OBITS: Staten Island Advance 20 Nov 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/ DeBetta, Michael Michael DeBetta on November 19, 2005. Beloved husband of Joanne. Loving father of Josephine Savino, Michael Jr. and Julie E. Dear brother of Carmine and Rose Greco. Cherished grandfather of Victoria Ann Savino. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Wednesday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady of Pity Church 9:30 A.M. Entombment Clover Leaf Memorial Park. Friends may call Monday and Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 11/20/2005. Hughes, Peter HUGHES Officers and Members of the S.I. Detachment of the Marine Corps League will meet at 7 P.M. on Sunday evening at Hanley Funeral Home to pay our last respects to our departed member Peter Hughes. Chaplain Walter Fabisinski Published in the Staten Island Advance on 11/20/2005. Hughes, Peter K. Peter K. Hughes on November 17, 2005. Loving father of Sean Hughes and Edward Armstrong. Cherished father-in -law of Selina. Fond brother of Merrill, Patricia, and Carey. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Monday 8:30 A.M. Mass Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 9:30 A.M. Interment to follow at Ocean View Cemetery. Visiting 7-9 P.M. Saturday and 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Sunday. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/19/2005 - 11/20/2005. Ingallinera, Rosario Rosario Ingallinera of Todt Hill on November 17, 2005. Beloved husband of Lucretia (nee Spagnuolo. Loving father of John Ingallinera, Diana Faillace, Laura Cody and GerriAnn Gillette. Dear brother of Concetta Amalfitano. Also survived by nine grandchildren. Funeral from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Avenue, Castleton Corners, on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial St. Teresa's Church 9:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Saturday and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Donations may also be sent to St. Charles Seminary, 209 Flagg Place, S.I., N.Y. 10304 www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/18/2005 - 11/20/2005. Kennedy III, James W. James W. Kennedy III of Annadale on November 16, 2005. Beloved husband of Christina (nee Curtin). Loving father of Karyn Kennedy, James W. Kennedy IV. Dear brother of Michael, Laura Kennedy, Josie Kennedy-Griffin and the late Patricia Kennedy. Funeral Service from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills, on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial, St. Clare's R.C. Church 9:45 A.M. Interment Cemetery of the Resurrection. Friends will be received Saturday and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/18/2005 - 11/20/2005. Porta, Evelyn Evelyn Porta of Heartland Village on November 19, 2005. Wife of Jerry. Loving mother of Denise Ayrer and Michael Porta. Devoted daughter of Jean Petrosino. Dear sister of Virginia Domingo. Cherished grandmother of Christina, Andrew, Michael and Christian. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Tuesday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial St. Patrick's Church at 10:00 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday and Monday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/20/2005 - 11/21/2005. Preza, Monica Monica Preza of Great Kills on November 19, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Anthony. Loving mother of Sherry Boeding, Lisa David, Ruth Russo and Anthony Preza. Dear sister of Anna Oranezak. Adored sister-in-law of James and Sophia Rocco. Cherished grandmother of Jennifer, Tina, Kristen, Anthony, Michael, Nicholas and Samantha. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), Tuesday morning. Entombment Moravian Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Monday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/20/2005 - 11/21/2005. Santore, Frank Frank Santore on November 9, 2005. Beloved husband of Jennie (nee Pelosi). Dear father of Michael R. and Ronald F. Santore. Adored grandfather of Frank, Vincent, Anthony, Joseph and Jason Santore. Also survived by seven grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be conducted in Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Ave, P.R., on Tuesday 9:30 A.M. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, Queens. Friends will be received Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home Family Owned www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/18/2005 - 11/20/2005. Schare-Gross, Blanche C. Blanche C. Schare-Gross of Great Kills on November 18, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Peter Schare and the late George Gross. Loving mother of Peter Schare. Dear sister of the late Madeline Nelson. Funeral from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills. Funeral service at the Alban's Episcopal Church Wednesday 10:30 A.M. Interment Ocean View Cemetery. Friends will be received Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The Memorial Fund of St. Alban's Church, would be greatly appreciated. