William Francis Claudio of Greenport died peacefully at home Saturday, Oct. 26. He was 81 years old.Born at ELIH to William Claudio Sr. and Helen Patton Manwaring July 5, 1938, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1956, and re-enlisted in 1963 as an officer after obtaining a degree in aeronautical engineering from Parks College, all aimed at a singular goal — to become a fighter pilot. He graduated USAF pilot training in 1965 and was assigned to the 417th Fighter Squadron at Ramstein, Germany, sitting on nuclear alert; did a tour in Wethersfield, England; and ended his Air Force career at Phan Rang, Vietnam, flying his beloved F-100 Super Sabre. He achieved the rank of captain and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 21 Air Medals. Many of his absolute favorite stories were of this time in his life.

A multitalented charismatic man, Bill went on to sell recreational real estate in Georgia and Colorado and enjoyed some success in modeling and acting before moving back to Greenport in 1974 to work for his father at Claudio’s Restaurant for three seasons. Moving from Greenport in 1976 with his soon-to-be wife, Janice, he joined Hazeltine Corp. and sold IFF equipment to countries in the Far East while earning his master’s degree from Columbia University. He later returned to his first love, aviation, selling commercial aircraft for Page AvJet and Beechcraft in Washington, D.C.

In 1990, Bill, his wife, two sisters and brother-in-law purchased Claudio’s Restaurant from his father, beginning a new chapter that would last 28 years. The restaurant, which opened in 1870 by Manuel Claudio, was considered by the National Restaurant Association as the oldest same-family-owned restaurant in the United States. Together they ran and expanded the business until finally retiring in 2018.

Well known in the Greenport community, Bill was larger than life and comfortably commanded center stage. He was an exceptional storyteller and a naturally gifted athlete who was quick with a joke and embraced life thoroughly. Aviation and boating were twin passions; he liked to go fast. Bill was a man who made very clear where he stood on all issues with all people at all times.

He will be remembered fondly and missed by many.

Bill is survived by his wife of 40 years, Janice; six children, Tony, Kathi, Billy, Mike, Chris and Jamie; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Wake services will take place Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, where funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m.

Fly high, Captain. We love you so much.

This is a paid notice.

The post William Francis Claudio appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Helen A. Heaney passed away peacefully Oct. 22, 2019, with a number of family members by her side.She was born in Laurel, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1932, to John and Anna (Shepish) Sobieray.

She was predeceased by her parents; her siblings John Jr., Mary Jane Lewin and Florence Brandi; sons-in-law Robert Wallace and Jeffrey Bubb; as well as her great-grandson Benjamin. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John; her seven daughters: Katherine (Robert), Gwendolyn (Garry), Theresa (Jeff), Rosemarie (Keith), Annemarie (Kenneth), Patricia (John) and Jennifer (Edward Jr.); 13 grandchildren: Gregory (Linda), Jacquelyn (Kurt), Nicole (Charlie), Jack, Shawn, Callie, Jeffrey (Kasey), Kristen, Kassandra (Mace), Natalie, Stephen, Jenna and Emily; as well as six great-grandchildren: Nicholas, Charles, Camden, Shane, Garrett, Katrina, Jeffrey, Brady and another one on the way.

The woman who would eventually go by the affectionate moniker “Nanny” relocated in 1943 to Greenport, where she would spend the rest of her life. As fate would have it, she left the Greenport High School sophomore Christmas party with Jack in 1948, which was the start of their 71-year journey together. Helen and Jack received the sacrament of marriage Aug. 22, 1953, when Jack was on a two-week leave from the USS Norfolk.

Helen devoted her life to her family and the surrounding community. There are many people who talk about making the world a better place. Helen was not much for talk; she spoke with her actions. She was a woman with binary sense of right and wrong, combined with the strongest of wills.

A long tradition at Greenport High School was the senior trip to Washington, D.C. In 1951, segregation was still in full effect in the south and African-American students from Greenport were not permitted in the pools at the hotel as well as certain restaurants. Helen decided that if her friends were not welcome, she did not want to be a part of it either. Instead, she opted to stay at the hotel with her roommate as a silent protest of an unjust system.

