LI fans gather to watch Oprah's TV goodbye

Oprah Winfrey is so inspirational to catering entrepreneur Andrea Correale that she told her staff to take a break from work at 4 p.m. Wednesday so they could watch the talk show queen's "Farewell Show" together.

"Oprah is definitely my mentor," said Correale, 41. "Not only is she an amazing businesswoman, but she gives back and touches everybody's hearts. If I can even do a fraction of that in my life, I'd feel like I was a huge success."

So the team at Elegant Affairs in Glen Cove gathered to take in television history on a flat-screen set. They indulged in some of Winfrey's favorites: brownies and pomegranate martinis, though the drinks were virgin because employees were still on the clock.

Viewers across Long Island bore witness to Winfrey's goodbye, some alone, some in groups. At Epiphany Day Spa in Hempstead, customers watched with staff; kindergarten teacher Denise Maynard, 49, invited six friends to her Long Beach apartment to share in the finale.

When Winfrey called her studio stage "the world's biggest classroom," Correale teared up. "Oh my God, it's so sad," she said. And when Winfrey noted she hadn't missed a day of the show in 25 years, Correale said to her staff, "Now that's work ethic, right?"

At Epiphany, Barbara Sparrow, 70, a retired senior account clerk in the Hempstead school district, said Winfrey always impresses people. "Today it's even more so," she said. Sparrow's daughter, Monica Sparrow Patton, 45, said she felt "Happy for her, not happy for me." As Winfrey signed off, Sparrow Patton clapped once and said, "End of an era."

At her Long Beach apartment, Maynard praised the final episode. "I think it was inspirational. It truly captured the sprit of Oprah. She talks about important subjects that other people don't discuss. She is forward-thinking, she has amazing spirituality, I could go on forever. She lets people know they can accomplish anything they want. . . . It's my philosophy, too. That's what I teach my students."

SEE PHOTOSOprah's memorable moments and guests