Adelaide E. Stelzer of Greenport died Feb. 23. She was 97.
The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorial donations made to San Simeon by the Sound Nursing and Rehabilitation would be appreciated.
A complete obituary will follow.
Former Southold resident John J. Shelly Jr. died Feb. 8 in Columbus, Ohio. He was 36.
He was born Feb. 19, 1977, in Riverhead and attended Southold High School. Mr. Shelly enjoyed fishing and NASCAR, according to family members, and was an avid New York Jets fan.
Predeceased by his mother, Joann Dean, Mr. Shelly is survived by his daughter, Katie; his son, Ellis; his father, John; his stepmother, Lori; his half-sister, Charlene; his grandparents, Barbara and Lee Gordon; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A private cremation was handled by Schoendinger Funeral Home in Columbus, Ohio.
Donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 297, Southold, NY 11971.
Richard G. (Dick) Reilly of Founders Village in Southold died at his home Feb. 17, 2014. He was 90.
Dick was born Oct. 10, 1923, in New York to Philip and Elizabeth (O’Neill) Reilly and later attended Chaminade High School and Columbia University.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force in Hawaii and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Following his service to his country, Dick married Patricia Ann O’Connor in 1947. He then began his career as a salesman in the printing industry.
Formerly of Cold Spring Harbor and Peconic, Dick had been a North Fork resident for the past 30 years. He was a member of the Lions Club.
Predeceased by his wife, Patricia, he leaves five children, Pamela Schider of Southold and Cold Spring Harbor, Priscilla Reilly of Southold, Richard G. Reilly Jr. of Alexander, N.C., Christopher Reilly of Mattituck and Jonathan Reilly of Huntington; two daughters-in-law, Pam and Anna; and nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Chester and William.
In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.
This is a paid notice.
Former Southold resident Mildred Rakowicz of Brevard, N.C., known as Millie, passed away Feb. 19, 2014. She was 95.
She was born June 3, 1918, in Suffolk County to Joseph and Bertha (Zilnicki) Droskoski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell Rakowicz, her grandson Scott Rakowicz, five brothers and one sister.
Ms. Rakowicz is survived by her son, Stanley M. Rakowicz, and his wife, Barbara, of Brevard; two grandchildren, Deanna Laine and her husband, Dean, and Todd Rakowicz, all of Brevard; a great-grandson, Aaron Laine; and her sister Helen Wolanski of Cutchogue.
The family will receive visitors Monday, March 3, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated March 4 at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold, followed by interment at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.
This is paid notice.
Lifelong North Fork resident Betty J. Wells of East Marion died Feb. 18, 2014. She was 80.
She was born in Mattituck, Oct. 31, 1933, to George and Mary Jane (Brewer) Tuthill and later married Gerald S. Wells. Together, Gerald and Betty made their home in Cutchogue for many years before moving to East Marion.
Betty had been president of the Suffolk County Historical Society, a Friend of Floyd Memorial Library and a past-president and member of the CSEA-Southold unit. She had also been a public relations director for the Silversmith Corner Group in Southold for 15 years.
She had worked for North Fork Oil and, more recently, as a senior account clerk for Southold Town at police headquarters.
Surviving are her husband of 58 years, Gerald S. Wells; three sons, Gerard S. Wells, David N. Wells and Kevin E. Wells; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
The family received visitors Feb. 20 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Graveside services were held Feb. 21 at Calverton National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Suffolk County Historical Society, East End Hospice or Eastern Long Island Hospital.
This is a paid notice.
Longtime Southold resident Patricia Lynch Aas died Feb. 12 at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport. She was 84.
She was born April 2, 1929, in New York City, to Francis and Camille (Balsamo) Lynch. Ms. Aas graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Hunter College. For 20 years, she worked as a recreation therapist and ceramicist for the New York Association for the Blind.
She married Albert Leif Aas in June 1950 at Saint Catherine of Sienna R.C. Church in New York City. According to family members, she enjoyed being a ceramicist as well as painting watercolors, gardening and cooking.
Ms. Aas was predeceased by her husband in 1988 and her daughter, Elizabeth Fenster, in 2013. She is survived by her sons, Timothy, of Woodhaven, and Christopher, of Sandia Park, N.M., and one grandchild.
The family received visitors Feb. 16 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service took place Feb. 17 at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiated by Father Thomas P. Murray. Ms. Aas will be interred at a future date with her husband, Albert.
Donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 297, Southold NY 11971.
Former Greenport resident Donald H. Ostroski died Feb. 10 at his home in Virginia Beach, Va. He was 80.
Mr. Ostroski was born May 25, 1933, in Greenport to Joseph and Ruth Ostroski. He entered the U.S. Navy right after high school, serving for 22 years. He later graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
He was an honorary member of Standard Hose Fire Company in Greenport and VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach.