Helen was a dedicated communicant of St. Agnes Parish, serving as the CCD coordinator for over 25 years. There are multiple generations of Catholics that went through St. Agnes religious education system who have Mrs. Heaney stories.

In addition she was a Girl Scout leader for 30 years. Always willing to go the extra mile, she was in charge of Girl Scout cookie distribution for the North Fork. At one point, so many boxes of cookies were delivered to 511 Bailey Ave., they would not bring them inside the house for fear of compromising the structural integrity of her home. Furthermore, for many years she coordinated the Memorial Day dock service in Greenport.

A Porter through and through, she assisted with the GHS All Class Reunion from its inception and is a part of that event’s success. It is only fitting, since she had a vast amount of experience after helping to coordinate the Heaney family reunion for over 60 years.

Helen never got a driver’s license, so it was not uncommon to see her riding her blue Schwinn, complete with empty saddle baskets, downtown to work at Brasstown, Shirtshack or Basketworks. (The saddle baskets were full on her way home after she stopped at the grocery store before on her way back from work.)

Helen and Jack were not people of extraordinary means, especially with seven daughters to raise, yet that never stopped them from helping those that were less fortunate than they were. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, plates were always made for community members who did not have meals to eat. Helen even set up a Head Start program in her home to help prepare preschoolers for kindergarten; keep in mind this was with seven of her own children in the house.

Throughout her 66-year marriage to Jack, her main focus was always her family. The impact she has had on each member of her family is unquantifiable and the loss that is currently felt is immeasurable. Since her death, the entire family has spent their time recalling the countless moments of joy that they have shared with her. She had her own special relationship with each of her children, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Although the magnitude of her loss is devastating to her family, there will come a day when the intense sadness and tears that fall now will turn to smiles of joy in time, as her family carries forward with her memories trying to uphold the examples and expectations she has set, which is a fitting tribute to the legacy created by how she led her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to B. Timothy, Shawn T., Kerry P. Heaney Memorial Scholarship, 532 Whiteleysburg Road, Harrington, DE.

 This is a paid notice.

The post Helen A. Heaney appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Mirko A. Mrva of Riverhead, formerly of Southold, died Oct. 31. He was 79.

Visitors will be received Monday, Nov. 4, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated following the visitation at 10 a.m. at Saint Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold, officiated by Father John Barrett. Interment with US military honors will follow at Saint Patrick’s R.C Cemetery in Southold.

The post Mirko A. Mrva appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Anne Carolyn Lee (nee Costello), formerly of Jamesport and Mattituck, was born in Whitestone, N.Y., Sept. 3, 1932.

Anne was married to the late William A. Lee for 54 years until his passing on March 18, 2006. They lived on Long Island for 30 plus years until their retirement and moved to New Hampshire in 1992 and then Georgia in 1994.

Anne and Bill raised five children together. Anne cherished her roles as wife, mother and homemaker. Being with family, immediate and extended, was what made her happiest.

Anne also held a variety of employment positions throughout her married life to help support her growing family. She was a devout Christian who was known for hospitality, acts of service, a listening ear, and wise words of guidance.

Anne is survived by her daughter, Theresa (Terry) Hofer, and her four sons, Michael W. Lee and his wife, Robin, Thomas E. Lee and his wife, Maryanne Mullin, James J. Lee and his wife, Sheila, John A. Lee and his wife, Joanne; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was held Oct. 31 at Faith Bible Church, 4907 GA-34, Sharpsburg, Ga., with the Rev. John Crotts officiating. Burial followed at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. The family received friends prior to the service at the church.

Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Fayetteville, Ga. assisted the family.

This is a paid notice.

The post Anne Carolyn Lee appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Born to Harry Irving and May E. Howard of Greenport, N.Y., March 12, 1932, Addie peacefully passed away Oct. 25, 2019, surrounded by her loving family and caregiver, Dulce Delgado.

Born into a large family, Addie, the last to survive, was the youngest of her siblings, Winifred, Georgieanna, Dorothy, Levy, Blanche and John.

