OBITS: Staten Island Advance 26 Oct 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/ Amari, Eva Eva Amari of New Springville on October 25, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Loving mother of Josephine Cropper, Thomas Amari and Elaine Cordes. Also survived by four grandchildren. Funeral from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Ave, Castleton Corners, on Thursday. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady of Pity Church 9:30 A.M. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 10/26/2005. Bluet, Roger G. Roger G. Bluet, 84, passed away Sunday, October 16, 2005 in Clearwater, Fl. He was born in Blois, France and moved to Clearwater in 1982 from Staten Island, N.Y. where he was a Bank Officer for European American Bank in New York City. He was a member of St. Luke Catholic Church in Palm Harbor, Fl. and The French Alliance. Survivors include his wife: Kathleen, sons: Denis P. Bluet of New York, N.Y. and Kenneth P. Bluet of Clearwater, Fl., a step-daughter: Nancy Giaretti of Long Island, N.Y., a sister: Jacqueline of France, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Curlew Hills Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 10/26/2005. Caccese, Anthony J. Anthony J. Caccese on October 23, 2005. Beloved husband of Rose. Loving father of Anthony, James and Thomas Caccese. Survived and loved by six grandchildren and one great-grandchild and fond brother of Gemma Caccese. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Thursday 9:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 10:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Tuesday 7-9 P.M. and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/24/2005 - 10/26/2005. Ciccarelli, Frances M. (Lenihan) Frances M. Ciccarelli (nee Lenihan) "Taffy" on October 23, 2005. Beloved wife of Charles. Loving mother of John Ciccarelli, Joanie DeMartino, Patti Sloan, Ann (Kissy) Ciccarelli, Carol Ciccarelli, Jim Ciccarelli, Pete Ciccarelli and Paula Ciccarelli-Sakevich. Survived by sisters Reenie Lenihan and Betty Free. Cherished grandmother of John Paul, Melissa, Jessica, Jenna, Tyler, Lisa, Chris, Danny, Sophia and Nico. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Thursday 8:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 9:30 A.M. Inter ment Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, L.I. Friends will be received Tuesday 7-9 P.M., Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Heart Association, 2550 Rte. 1, North Brunswick, N. J. 08902 would be appreciated. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/24/2005 - 10/26/2005. Concepcion, Joseph Joseph Concepcion on October 23, 2005. Beloved husband of Isabel. Devoted father of Joseph, Debra and Thomas, Jerry, Richard and Elizabeth. Cherished grandfather of Joseph, Karly, Jacqueline, Bryanna, T.J, Richie and Alexa. Loving brother of Edward, Samuel, Alice, Gladys and the late Peter, David and Josephine. Funeral from Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd., corner of Tysens Lane. Service Thursday 10 A.M. at International Christian Center. Interment Calverton National Cemetery. Visiting hours Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/25/2005 - 10/26/2005. Holm, Ruth Ruth Holm, formerly of Valley Stream, on October 24, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Paul. Devoted mother of Nancy R. Aaman and Richard P. Holm. Loving grandmother of eight. Cherished great-grandmother of seven. Reposing at the Moore Funeral Home, 54 West Jamaica Avenue, Valley Stream. Family will receive friends today from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Eastern Star Service tonight at 7:30 P.M. with Religious Service to follow at 8 P.M. Funeral Thursday 10 A.M. with Interment to follow at Greenfield Cemetery, Hempstead, N.Y. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 10/26/2005. Hunt, Daniel J. "Bud" Daniel J. Hunt "Bud" of Manchester, N.J., formerly of Eltingville, on October 23, 2005. Beloved husband of the late Gloria (Araneo). Stepfather of Vincent Araneo, Terri Buatta and Edie Araneo. Fond brother of John Hunt, Betty Guidera and Ellen McCarthy. Also survived and loved by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Thursday 10:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Queen of Peace Church 11:30 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Friends will be received Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/24/2005 - 10/26/2005. Jillings, Henri Henri Jillings of Pleasant Plains on October 25, 2005. Beloved husband of Catherine. Loving father of Stephen Johnson, Rosemary and Tom Quaranta, Eugene and Kathy Johnson, Lorraine and Joe Nicastro. Devoted grandfather of Joseph, Patrick, Steven, Thomas, Jessica and Kaitlyn. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral from Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, 7447 Amboy Rd., on Thursday, October 27, at 9 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. Church 9:30 A.M. Cremation to follow at Rosehill Crematory. Friends may visit Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Staten Island University Hospice would be appreciated. Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Family Owned & Operated since 1841 www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 10/26/2005. Martineau, Lillian Rose Lillian Rose Martineau of West Brighton on October 25, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Peter H. Martineau. Loving mother of Kathleen Inzalaco, Joan Basch Hanson and Peter John Martineau. Also survived by four grandchildren. Funeral from Harmon Home for Funerals, 571 Forest Ave, West Brighton, Saturday 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Sacred Heart Church 10 A.M. Committal private. Friends will be received Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions to St. Jude Children's Hospital would be appreciated. K. Terrance McGinley, Director, Harmon Home for Funerals Locally Family Owned and Operated Staten Island's only member of the International Order of the www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/26/2005 - 10/28/2005. Mullin, Elizabeth A. (Brown) Elizabeth A. Mullin (nee Brown) of West Brighton on October 24, 2005. Beloved wife of William J. Mullin. Loving mother of Lizbeth Fischer, Christine Higgins, William R. and Paul D. Mullin. Also survived by four grandchildren. Funeral from Harmon Home for Funerals, 571 Forest Avenue, West Brighton, Friday 10:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady of Good Counsel Church 11 A.M. Committal private. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4, 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Alzheimer's Foundation of Staten Island, 460 Brielle Ave, S.I., N.Y. 10314 would be appreciated. K. Terrance McGinley, Director, Harmon Home for Funerals Locally Family Owned and Operated Staten Island's only member of the International Order of the www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/26/2005 - 10/27/2005. Orlando, Florence Florence Orlando on October 24, 2005, Beloved wife of the late Anthony. Devoted mother of Virginia and Thomas Franz and the late Frankie and Joseph Orlando. Cherised grandmother of Joanne and Paul Hughes and Thomas and Robert Franz. Loving great-grandmother of Christopher and Matthew. Fond sister of Dorothy Polizzano and the late Edward and Richard Termini. Long-time companion of Frank Ferraro. Reposing at Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd., corner of Tysens Lane. Friends may call Wednesday 7-9 P.M. and Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial Friday 9:15 A.M. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment Greenwood Cemetery. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/25/2005 - 10/27/2005. Pellicano, Rose Rose Pellicano on October 24, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Dominick. Loving mother of Tom and the late Joseph. Cherished grandmother of two and great-grandmother of five. Fond sister of Jennie Polizzano and the late Dominick and Vincent Arnone. Funeral from Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd., corner of Tysens Lane. Mass Thursday 9:15 A.M. St. Charles R.C. Church. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Visiting hours Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/25/2005 - 10/26/2005. Rocco, Florence C. Florence C. Rocco of Westerleigh on October 25, 2005. Beloved wife of Joseph. Loving mother of Joseph, Linda and Robert. Dear sister of Richard Cambareri. Devoted grandmother of Joseph, Michael, Bobby, Thomas, David and Nicole. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Friday 9:45 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church 10:30 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/26/2005 - 10/27/2005. Rubertone, Vincent M. Vincent M. Rubertone of Dongan Hills on October 24, 2005. Loving brother of Pat Rubertone, Margaret DiNapoli and brother-in-law of the late Virginia Rubertone. Dear uncle of Patricia Rubertone. Funeral from Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Friday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial St. Ann's Church 10:00 A.M. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Queens. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/26/2005 - 10/27/2005. Schmardel, Lester E. Lester E. Schmardel of Great Kills on October 24, 2005. Beloved husband of Barbara Ann (nee Porzio). Dear brother of Martin and Edward Schmardel. Loving uncle of one niece and four nephews. Funeral from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills, on Friday. Mass of Christian Burial St. Clare's Church 11 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 10/26/2005 - 10/27/2005. WILLIAM WILL, 78 Mailroom supervisor's hobbies were fishing, bowling Wednesday, October 26, 2005 William F. Will, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany during World War II, died Oct. 12 in Grand Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center, Palm Coast, Fla. The 78-year-old former Staten Islander had been a patient in the center for a few months. Born in Pittsburgh, Mr. Will married the former Rose Grasso in 1950 and moved to St. George. The couple also lived in West Brighton, and reared eight children on the Island. Mr. Will worked