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/20/2005 - 11/21/2005. Seabrooks, Priest A. Priest A. Seabrooks of Mariners Harbor on November 13, 2005. Beloved husband of Renee (nee Chandler). Dear father of Cassidy Hoyt, Jeffrey, Sharell, Shanae and Ashley Chandler. Fond brother of Willie, Jeffrey, Andrew, Claudia and Lisa Seabrooks. Also survived by six grandchildren. Funeral from Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Ave., P.R., on Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. Interment Silver Mount Cemetery. Friends will be received Monday 7-9 P.M., Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the family would be appreciated. Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home Family Owned www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/19/2005 - 11/22/2005. Sedita, Carmine Joseph Carmine Joseph Sedita of Manchester, NJ, formerly of Westerleigh on November 18, 2005. Beloved husband of Eileen. Loving father of Nayda Mauriello and April Sedita. Dear brother of Lawrence Sedita and Patricia Garneau. Devoted grandfather of Vincent, Owen and Lorenzo. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Tuesday 8:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial St. Teresa RC Church 9:30 A.M. Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday 7-9 P.M. and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to The American Cancer Society, would be appreciated. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/20/2005 - 11/21/2005. Tidabock, Marie E. (Rutchey) Marie E. Tidabock (nee Rutchey) on November 17, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Forest Tidabock. Dear sister of Emma Mahlmann, Irene M. and Raymond J. Rutchey. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. A blessing will be conducted in Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Ave, P.R., on Monday at 10:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday 2-4, 7-9 P.M. Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home Family Owned www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 11/18/2005 - 11/20/2005. PRIEST SEABROOKS, 47 Founder of Bronx-based horse rental business Sunday, November 20, 2005 By MICHELLE MASKALY ADVANCE STAFF WRITER Priest (The Cowboy) Seabrooks of Mariners Harbor had a love of animals from childhood and used that compassion to open the Bronx-based American Cowboy Horse and Pony Rental, which provides horse-drawn carriages, pony rides and other animal exhibits at various festivals and children's events. On Nov. 13, the 47-year-old died in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born in Queens, Mr. Seabrooks lived there for 10 years before moving to Louisiana. He moved to the Bronx and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School. Mr. Seabrooks lived in Coney Island, Brooklyn, before settling in Mariners Harbor in 1993. Mr. Seabrooks' love of animals, particularly horses, started as a young boy. "When he was a child he saw a pony in Brooklyn. He was about 10 years old," said his wife of 14 years, the former Renee Chandler. "He asked the man if he could ride the pony. And he did. But he was dressed in a white suit because it was Easter and he got into trouble." Mrs. Seabrooks said when her husband lived in Louisiana with his grandmother, he grew fond of farm animals. "He was an all-around guy who knew everything about animals," she said. While attending high school, a teacher encouraged Mr. Seabrooks to get involved with the school's animal care program. After graduation, Mr. Seabrooks began learning the trade and purchased his first horse and stage coach. He started his business -- which now includes five horses and an assortment of petting zoo animals -- by giving wagon rides to people in the neighborhood, his wife said. His clients included various Staten Island churches and the G.R.A.C.E. Foundation. Mr. Seabrooks' other passion was children and he would go to great lengths to make them happy and care for them. "One time he brought a reindeer over for the children at Christmas," said his wife. "If there were children in the street, he'd bring them into our home. He loved children. He was a kind-hearted man." Mr. Seabrooks was a member of the House of Miracles, Mariners Harbor. In addition to his wife, Renee, Mr. Seabrooks is survived by two sons, Cassidy Hoyt and Jeffrey Chandler; three daughters, Sharell Ford, Shanae and Ashley Chandler; three brothers, Willie, Jeffrey and Andrew; two sisters, Claudia and Lisa Seabrooks, and five grandchildren. The funeral service will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, Port Richmond. Burial will follow in Silver Mount Cemetery, Silver Lake. OLGA BURMANN, 85 Was housekeeping supervisor Sunday, November 20, 2005 Olga Burmann, 85, a longtime Staten Islander and retired housekeeping supervisor, died Friday in the Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Meiers Corners, where she lived more than a year. The former Olga Gritzuk was born in Manhattan, and moved to South Beach in the 1994 early 1960s. A few years later, she relocated to New Dorp, where she lived until she entered the Golden Gate home. Mrs. Burmann spent her summers in a country cottage in upstate Elizaville. For at least 25 years, Mrs. Burmann was supervisor of housekeeping for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Manhattan. She was the first woman to hold the title, her family said. Mrs. Burmann was an animal lover who supported pet-rescue and cruelty-prevention groups. She took daily walks with her own dog, Joy. She subscribed to the National Enquirer, loved to watch Court TV and rooted for the New York Yankees. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She spoke almost every day with her nephew, Gene Kancewick, and enjoyed outings with her niece, Roberta Nisslein, and her niece's husband, Clement. "She had so many friends, and young people looked up to her because she was wise. She always put things into perspective. I'm going to miss her so much," her niece said. Mrs. Burmann was a member of New Dorp Moravian Church. Her husband of more than 30 years, Nicholas, died in 1977. The funeral service will be tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the A. Azzara Funeral Home, South Beach. The Rev. Duane Ullrich, pastor of New Dorp Moravian, will officiate. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. MONICA PREZA, 67 Great Kills homemaker loved to decorate Sunday, November 20, 2005 Monica Preza of Great Kills died yesterday at her home. She was 67. Born Monica Romeo in Brooklyn, she lived there until 1970, when she moved to Great Kills. A homemaker, Mrs. Preza married her husband of 35 2005 years, Anthony, when she was 16, after his cousin introduced the couple. "Her and my father were inseparable," said her daughter, Ruth Russo. Mrs. Preza enjoyed decorating her house, as well as the homes of friends and family members. "Her passion was interior decorating," said her daughter. "She was a wonderful mother and grandmother." Mrs. Preza's husband died in 1989. Besides her daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Preza is survived by her mother, Antoinette Romeo; a son, Anthony; two other daughters, Sherry Boeding and Lisa David; a sister, Anna Oranezak, and seven grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday at the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a 9 a.m. service at the home. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. HELEN ENGLAND, 94 Homemaker enjoyed needlecraft Sunday, November 20, 2005 Helen England, 94, of Meiers Corners, a homemaker, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born Helen Reinman in Plainfield, N.J., she moved to 1989 Queens in 1935 and to Brooklyn in 1952. Mrs. England relocated to Great Kills in 1963 before entering the Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Meiers Corners, eight years ago. In her younger years, she enjoyed needlecraft. Mrs. England was a member of the Great Kills Friendship Club. Her husband of 48 years, Clifford, died in 1977. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Helen Guagenti, who died in 1979; her son, Frank, who died in 1991, and her daughter, Anna Vigor, who died in 2000. Surviving are Mrs. England's three sons, John, Russell and Joseph; two daughters, Margaret Drew and Mary Cvitkovich; 22 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter. The funeral will be tomorrow from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Holy Child R.C. Church, both Eltingville. Burial will be in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, L.I. EVELYN PORTA, 65 Decoupage artist and homemaker loved butterflies Sunday, November 20, 2005 Evelyn Porta of New Springville, an artist and homemaker known to her family as Grandma Butterfly, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital Ocean Breeze, of lung cancer. She was 65. The former Evelyn Petrosino graduated from Lafayette High School in her native Circa 2000 Brooklyn. She had lived in New Springville since 1969. The decoupage artist sold her creations, including vases and decorative plates, to stores and individuals. She dedicated her time to caring for her home and family, in addition to her craft. Mrs. Porta loved butterflies. She collected butterfly ornaments and decorations, and her grandchildren called her Grandma Butterfly. "I think to her, butterflies represented freedom," said her daughter, Denise Ayrer. "She was very outgoing and was always optimistic," said her husband, Jerry. "She always looked forward to spending time with her grandchildren, Andrew, Christina, Michael and Christian," Mrs. Ayrer said. "They meant the world to her." Mrs. Porta was a parishioner of St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Richmond. In addition to her husband, her daughter, and her grandchildren, surviving are her son, Michael; her mother, Jean Petrosino, and a sister, Virginia Domingo. The funeral will be