In July of 1952, Addie Howard married the love of her life, Alvin Lenard Pace, and resided in Peconic, N.Y., their whole lives.

After having worked several different jobs in various sectors, Addie found her forever career at the Southold Town Police Department as a clerk, retiring after 15 years of service.

The rest of Addie’s life was spent being the hub and heart of her family — the matriarch, the queen, the pulse of their lives. Spending many years serving her community in various capacities, Addie was a dedicated member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Southold, N.Y., as trustee and church clerk, as well as a dedicated leader in Girl Scouts.

A loving mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, cousin, aunt and friend, Addie is survived by her husband, Alvin L. Pace, and daughter, Charlotte Pace Spano.

This is a paid notice.

The post Addie ‘Nema’ Pace appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Aug. 5, 1927 ~ Oct. 29, 2019

Marjorie “Midge” Katherine Hoffman of Cutchogue was a woman of great caring and intellect; a beloved wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother; and a devoted sister, aunt, neighbor and friend. She liked to laugh, and possessed an inner strength that served her well, especially during the last few challenging years.

Marjorie was good at “making the best of it” and was eager for others to do the same. In her professional life, she was a chemist and an educator, with a bachelor of science degree from Adelphi University. She enjoyed reading a good book and the daily newspaper. She filled her days with music, movies, learning, traveling and volunteering at her church, the Cutchogue library and the Book Cottage. She also loved the sea and, over the course of her long and good life, enjoyed the South Shore, Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound.

Marjorie was predeceased by her husband, Henry J. “Jack” Hoffman, in 2010, and leaves behind son Russ Hoffman and his wife, Sarah Foulger, of Boothbay Harbor, Maine; son Doug Hoffman and his wife, Claudia, of Fairfield, Conn.; four grandchildren, Noah, Chris, Whitney and Chelsea; four great-grandchildren, Mira, Max, Livi and James; and a sister, Audrey Marshall, all of whom loved her dearly.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at Cutchogue Presbyterian Church.

Memorial donations may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice or to Cutchogue Presbyterian Church. Interment was at Calverton National Cemetery.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice.

The post Marjorie K. Hoffman appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Maureen Ellen Van Etten, 68, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at her home in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

She was born April 17, 1951, in Greenport, Long Island, N.Y., to Paul Clark Quarty Sr. and Mari (Flynn) Quarty.

Along with her parents, Moe was preceded in passing by her infant brother Donald Quarty, brother Paul Clark Quarty Jr. and daughter Jolene Turpin.

Moe had a beautiful spirit and a heart of gold. In her free time, she was an avid reader and found joy and comfort in reading her Bible. Above all else, Moe loved her family with her whole heart and will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of getting to know her.

Left to cherish Moe’s memory are her husband of 43 years, Tom Van Etten of Greenport, Long Island, N.Y.; their children, Crystal and her fiancé, Jeese Curtin, of Conway, S.C.; Michael Earl Rose Jr. and his wife, Christine, of Loris, S.C.; Chad Rose and his wife, Stephani James, of Myrtle Beach; and Raymond Van Etten and his husband, Jason Thomas, also of Myrtle Beach; her adoring grandchildren Tiffany, Tara and husband Joseph Brookins, Holly Cobb and fiancé Christian Stevens, Marley Talbot, Michael, Winter, Logan Rose, Ireland Rose, Jovan and Jayson Turpin; and great-grandchildren C-Jay, Micaylee, Aiden and Kaitlynn.

A funeral service in celebration of Moe’s life will be held Monday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. at Burroughs Funeral Home, Murrells Inlet, S.C. The family will greet friends until 8 p.m. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery in Myrtle Beach.

At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions in Moe’s name to the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St. NE. Suite 600. Atlanta, GA 30309 (atarthritis.org) or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org).

To view details online or offer words of comfort through the online guestbook, kindly visit burroughsfh.com.

This is a paid notice.

The post Maureen Ellen Van Etten appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Robert C. Reeves Jr. of Black Mountain, N.C., formerly of Orient, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at the age of 79, from complications related to cardiac arrest.

He was born Jan. 3, 1940, to Robert C. and Gertrude (King) Reeves.