Mr. Ostroski is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara (née Kalin); two children, Donna Beere and Stevan; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Former Calverton resident Eileen A. Wells of Oak Run, Ocala, Fla., passed away Feb. 7, 2014, at McGraw Hospice in Jacksonville, Fla. She was 61.
Eileen spent her life as a teacher and reading specialist, first in New York and then in Marion County, Fla., after moving to Ocala in 2006.
She is survived by her son, Randy Wells; daughter-in-law, Kristen Wells; her two grandchildren, Hunter and Grant; her brothers, Kevin and Bill Oefelein and Scott and James Ponder; her sisters, Laureen Gerzack and Doreen Farscht; and her nieces, Vanessa and Diandra Farscht.
A memorial will take place Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead.
She is safe in the arms of Jesus.
This is a paid notice.
Former Southold resident Philip J. Ofrias Jr. died Feb. 24, 2014, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va. He was 75.
Born in New York City in 1938, Phil graduated from St. John’s Law School in 1966 and practiced law in Riverhead until 1985, when he and his wife, Sharyn, moved their family from Southold to Free Union, Va. They established Lost Valley Tree Farm, which they operated until 1997. After selling the farm they traveled the country in their 36-foot motor home while maintaining a home base in Louisa, Va. During the course of his life, Phil had many interests and became a pilot, an accomplished sailor and a student of American history.
Phil is survived by his beloved wife, Sharyn, and their four children: Gregory and his wife, Paulette, of Southold, Philip and his wife, Kimberly, of Charlottesville, Shane, also of Charlottesville, and Jordan Elizabeth of Troy, Va. He is also survived by his sister, Bess Mosley of Portsmouth, N.H., and five grandchildren: Scott, Patrick, Katlin, Philip and Mary.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hill & Wood Funeral Home in Charlottesville. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
This is a paid notice.
Iseult Derlua Gaffney O’Connor died Feb. 15, 2014, in Kilkenny, Ireland, at the age of 101.
She was born in Limerick, Ireland, to Sir James and Lady Mary Gaffney. Her father was Crown Solicitor for Ireland under King George V. Educated in England, she returned to Ireland in 1941 after having been involved as a volunteer in the war effort. She married Rory O’Connor, a director of Allied Irish Bank, in 1942. They retired to Kilkenny in 1967.
Lady Lua, as she was known, was an active sportswoman all her life, excelling in riding, tennis, golf and bridge.
She was predeceased by her husband and her sons, Malachie and John. She is survived by her daughters, Leueen Miller of Greenport and New York and Joan Twamley of Malahide, Ireland; five grandchildren, Christine Miller Martin of New York and Shelter Island, Heather Miller of New York, Winston Miller of Northampton, Mass., Sarah Twamley of Ireland and Katherine Grau of London; and three great-grandchildren, Jasper Kozak Miller, Phoebe Martin and Loveday Twamley.
This is a paid notice.
Lorraine W. Drury of Mattituck died Feb. 28. She was 88.
Ms. Drury was born in Brooklyn June 12, 1925, to Hazel Thorsen and lived in Brooklyn and Bay Ridge. She worked as an executive secretary at Citibank in New York City. Family members said she loved animals.
Ms. Drury was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 1970 and is survived by her cousin Kathryn LaFalce and her family of Farmingdale.
Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, March 4, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Wednesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will take place at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Former Shelter Island resident Dr. E. George Heus, FACS, died Jan. 19 at Peconic Landing in Greenport. He was 95.
Dr. Heus was a member of the medical staff at Brunswick Hospital Center in Amityville from 1952 to 1987 and he was co-director of its obstetrics/gynecology department from 1963 to 1987. He retired July 1, 1987.
Predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary (née McDonald), he is survived by three sons, Richard, of Los Angeles, James, of Ridgefield, Conn., and John, of Manhattan; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial services will be private.
John M. Bredemeyer Jr., a World War II Navy veteran who served on Guadalcanal, died at his Orient home March 2, 2014. He was 90.
Mr. Bredemeyer was also a retired New York City firefighter.
He is survived by his by his wife of 65 years, Jeanne; his sons, John M. III(Beverly) of Orient and Eric R. (Hanne) of Florida; his three grandsons, Kristian, William, Michael and his granddaughter, Emily.
Arrangements entrusted to Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. Services were private.
Memorial donations may be made to Orient Fire Department or East End Hospice.
This is a paid notice.
Former Cutchogue resident, Alex Hillenbrand of Mattituck died suddenly Feb. 26, 2014. He was 81.
He was born in Germany May 17, 1932, to Joseph and Lia Hillenbrand.
Alex had a long career in advertising; retiring as an advertising executive with Wells, Rich, Greene, Inc. in New York City. In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking.
