. Under the leadership of Nadine, Lourdes Kids of Rockland allows young people with special needs (mental and physical challenges) to travel on an all-expense-paid trip to the Grotto in Lourdes, France, on a spiritual healing and fun-filled pilgrimage during Easter week. Nadine makes this possible through hard work and dedication to enlist extremely generous donations and outstanding volunteerism from our community. Through her tireless efforts, Nadine works to bring pilgrims and volunteers together, address logistical issues of the trip, organize fundraising, and plan special Masses and receptions for the community. Having had a child with special needs, Nadine works to reassure the families of traveling pilgrims that their child will be well cared for and experience the many mini miracles of Lourdes. Nadine also formed a monthly bowling experience to enhance the relationship between the pilgrims and helpers and also demonstrate the care and dedication each volunteer shows to children participating in the program. In addition, Nadine promotes a successful golf outing each October to raise money and bring awareness for Lourdes Kids of Rockland. Through her dedication and passion for the special needs community, Lourdes Kids of Rockland now has a waiting list of pilgrims and helpers anticipating future travel. Nadine is looking forward to watching her children develop and embrace this passion to help others through this organization.
In addition, along with raising her own family, Nadine has volunteered in numerous roles; she was an active member of the Special Ed Parent Teachers Association in Pearl River, a religion teacher at St. Margaret’s Church, and served on the Lincoln Avenue PTA Board. In 2021, Nadine was recognized for her dedication to Rockland County by Assemblyman Michael Lawler with a “Woman of Distinction Award.”
Nadine is truly a woman of distinction who exemplifies the true spirit of volunteerism, dedication, and selfless attitude to take care of others. Nadine’s altruistic, charitable, good-hearted and humane spirit has been passed down to her children, who volunteer and attend many charitable events, making Nadine a very proud and happy mother to see her children continue the work she so deeply cares about and believes in. Nadine is thrilled, but also tremendously humbled, by being selected as the 2022 Hibernian of the Year and hopes that she can bring further awareness to the many causes and charities she cares for so deeply through this honor