Bob was employed at Clinton A. Hommel Inc. Plumbing and Heating Supply for 49 years, the last 28 years as owner of the business.

Bob had been an active member of the Orient Fire Department since February 1958, and held numerous leadership positions over the years.

He was a co-founder and organizer of the Orient Fire Department Rescue Squad. He was a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics since 1965. He was a past president of Orient Community Activities and a member of Orient Congregational Church.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing, ice boating, community service and being with and enjoying his family and friends.

Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marge (Geehreng), of Black Mountain, N.C.; daughter Deb (Oscar) Erlanson of Austin, Texas, and grandsons Jacob Fowler and Jesse Fowler of Kyle, Texas; son Tom (Cheri) Reeves of Arp, Texas, and grandson James (Crystal) Reeves of Arlington, Va., granddaughter Keri Reeves and great-granddaughter Jordan Reeves of Providence, R.I.; step-grandson Eric (Sujin) Becraft, step-great-grandson Ewan Becraft and step-great-granddaughter Rakel Becraft of Deluth, Ga.; sister Jerie Newman of Orient; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Edwin.

Bob will be cremated, as he requested. A memorial service may be planned and announced in the future.

Memorial donations may be made to Orient Fire Department, P.O. Box 130, Orient, NY 11957.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice.

The post Robert C. Reeves Jr. appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Myron William Goldstein, born Jan. 21, 1939, passed away peacefully Oct. 10, 2019.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Abraham and Shirley Goldstein. He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Donna; his children, Robert and his wife, Terri, David, Marc, Lori and her husband, Tommy, Jonna and Jerry; his grandchildren, whom he adores, Ryan, Kevin, Kyle, Nikole, Josh, TK, JJ and Brady; his great-grandchildren, Jameson, Josephine and Riley; his brother, Seymour, and wife, Laura; and his niece and nephew, Staci and Michael.

Myron owned Hope Physical and Aquatic Therapy for many years and, after retiring, he and Donna owned Eastern Long Island Kampground in Greenport, N.Y. Myron was also a member of the Greenport Fire Department.

We will all miss his sense of humor.

Donations are being accepted in Myron W. Goldstein’s name at Bienes Cancer Center, Holy Cross Hospital, 4725 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308.

This is a paid notice.

The post Myron William Goldstein appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Richard S. Engert of Southold died at home Oct. 25. He was 85.

He was born July 5, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr. Engert’s family said he was a stellar student-athlete who was an integral part of the 1959 St. John’s basketball team that won both the ECAC Holiday Festival and the NIT Championship.

He, with his wife, Edith, at his side, dedicated his life to education and his family. They raised their children, Robin, Lisa, Richard, Greg, Christina and Keith, in Kings Park while Mr. Engert worked as an administrator in the Elwood School District. Post retirement, he remained active in the Catholic Church, working as the comptroller for Holy Family and St. Agnes.

Predeceased by his wife, he is survived by his children and nine grandchildren.

Services took place Nov. 2 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, followed by a Mass at St. Agnes R.C. Church.

The post Richard S. Engert appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Eve McDavid Mullins, formerly of New York City and Southold, died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at Carillon Assisted Living of Knightdale, N.C., after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was 87 years old.

Born in Brooklyn June 1, 1932, Eve was the sole child of Rix and Mary McDavid. 

She grew up in Parkchester in the Bronx and attended Marietta College in Ohio, where she met her future husband, Jim Mullins. At the time of Jim’s death in 2001, Eve and Jim had celebrated 51 years married with three children and five grandchildren. 

A gourmet cook, gardener and homemaker, Eve enriched the lives of all who knew her. Her love of hosting family and friends to superior dinners and parties was legendary. She will be sorely missed. Eve and Jim maintained residences in both Stuyvesant Town in New York City and in Southold, Long Island, where she was an active volunteer at the Southold Historical Society Gift Shop for many years. 

Eve is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Kathy (Jim) DeMay and Mary (Stephen) Witherspoon; and her grandchildren, James Witherspoon, Charles Witherspoon, Thomas DeMay, Henry DeMay and Mary DeMay. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Edgar Mullins, and her son, James Patrick Mullins. 