Surviving are his wife Susan (née Bradkin) and a sister, a brother, a sister-in-law, nieces and nephews and a large extended family in Germany, California and Maryland.
Funeral arrangements were private under the direction of the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.
This is a paid notice.
Lorraine W. Drury of Mattituck died Feb. 28. She was 88.
Ms. Drury was born in Brooklyn June 12, 1925, to Hazel Thorsen and lived in Brooklyn and Bay Ridge. She worked as an executive secretary at Citibank in New York City. Family members said she loved animals.
Ms. Drury was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 1970 and is survived by her cousin Kathryn LaFalce and her family of Farmingdale.
Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, March 4, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Wednesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will take place at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
Memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Mayda Lannik Gardner, known as Marsha Lane during her professional life, passed away from natural causes Feb. 28, 2014 at Barclay Friends, West Chester, Pa. She was 89.
Ms. Gardner was a retired vice president of Schenley Affiliated Brands Corp., a position she assumed in 1972. She was the first woman to ascend to that level within Schenley Industries and also became the highest-ranking female marketing executive in the United States’ distilled spirit industry at the time of her appointment. Then-New York Congressman Norman F. Lent penned a note to her, writing that “Your achievement will undoubtedly serve as a model for many other women seeking to break into executive positions in business.” Articles on her appointment appeared in the New York Times, New York Post and Newsday.
Prior to her tenure at Schenley, Ms. Gardner produced, directed, and participated in radio shows called “The World of Women” and “Marsha Lane Interviews” for WBAB, Long Island Radio. She was noted for her unique ability to convince people like Gloria Steinem to be interviewed.
After retiring from her business career, Ms. Gardner dedicated much of her time to volunteer work with the Old Westbury Gardens Society and Hofstra University.
Ms. Gardner was predeceased by her first husband, Dr. William M. Lannik, and her second husband, Dr. Milton Gardner. She is survived by her brother, Lloyd; her three children, Susana, David, and Liz and her four grandchildren, Sam, Josh, Alexandra, and Matthew.
Memorial donations may be made in Ms. Gardner’s name to the Association for the Help of Retarded Children of Nassau County and to Old Westbury Gardens.
This is a paid notice.
Kevin J. Volinski of Southold died March 2 of a brain aneurysm at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola. The Greenport native was 58.
Mr. Volinski was born in Greenport Nov. 6, 1955 to Henry and Nellie (Burzynski) Volinski and was a graduate of Greenport High School. In February of 1995, he married Robin Whitebay at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport.
He had been a longtime professional chef in the area, having worked at Legends and the Soundview Restaurant.
Mr. Volinski is survived by his wife Robin; two children, Colin Volinski of Southold and Emily Volinski of New York City and three sisters, Sally Pankhurst of Southold, Joann Miska of Mattituck and Joan Wesnofske of Jamesport.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 8, at noon at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport, the Rev. Garret M. Johnson officiating.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.
Gary D. Bufkins of Mattituck died March 2 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 72.
He was born Dec. 18, 1941, in Cave City, Kentucky to Wilmore and Mabel Bufkins. He married Valerie (Bryant) Feb. 8, 1962 in Kentucky.
Mr. Bufkins served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966 and was the owner of GMHS plumbing heating in Mattituck. He was a pastor at Community Christian Fellowship in Mattituck. Family members said that he loved playing golf and that he lived by the motto: “I have fought the good fight.”
Mr. Bufkins is survived by his wife, Valerie; his sons Douglas and John of Southold, Bill of Saratoga Springs; his daughter Elizabeth Avalos of Guatemala; his sister MarySusan Bufkins of Kentucky and 13 grandchildren.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, March 6, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, with a service taking place at 8 p.m. A prayer service will take place at the funeral home Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Community Christian Fellowship.
Arthur A. O’Neill III of Southold died Feb. 28. He was 91 years old.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, March 6, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, with American Legion services being held at 3 p.m. Graveside services, with U.S. Army honors, will take place Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m. St. Patrick R.C. Cemetery in Southold.
Memorial donations made to San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation would be appreciated.
A complete obituary will follow.
Jack B. Pollack of Greenport died March 5 after sustaining injuries in a house fire. He was 61.
He was born Jan. 25, 1953, in Brooklyn to Benjamin and Helen Pollack.
Family members said Mr. Pollack loved blues and jazz music, animals and old movies. He was also an avid Jets fan and enjoyed all sports, politics and world events.
Mr. Pollack was predeceased by his father and is survived by his wife, Karen of Greenport; his mother, Helen Valkavitch of California; his sister, Patti McFarland, also of California and his sister, Bonnie Truman of Colorado.
The family will receive visitors Sunday, March 9, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Monday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.
Memorial donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League.