as a mailroom supervisor for Irving Trust Bank in Manhattan. He retired to Old Bridge, N.J., in 1980. With his wife, he relocated to Palm Coast in 1986, where he indulged his hobbies of bowling, fishing and crabbing, said Santo Gargano, his brother-in-law. In addition to his wife, Rose, Mr. Will is survived by his four sons, William, Frank, Thomas and John; his four daughters, Donna and Linda Will, Jennifer Baker and Rose Korman; 15 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. The funeral mass was Oct. 17 in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton R.C. Church, Palm Coast. The arrangements, including cremation, were handled by the Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, Flagler Beach, Fla. SALVATORE ANNARUMMA, 87 Met future wife while in Italy during World War II Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Salvatore Annarumma, 87, a retired carpenter, died Monday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. He had been a resident of Silver Lake Specialized Care Center, Brighton Heights, for two months. The hardworking Brooklyn native grew up in that borough's Bay Ridge section and joined the U.S. Army during World War II. Mr. Annarumma served as a sergeant and was stationed in Italy. While there, he met the woman who would become his wife of 61 years, the former Angelina Castelluccio of Naples, who worked in her parents' restaurant, where he was a regular customer. She was 16 and he 27. "He saw me and he liked me," she said. "He was a good man." Following his return from the war, Mr. Annarumma worked as a carpenter for the former David Hamburger & Co. in Brooklyn. He retired at the age of 67, in 1987. Nine years ago, Mr. Annarumma and his wife moved to Rosebank to live with their daughter, Dawnmarie Asaro. He enjoyed bowling, betting on horse races and taking trips to Atlantic City. He also solved newspaper crossword puzzles every day. Mr. Annarumma was a parishioner of St. Mary's R.C. Church, Rosebank. In addition to his wife, Angelina, and his daughter, Dawnmarie, surviving are his three sons, John, Dennis and Thomas; his daughter, Louise Vlado; two sisters, Mary Perillo and Millie Ciccarelli; 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. The funeral will be Friday from the Martin Hughes Funeral Home, Concord, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary's Church. Burial will follow in Calverton (L.I.) National Cemetery. MICHAEL FALCONE, 74 Athlete, Korean War veteran was airport engineer Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Michael P. Falcone, 74, of Dongan Hills, a lifelong Staten Islander and retired electrical engineer, died Sunday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, after collapsing while competing in the annual Semper Fi Five-Mile Run along Capodanno Boulevard. An active athlete, he went for daily runs for more than 30 years. He won many awards, and frequently placed in local races, his family said. Over the past four years, Mr. Falcone placed in the top three in his age group at the Semper Fi run. He was also an age-group Triple Crown third-place finisher in 2001 and 2002. His daughter, Michele Ferrari, said news of her father's passing touched a fellow runner, who came to the funeral home yesterday in a sweatsuit, crying, and presented Mr. Falcone's widow with a trophy. "He said, 'This belongs to your husband. He was ahead of me,'" she said. Born in South Beach, Mr. Falcone settled in Dongan Hills as a boy. A graduate of McKee High School, he worked as an electrical engineer for the former Eastern Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport for 30 years. He retired in 1989, before the company closed in the early 1990s. Mr. Falcone was a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He flew observation aircraft and saw duty under direct enemy fire. He was discharged as a sergeant. He was an active member of the Cespino-Russo Post, American Legion, South Beach, and had served as the group's historian. When he wasn't hitting the pavement, Mr. Falcone loved to spend time at South Beach, where he enjoyed fishing, bike riding and walking his Doberman pinscher, Shadow. It was also at the beach where he indulged his other passion -- bocce. As a member of the Staten Island Bocce Club, he was a daily fixture on the courts at South Beach, where he and other oldtimers enjoyed the traditional Italian sport and tried to pass it on to younger generations. Her father organized family bocce tournaments, and enjoyed playing the game with his granddaughter and other family members, Mrs. Ferrari said. Mr. Falcone also liked to spend time in his garden and was the family photographer. "He always showed up with a camera," and loved to capture family events on film, said his daughter. Mr. Falcone was a parishioner of St. Ann's R.C. Church, Dongan Hills. In addition to his daughter, Michele, surviving are his wife of 50 years, the former Joyce Rossi; his son, Michael; two daughters, Barbara Lonigro and Valerie Casertano, and six grandchildren. The funeral is scheduled for today from the Colonial Funeral Home, New