Visitors will be received Saturday, Nov. 9, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated following the visitation at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold, officiated by Father John Barrett. Interment will follow at Saint Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery in Southold. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation ,alzfdn.org/support-us/donate, or Medi Home Health & Hospice, c/o Hospice Care Charity, 355 S. Madison Blvd., Roxboro NC 27573.  

The post Eve McDavid Mullins appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Caroline Loschen of Laurel died at home Nov. 7. She was 92.

Visitors will be received Saturday, Nov. 16, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. Funeral services will take place during the visitation. Interment will be private.

The post Caroline Loschen appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Dr. Marjorie Grathwohl Driver, a longtime resident of Guam, passed away peacefully at her home there on Sept. 20 at the age of 95. She retired in 2007 after spending 40 years working as a translator, historian, curator and director of the Spanish Documents Collection at the University of Guam’s Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC).

Dr. Driver and her husband, John, arrived in Guam from New York in 1953. They had no idea that one day she would be honored as one of Guam’s “National Cultural Treasures.” She was a founder of MARC in 1967.

With roots in both Cutchogue and Southampton on Eastern Long Island (N.Y.), she was a graduate of Southampton High School. Dr. Driver, born in 1924, spent her childhood in Puerto Rico, where her father managed a pineapple plantation and where she became fluent in Spanish. She later graduated from Russell Sage and Middlebury colleges.

Dr. Driver has been recognized by legislative resolutions and honorary degrees. She published over 40 critically acclaimed books and pamphlets concerning the lengthy Spanish presence in the Mariana Islands. She and her late husband returned to Eastern Long Island regularly to visit family and friends.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband, John Davis Driver; her parents, Harold E. Grathwohl and Edith Smith Grathwohl; and her brother, Harold E. Grathwohl Jr. She is survived by her nephew, Hal McVey of Colorado; and cousins Kay G. Fisher of Southold, N.Y.; Emily G. Victoria, Jim Grathwohl and Dick Grathwohl, all of Cutchogue.

A memorial service was held on Guam on Oct. 4. Burial will be Friday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Grathwohl family plot in the cemetery on Main Road in Cutchogue. The Rev. Richie King, pastor of Cutchogue Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Memorial remembrances may be made to the University of Guam Endowment Foundation/Spanish Documents Collection, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923.

This is a paid notice.

The post Marjorie Grathwohl Driver appeared first on Suffolk Times.

David Glenn Feavel, 72, of Sanford, N.C. passed away peacefully, after a very short illness, with his family by his side, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford.

David was born April 6, 1947, in Cook County, Ill., to the late Glenn and Laura Ross Feavel.

He attended Dormont High School in Castle Shannon, Pa., and graduated from Salem College in West Virginia. It was there that David met his beloved wife and they resided in Southold, N.Y., until moving to Carolina Trace in 2004.

David retired from the Suffolk County Probation Department, after being a probation officer for 26 years.

He was an avid gun enthusiast/collector and member of the Lee County Wildlife Club. While a resident of New York, he earned his state and federal firearms license, which he treasured. He loved boating and salt water fishing, visiting Harrah’s Casino in New Jersey, and enjoyed playing Texas Hold ’em with the Carolina Trace players. From a teen, David spent many summers in the Allegheny National Forrest, which he introduced to his wife and two children and they as a family spent many weeks there each year.

David was a man who would thrive on helping others and no job was too big or too small. So many times, you would hear, “sorry to bother you David, but I need your help.” He was totally devoted to his family and his love for them had no boundaries, they always came first.

David is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Mary Ann Dooley Feavel; daughter, Lisa Feavel Burns Volk and her husband Nicholas; son, Glenn Feavel; four grandchildren, Alyssa Burns, Justin Burns, Adilyn Gordon and Easton Feavel; his sister, Sandra Ross, and his brother-in-law, Peter Dooley and his wife Minda Dooley.

Online condolences can be made at millerboles.com. Services entrusted to Miller Boles Funeral Home of Sanford.

This is a paid notice.