Tuesday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. BLANCHE GROSS, 92 Retired clerk was active at St. Alban's Sunday, November 20, 2005 Blanche C. Gross, 92, a longtime Staten Islander and retired insurance company clerk, died Friday in the Westminster-Canterbury Retirement Home, Charlottesville, Va., where she lived more than a year. Born Blanche Schwenk in Manhattan, she was brought to Elm Park as an infant and settled in Great Kills in 1927. She moved to Charlottesville several years ago to be closer to her son. Mrs. Gross, who attended Tottenville High School, was a clerk for 20 years at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., in Manhattan, and later for the same firm in St. George. She retired in the mid-1970s. In 1932, she married Peter C. Schare in the Church of the Holy Comforter, now St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Eltingville. Mr. Schare died in 1969. In 1975, Mrs. Gross married George Gross, who died in 1995. She was very active in St. Alban's Church, having served in a number of positions as the chairwoman of the Episcopal Church Women. She was Sunday School superintendent from 1953-1968, and served as secretary for the building committee and chairwoman and treasurer for the church's used clothing shop. She was also involved with the church's craft bazaars and its Twelfth Night Ball. She liked to knit, quilt and crochet, and often sewed her own clothing. She applied her skills as a seamstress to mending the upholstery of an antique airplane that she and her son restored together. "It's amazing the variety of things that Mom was involved in," said Mrs. Gross' son, Peter W. Schare. "She was outgoing and loved being involved with other people." The funeral will be Wednesday from the Casey-McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Alban's Church. Burial will be in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood. ANTHONY SCARANO, 79 WWII vet and retired transit supervisor Sunday, November 20, 2005 Anthony (Butch) Gerald Scarano of Inverness, Fla., a native Staten Islander, a World War II veteran and a retired city transit supervisor, died Wednesday in the Hospice Care Unit of Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness. He was 79. Mr. Scarano, a native of New Brighton, lived in Port 1988 Richmond for 17 years before he settled in Inverness in 1986. While on the Island, he attended Curtis High School, where he played baseball and broke a record as a member of the school's track team, his family said. He later received his general equivalency diploma. During World War II, Mr. Scarano was an Army medical technician in Fort Dix, N.J. He attained the rank of private. While living in New Brighton, Mr. Scarano met his future wife, the former Josephine Sceppe, whose father owned a tailor shop on the same block, Lafayette Avenue, where his father ran the former grocery, Scarano's Market. The couple wed on May 2, 1948. Mr. Scarano was a bus driver for the city Transit Authority and later worked as a supervisor on the Island. He retired in 1983, after 35 years of service. In Inverness, Mr. Scarano wrote a golf column, Hooks and Slices, for the Citrus County Chronicle. For about five years, he toured Florida golf courses, reporting on players and teams, match-ups and tournaments. He also enjoyed playing with the Chronicle's team and with various golf clubs. In addition, Mr. Scarano enjoyed bowling, and was a fan of the New York Yankees. "As a supervisor, he was by-the-books, but during his retirement, he was always kidding around," said his daughter-in-law, Teresa Scarano. "Everyone in the neighborhood knew him because he was such a joker. When people saw him, they would say, 'Here comes trouble.'" Mr. Scarano was predeceased by his son Joseph, who died in 1992, and his son Anthony, who died in 1994. In addition to his wife, Josephine, he is survived by five grandchildren. The funeral arrangements, including cremation, were handled by the Charles E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness. AGNES J. DUNN, 77 Secretary enjoyed listening to talk radio Sunday, November 20, 2005 Agnes J. Dunn, 77, of Sea View, a retired secretary, died on Nov. 11 in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where she had been a patient for six weeks. Ms. Dunn, a high school graduate, was born on Staten Island and moved to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where she worked as a secretary at various companies. She returned to Staten Island about 25 years ago, settling first in St. George and then in Sea View in 1999. Ms. Dunn enjoyed reading, listening to talk radio shows, and socializing in the community room of her apartment building, said her friend, Rhoda Lesen. Ms. Lesen described Ms. Dunn as a "very ladylike" woman who "was quiet, but compassionate." The funeral will be Tuesday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a 9:45 a.m. mass at Holy Family R.C. Church, Westerleigh. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.