OBITS: Staten Island Advance 29 Aug 2005; Staten Island, Richmond co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Staten Island Advance Death Notices http://www.statenislandadvance.com/ Benemerito, John R. BENEMERITO John R. Benemerito of Oakwood, formerly of Brooklyn. Beloved husband of Connie (nee Paccione). Devoted father of Liberta Romeo and John Benemerito. Dear father-in-law of Sal Romeo and Michele Benemerito. Adored brother of Mary Laine and Antoinette Grimm. Cherished grandfather of Edward, John and Kristopher. Family and friends will be received at the Martin Hughes Funeral Home, 530 Narrows Rd. South, at Britton Ave., Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday 10:15 A.M. at St. Charles RC Church. Committal will follow at Moravian Cemetery. Martin Hughes Inc. Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1885 www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 8/28/2005 - 8/29/2005. Di Tommaso, Stephen T. "Steve" DI TOMMASO Stephen T. (Steve) Di Tommaso of Annadale on August 26, 2005. Devoted father of Rosemarie Di Maio, Phyllis Shear and Anthony. Adored grandfather of Anthony, John, Nicholas, Stephen and Christina Marie Di Maio. Loving brother. Funeral from the JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, INC. 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD, (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Tuesday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Star Of The Sea Church, 9:45 A.M. Interment Mount St. Mary's Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday and Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Published in the Staten Island Advance from 8/28/2005 - 8/29/2005. Majewski, Rose T. MAJEWSKI Rose T. Majewski of Elm Park on August 22, 2005. Wife of the late Charles T.Majewski. Loving mother of Teri Majewski, Tom Majewski and the late Michael and Richard Majewski. Cherished grandmother of Tom and Love Majewski. Sherri Franceschini andMichael Civlla. Also survived by six great-grandchildren. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD., AT WILLOWBROOK ROAD on Tuesday 9:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Saint Adalbert's Church 10 A.M. Interment St.Peter's Cemetery. Friends may call Monday 2-4 and 7-9. If so desired donations to St. Adalbert's Church would be appreciated. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 8/27/2005 - 8/29/2005. Walsh, Dawn M. (Geidel) WALSH Dawn M. Walsh (nee Geidel) of West Brighton on August 26, 2004. Beloved wife of Thomas P. (Retired Assistant Chief NYPD). Loving mother of Diane Casserly, Jeanne Panzarino, Thomas Walsh and the late Terrance Walsh (FDNY). Cherished sister of Paul Geidel. Adored grandmother of Terrance, Thomas, David, Brian Walsh and Matthew, Patrick and Thomas Casserly. Zackery and Taylor Rose Panzarino. Funeral from Harmon Home for Funerals, 571 Forest Avenue, West Brighton, Tuesday 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Sacred Heart Church 10 A.M. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to Sacred Heart School, 301 North Burgher Ave., would be appreciated. K. Terrance McGinley, Director Harmon Home for Funerals - Locally Family Owned & Operated Staten Island's only member of the International Order of the www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 8/28/2005 - 8/29/2005. ROSE MAJEWSKI, 90 Elm Park homemaker enjoyed making afghans Monday, August 29, 2005 Rose T. Majewski, 90, a lifelong resident of Elm Park, died last Monday of heart failure while visiting her son in Hudson, Fla. Born the former Rose T. Snopek, her family said she had strong ties to St. Adalbert's R.C. Church in Elm Park and was a member of its Mothers Club and senior citizens group. Her daughter, Teri Majewski, said her mother enjoyed taking bus trips sponsored by the church to Atlantic City, N.J. "My mother was tremendously dedicated to St. Adalbert's," her daughter said. "She was also very close to her family, especially her great grandchildren." Mrs. Majewski loved to crochet and gave away many of the afghans she made. She was also an accomplished baker. Her husband of 41 years, Charles T. Majewski, died in 1976. In addition to her daughter, Teri, surviving are her son, Tom Majewski; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The funeral will tomorrow from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Adalbert's Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton. ROCCO CORETTI, 68, Air freight crew chief for American Airlines Monday, August 29, 2005 Rocco Philip Coretti of Great Kills died Saturday at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 68. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Coretti moved to Great Kills in 1972. After graduating from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, Mr. Coretti joined the Marine Corps for two years and was stationed in Hawaii. Mr. Coretti retired in 1993 from American Airlines, where he worked as the crew chief for air freight at various airports. "He collected Lionel trains and loved working on them with his grandchildren Michael, Vincent and Cristina," said his daughter, Maria Guida, adding her father also enjoyed antique cars, car shows, traveling and spending time with friends and family. Mr. Coretti was a parishioner of St. Clare's R.C. Church in Great Kills where he was a member of its Adult Faith Formation. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, the former Angelina Scotto; two daughters, Maria Guida and Edith Coretti; two brothers, Achilles and Michael; three sisters, Angelina Andres, Mafalda Albanese and Rose DeLessio, and three grandchildren. The funeral will be Thursday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville with an 11 a.m. mass at St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. KATHERINE MAHONEY, 63 Homemaker was a former resident of New Brighton Monday, August 29, 2005 Longtime Staten Islander Katherine A. Mahoney, 63, of Effort, Pa., a homemaker, died Friday in Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg, Pa., after a long battle with cancer. Born in Long Island City, Queens, Ms. Mahoney was brought to Manhattan as a child and moved to New Brighton in the 1960s. She relocated to Effort last year. "She will be dearly missed by her friends and her family," said her daughter, Christine A. Kelsey, on behalf of the family. Ms. Mahoney also is survived by her son, Michael A. Mahoney; three brothers, John, William and Richard; a sister, Louise Falk, and four grandchildren. The arrangements, including cremation, were handled by the Joseph J. Pula Funeral Home, Stroudsburg. JOHN BENEMERITO, 78, Retired driver enjoyed taking walks Monday, August 29, 2005 John R. Benemerito, 78, of Oakwood, a retired driver, died Friday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born in Brooklyn, he settled in Oakwood in 1994. Mr. Benemerito worked as a driver for a home heating oil company and a private sanitation company, both in Brooklyn. He retired 13 years ago. He enjoyed watching television and taking walks in the neighborhood. Mr. Benemerito was a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church, Oakwood. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, his family said. Surviving are his wife of 55 years, the former Connie Paccione; his son, John; his daughter, Liberta Romeo; two sisters, Mary Laine and Antoinette Grimm, and three grandsons. The funeral will be Wednesday from the Martin Hughes Funeral Home, Concord, with a mass at 10:15 a.m. in St. Charles Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. JEAN GUERRIERI, 78 Oakwood homemaker enjoyed reading Monday, August 29, 2005 Jean Guerrieri, 78, of Oakwood, a mother of two, died Thursday at her daughter's home in Chester, N.Y. Born Jean Bellochi in Manhattan, she was brought to Brooklyn as a child before returning to Manhattan at age 12. There, she met and married her husband of 57 years, Danny. The couple settled in Oakwood 50 years ago. Mrs. Guerrieri enjoyed taking care of her family. She also liked to read. Mrs. Guerrieri was a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church, Oakwood. In addition to her husband, Danny, surviving are two daughters, Donna Guerrieri and Pam Arneth; three brothers, Nicholas Bellochi and Eugene and Angelo DeVito; a sister, Fran Felci; seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson. The funeral will be today from the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10:15 a.m. in St. Charles Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. GEORGINE MENZIES, 60 Eltingville homemaker enjoyed painting Monday, August 29, 2005 Georgine (Gigi) Menzies, 60, of Eltingville, a homemaker and dental administrator who loved to paint, died Saturday in St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton West Brighton, following a four-year battle with cancer. Born Georgine Gilman in Brooklyn, she graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in 1963. Following graduation, she worked as a clerk for Chase Manhattan Bank, where she met her husband, Peter, a co-worker at that time. Her best friend, Mary, also worked at the bank and met Mr. Menzies' best friend, Frank Bolson, another co-worker. The two were also wed and the couples were in each others' bridal parties. The two couples remained friends over the years. The couple moved to Eltingville in 1973. "She was my role model," said her daughter, Kristin Zawistowski. "She taught me about life, that there are ups and downs but just focus and stay in the moment." Mrs. Zawistowski said one reason she looked up to her mother was because of her relationship with her husband. She said her parents' Eltingville home was close to the water and many mornings they would wake up early and go to the beach to watch the sunrise. "He (my father) said she was his life and his best friend," her daughter said. "He felt truly blessed to have had her." Mrs. Menzies was especially close with her son, Derek, who shared her interest in art. When they were growing up, Mrs. Menzies used to paint T-shirts for the children and their friends, with pictures of their favorite characters. She also enjoyed painting scenery and nature. Mrs. Menzies collected angel figurines and pictures and placed them all over her house and yard to protect her home and family, her daughter said. "She was the epitome of an angel. Now she's going to be up there protecting us," she said. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mrs. Menzies volunteered as a preschool teacher at her parish, St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills. For almost 20 years, she worked as a dental administrator for the late Dr. Albert Roland in Westerleigh. She then worked for two years at a dental office in Eltingville. In addition to her daughter, Kristin, and her son, Derek, surviving is her husband of 37 years, Peter. The funeral will be Wednesday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a mass at 10:45 a.m. in St. Clare's Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. ERNST SEHLMEYER, 85 Great Kills native had passion for airplanes Monday, August 29, 2005 Former Staten Islander Ernst Gottfried Sehlmeyer, died Thursday at his Casper, Wyo., home. He was 85. Born in Great Kills in 1920 to German parents, he graduated from Tottenville High School in 1937. After graduation, he enrolled in several schools until he settled on the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics to study the mechanics of airplanes. The Islander who would eventually work as an industrial engineer for United Airlines then traveled to Baltimore, where he worked on B-26 bombers and learned to fly, said his granddaughter, Kim Buyske. "He loved to fly. He definitely liked the mechanics of it because he was an engineer at heart," Ms. Buyske said. Mr. Sehlmeyer enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served for four years as a flight instructor, his granddaughter said. After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he settled in Los Altos, Calif., to work for United Airlines. He retired in 1985. Mr. Sehlmeyer and his wife of 59 years, Marjorie Jean, then moved to Wyoming to be closer to their grandchildren. Her grandfather's love of mechanics transcended his career, Ms. Buyske said, recalling quality time during visits with him. "He had a lot of grandchildren and he always tuned up their cars. Every time we would go and visit he would take us outside and remind us how to fill our tires up with air," she said. Mr. Sehlmeyer was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Casper. He was a Civil War history buff, and his bookcase was filled with volumes ranging from architecture to alternative medicine, Ms. Buyske said. In addition to his wife, Mr. Sehlmeyer is survived by his son, Pete Sehlmeyer; his three daughters, Claire Venn, Barbara Buyske and Kris Graves; 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The funeral will be today from the Newcomer Family Funeral Home, Casper, with a service at 2 p.m. in the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel. Burial in the cemetery will follow. EDWARD DREW, 70 Retired police officer enjoyed sailing Monday, August 29, 2005 Edward (Major) J. Drew, 70, of Toms River, N.J., a former Oakwood resident and retired police officer, died Friday in the Atlantic Coast Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, Lakewood, N.J. Born in Hartford, Conn., he was brought to Brooklyn when he was 10 years old. He moved to Oakwood in the early 1960s and settled in Toms River in 1987. Mr. Drew was a city police officer for 21 years, both in Manhattan and the Island's 120th precinct. He retired in the early 1980s. He earned a bachelor of science degree in political science from the College of Staten Island. Mr. Drew loved the Jersey Shore, where he enjoyed swimming and sailing on his boat, the Polyphemus. His love of the ocean and the environment inspired his science fiction/horror novel, "The Sludge," published in 1988. The plot of the story involved the ecological and political implications of ocean dumping. He also liked to read. Mr. Drew served as a sergeant in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Surviving are his wife of 18 years, the former Patricia Heffernan; a son, Edward; three daughters, Carolyn Bedford, Eleanor Wren and Kathy Soppet; a stepdaughter, Cheryl DiGregorio; five sisters, Dorothy Purcaro, Kathleen Drew, Toni Sasso, Susan Lounsbury and Lee Catania, and eight grandchildren. Arrangements, including cremation, were handled by the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, Toms River. CORINNE SULLIVANO, 76 Willowbrook homemaker enjoyed bowling Monday, August 29, 2005 Corinne (Corky) Sullivano, 76, a lifelong Staten Islander and the mother of five, died yesterday in Clove Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Castleton Corners, where she had been a patient for a day. Born Corinne Perkert in Port Richmond, she settled in Willowbrook 29 years ago. A graduate of Port Richmond High School, Mrs. Sullivano made a career out of caring for her five children. An avid bowler, she represented Staten Island in the All Star Bowlers Tournament in Texas in 1963. She was inducted into the Staten Island Bowlers Hall of Fame in 2004. Mrs. Sullivano also enjoyed taking trips to Atlantic City. She was a parishioner of St. Roch's R.C. Church, Port Richmond. "She will always be in our hearts, and she will always be loved," said her family. Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Anthony; her son, James; her four daughters, Michele Slaven, ToniAnn Pulizzano, Diane Murray and MaryAnn Sullivano; 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook. The arrangements include cremation.