The post David Glenn Feavel appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Mary Wheeler Doroski McCafferty of Greenport, formerly of Southold, died Nov. 11 at San Simeon Nursing Home. She was 91.

She was born Oct. 16, 1928, to Edith (Priest) and Robert Wheeler in East Marion, N.Y.

Mary graduated from Greenport High School and worked as a waitress at Claudio’s, Sound View and Townsend Manor Inn.

She volunteered at San Simeon Nursing Home and Eastern Long Island Hospital. She was also affiliated with St. Agnes Rosary Society and St. Agnes R.C. Church as a Eucharist minister.

Her family said she enjoyed baking, gardening and making people happy. Mary was always there for her children and grandchildren giving counsel. Mary’s most important trait was her loving heart. She never spoke ill of anyone, she had a positive approach to life and to all those around her. She was known for her kindness to anyone who crossed her path.

Mary was predeceased by her grandson Jeremy; and husbands, John Doroski Sr. in 1994 and Bernard McCafferty in 2014. She is survived by her sons, John (Nanette) Doroski of Greenport, Gary Doroski of Cutchogue and Gerald (Melanie) Doroski of Greenport; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Visitors will be received Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A service will take place Thursday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport followed by interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

The post Mary Wheeler Doroski McCafferty appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Kathleen M. Donlin of Southold died Nov. 13. She was 90.

Visitors will be received Friday, Nov. 22, from 3 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m. at Saint Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiated by Father Richard Hoerning. The Rite of Committal will be private.

The post Kathleen M. Donlin appeared first on Suffolk Times.

On the showroom floor at Riverhead Nissan, Kelley Blanchard would “zip around” in her high heels. Next month would have marked her one-year anniversary as a sales and leasing consultant at the Riverhead dealership, where her smile would light up the room.

Whether it was at Michelangelo Pizzeria in Mattituck, where she was a longtime manager, or in her newest role at the dealership, Kelley was known for her energy and her larger-than-life personality.

Staffers at the dealership referred to her as their “little-big sister” because of the way she looked out for younger co-workers, said general sales manager Francois Wall.

“We were the family away from her family,” he said.

Kelley, who grew up in Southold and currently lived in Riverhead, died Sunday night in a boating crash in Mattituck. She was 27.

Her sister Megan, 29, was also injured in the crash and is expected to recover.

“Kelley was very loud and outgoing,” said Claire Vega, an aunt of the sisters. “She just put herself out there. She was nice to everybody. And funny. She had so much fun with anything she was doing.”

Ms. Vega said the sisters were “best friends” who did everything together.

Natalie Zappola, a close friend of Kelley’s since they met in eighth-grade gym class, said Kelley and Megan were “soul mates.”

Ms. Zappola said she made a promise to Kelley to look after her sister.

“That would be her biggest worry right now,” she said. “All I keep hearing is, ‘Take care of Megan.’ ”

Ms. Zappola said Kelley’s life had begun to take off in the last year, as she began a new job, and she was excited to advance her career.

Service Information

The family will receive friends Sunday, Nov. 17 from noon-4 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. The Rite of Commital will be private.

No matter where she was in her life, she always found the time to take care of the people closest to her. She was a loyal friend who made sure everyone close to her knew how much they meant.

“She always put everybody else before herself,” Ms. Zappola said.

Kelley turned 27 on Oct. 26. The next night she celebrated her birthday with family and friends with a night out in Riverhead. Ms. Zappola said she met the group after they had dinner and they hung out the rest of the night and ate breakfast the next morning.

The pictures they took during that birthday celebration were the last of them together, she said.

“She’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever known in my life,” Ms. Zappola said. “She’s truly an irreplaceable person.”

Sisters Kelley (right) and Megan Blanchard. (Courtesy photo)

Kelley graduated from Southold High School in 2010. Ms. Zappola said they met at a time when Kelley lived up-island and was attending the Sachem School District.

Ms. Vega said she grew up just a few houses from her nieces in Southold and they spent every day together as kids because they were close in age. They would have sleepovers, ride bikes and go to the beach.

“They were like my best friends growing up,” she said.

From an early age, Kelley and Megan both loved Halloween. The proximity of Kelley’s birthday to the holiday made it all the more fun.

“They were the Halloween queens,” Ms. Zappola said.

Mr. Wall, who hired Kelley at Riverhead Nissan, said she was eager to try something new. Right away, he said, her “bright” and “energetic” personality stood out to him.

“There are certain things in sales that you can’t teach. I can teach you how to sell a car … but I can’t teach you energy,” he said. “She came to work and customers loved her. Everyone that met her was instantly drawn to her.”

Fellow sales manager Tommy Maiorini of Deer Park said when Kelley was hired, she was excited to join the sales team and loved coming to work.

“She literally came to work to work,” Mr. Maiorini said. “She was excited to jump in front of customers, excited to help them out. Every time she came into the store, she’d smile and light up the room.”

Mr. Maiorini, who has worked at the Riverhead dealership for a year and has been in the business for 14 years, said the sales team is a tight-knit group of roughly 10 employees, so they were all close to Kelley.

“We definitely lost a good one here,” he said.

The relationship Kelley formed with her co-workers prompted general manager Vinny Purrazzella and sales and leasing consultant Mario Gonzalez to create an online fundraiser.

The GoFundMe page created Monday, “For Kelley Blanchard”, had already raised over $4,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. The page states that funds will go to her family. A separate GoFundMe page has raised more than $5,500.

GoFundMe works to merge the funds in situations where multiple pages are created following a tragedy.

Sales and leasing consultant Peter Agudo of Holtsville started at Riverhead Nissan in February and was trained by Kelley.

“She was always funny, wacky, and spoke her mind,” he said. “I don’t know where she got it, but she was always talking about cheese and wine.”

Mr. Agudo said Kelley inspired him to be himself.

“Don’t take anything for granted,” he said. “Just be yourself. Just do you.”

joew@timesreview.com

The post Kelley Blanchard, 27, remembered as vibrant woman who always helped others appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Arnold H. Sims of Riverhead died at home Nov. 13, 2019. He was 96. 

He was born May 2, 1923, to Louise Rose and John Sims in Lynn, Mass. 

Mr. Sims graduated from high school and was employed as a service manager in the automotive industry for Wells Pontiac Cadillac and Peter Glenan Buick Cadillac in Southampton.  

He was predeceased his wife, Ann, and his daughter Jean LePage. He is survived by his children Daniel (Dorothy), Ronald (Pamela), Dorre (Harry) Miles, Linda (Robert) Taplin and Jo-Ann (Thomas) Perry; his significant other, Jean Guydish; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitors will be received Sunday, Nov. 17, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Tuthill- Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. Mass will be the following day at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church at 9:30 a.m., followed by burial at St. John’s Cemetery.

The post Arnold H. Sims appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Charles Joseph Cromack of East Marion died Nov. 14. He was 75.

He was born May 11, 1944, to Helen T. Cunningham and Charles George Cromack in Queens.

Mr. Cromack graduated from high school and later married Genevieve E. Russo on May 23, 1987, at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1968 and made a career as a police officer with the Port Authority Police Department for 22 years in New York City.

His family said he enjoyed sailing and landscaping.

Mr. Cromack was predeceased by his brother, Daniel Cromack. He is survived by his wife, who resides in East Marion.

Visitors will be received Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 9:30 a.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport followed by a service at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiated by Fr. Richard Hoerning. Cremation was private.

The post Charles Joseph Cromack appeared first on Suffolk Times.

Shaun M. Leo of Southold died Nov. 12 at Stony Brook University Hospital. He was 35. 

He was born Dec. 7, 1983, to Joy (McGrath) and Alan Leo. 

Mr. Leo graduated from Southold High School. 

His family said he loved his dog, nature and hiking. 

Mr. Leo was predeceased by his brother, Scott, in 2004. He is survived by his mother, who resides in Southold, and his father, who resides in Canton, N.Y.

Visitors will be received Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A service will take place during the evening visitation. Cremation was private. 

Memorial donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League. 

The post Shaun M. Leo appeared first on Suffolk Times.