Dorp, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Ann's Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. LESTER SCHMARDEL, 60 TBTA sergeant coached his nephews in baseball Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Lester E. Schmardel, a Vietnam veteran and retired Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority sergeant, died Monday at his Great Kills home. He was 60. Mr. Schmardel was born in Pleasant Plains and settled in Great Kills in 1971. He graduated from Tottenville High School in 1963, and soon after began serving in the U.S. Army's First Air Cavalry. He was stationed in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967. Prior to his military service and upon his return, Mr. Schmardel worked in security at the Bank of New York in Manhattan for a total of 16 years. He then worked for 25 years for the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, retiring as a sergeant in 2000. Most recently, Mr. Schmardel worked part-time as a security guard at the Staten Island Advance in Grasmere. He loved to spend time in his house in the Pennsylvania Poconos, and also enjoyed spending time with his family -- particularly coaching and watching his nephews play baseball. He also liked to play golf and watch sports. "He was a dedicated and loving husband," said his wife of 35 years, the former Barbara Porzio. He was an active member of the Stolzenthaler Council, Knights of Columbus, Charleston, and a parishioner of St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills. In addition to his wife, Barbara, Mr. Schmardel is survived by two brothers, Martin and Edward. The funeral will be Friday from the Casey-McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a service at 11 a.m. in St. Clare's Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. LARISSA CECELIA COCOZELLO 3-week-old touched her family's hearts Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Larissa Cecelia Cocozello died Monday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. She was 3 weeks old. Born in University Hospital, she lived in South Bound Brook, N.J. "She was a precious angel who was only with us for three weeks, but will touch our hearts forever," said her paternal grandmother, Cecelia A. Bensen. Larissa also is survived by her parents, Malissa Dabrowski and Matthew Cocozello Jr.; a brother, Gabriel Ruffi; her paternal grandfather, Matthew Cocozello Sr., and her maternal grandparents, Laura and Roman Dabrowski The arrangements, including private burial, are being handled by the Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, Bound Brook, N.J. KOPPLE FRIEDMAN, 93 Dedicated to the Staten Island Jewish community Wednesday, October 26, 2005 By MAURA YATES ADVANCE STAFF WRITER Kopple Friedman, 93, an advocate for education and a retired professor and department chairman at the College of Staten Island, died Sunday at his Silver Lake home. He would have celebrated his 94th birthday next month. Born and reared in Hibbing, Minn., which later became known as the birthplace of singer Bob Dylan, Mr. Friedman graduated from high school at the age of 16. He then headed to Minneapolis, where he earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in education from the University of Minnesota. Growing up during the Great Depression, he initially saw education as a portal to the job market, but it became his life's passion. Of his family's six children, he was the first to go to college. Mr. Friedman began his 50-year teaching career as a social studies teacher at North High School in Minneapolis, then went on to serve as a social studies consultant for the Minneapolis Board of Education. In 1967, he settled in Silver Lake and began teaching education at the College of Staten Island, which opened its original Sunnyside campus that year. He served as chairman of the education department, and retired in 1981, when he was 70. Upon his retirement, Mr. Friedman established a scholarship fund in his name for students at CSI. Early in his teaching career, he developed an interest in economic education for high school students and became a pioneer in that field. His son, Barry, a professor of economics at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., said his father was proud he had followed in his footsteps. "He was always trying to solve problems," his son said. Mr. Friedman enjoyed tinkering around the house and trying to improvise his own solutions to fix things. He also enjoyed dabbling in the stock market, and was an accomplished musician who played the organ by ear as recently as a month ago, when he played pieces by Gershwin. A member of Congregation Temple Emanu-El in Port Richmond, he and his wife of 66 years, the former Helen Feinberg, were honored in 1996 for their dedication to the Jewish community on Staten Island. The couple was actively involved in the United Jewish Appeal Federation. In addition to his wife, Helen, and his son, Barry, surviving Mr. Friedman are his daughter, Kathryn Friedman, and a sister, Deane Reich. The funeral service will be tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in the Menorah Chapels, New Springville. Rabbi Gerald Sussman of Temple Emanu-El will officiate. Burial will be Friday in Beth Israel Memorial Park Cemetery, Waltham. GENNARO CAPONE, 79 Retired city police officer Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Former Staten Islander Gennaro R. Capone, 79, of Kissimmee, Fla., a retired city police officer, died Monday at his home. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to Bulls Head in 1969 and relocated to Kissimmee in 1990. Mr. Capone was a police officer for 24 years, assigned to the 68th Precinct in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. After retiring from the NYPD in 1980, he worked as a dispatcher for United Cerebral Palsy on Staten Island. He held that job for 10 years before retiring in 1990. Mr. Capone enjoyed woodworking and building furniture. "He was a loving and understanding man, a gentle giant," said his daughter-in-law, Rose Capone. During World War II, Mr. Capone served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Pacific from February 1944 through May 1946. While living on Staten Island, he was a parishioner of Our Lady of Pity R.C. Church, Bulls Head. Mr. Capone's wife of 44 years, the former Sofia Cacace, died in 1994. Surviving are his son, Robert; his three daughters, Dianne Tutrone, Linda Valdes and Patricia Nappi; 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The funeral will be tomorrow from the Conrad Thompson Funeral Home, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Redeemer R.C. Church, both Kissimmee. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, also Kissimmee. Funeral service held for slain 20-year-old Police investigating leads, as family and friends pay tribute to Jeremy Chavis Wednesday, October 26, 2005 No one should die the way Jeremy Chavis did. That was the unanimous sentiment of mourners who packed the Harmon Home for Funerals in West Brighton last night to pay their final respects to the 20-year-old Mariners Harbor man, who was discovered stabbed to death and burned beyond recognition on Oct. 16 in Prince's Bay. Firefighters from Engine Co. 164 in Huguenot found Chavis at about 11:15 that night after extinguishing a brush fire at Lemon Creek Park. The city medical examiner identified the body through fingerprints and the coroner determined that Chavis had been stabbed 19 times in the chest. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has said that Chavis likely was murdered somewhere else, then taken to the Prince's Bay beachfront park, where the killer set the brush fire to burn evidence. Police sources have told the Advance that detectives are pursuing numerous leads, with a focus on a possible connection Chavis might have had to the Bloods street gang. The fear of a gang presence disturbing the funeral led to police officers in an unmarked vehicle patrolling the streets outside the parlor. There were no disruptions. Inside Harmon, friends and family spilled out of the viewing room where Chavis' body was in a closed casket. Two bouquets of flowers and a T-shirt memorializing the young man were placed on top. Chavis often visited his grandfather on North Burgher Avenue in West Brighton. He had worked at Dunkin' Donuts and also did odd jobs. Recently, he had been preparing to go back to school to earn his general equivalency diploma, his father, Gennaro, 41, of Brooklyn, previously told the Advance. As a child, Chavis was twice named a CYO champion point guard in basketball. Following prayers and hymns, numerous people rose from their chairs to give testimonials to Chavis' good nature and the love they had for him. Many noted that his brutal passing was undeserved. Five young men wore oversized T-shirts with the spray-painted words "RIP J. Poppa" surrounding a picture of Chavis on the front. "The Good Die Young" and "My Fallen Soldier" were written on the back, with another picture of Chavis in the center. Also painted on the front of the T-shirts were angels; on the backs, doves. "No one should go out like that, man," whispered a mourner, as he stared at Chavis' coffin and his friends nodded in agreement. "No one." FLORENCE ROCCO, 73 Ran Port Richmond real estate company for 25 years Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Florence C. Rocco, 73, of Westerleigh, a real estate broker, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born in Manhattan, the former Florence C. Cambareri also lived in Brooklyn before settling in Westerleigh in 1961. She graduated from Central Needle Trades High School in Manhattan. Mrs. Rocco began a career in real estate in 1974 as an agent for Staten Island's Century 21 Papp Realty. In 1980, she founded her own real estate company, Rainbow Agency in Port Richmond. At the time of her death, she had led the agency for 25 years -- working alongside her husband. "In my mind, she truly was a pioneer for her time, building up a business that was incredibly successful. She paved the way for other women in the workforce," said her daughter, Linda Rocco. Mrs. Rocco was a member of the Staten Island Board of Realtors, and served as director for the 2000-2001 term. A volunteer and district leader for the Republican Party, she also belonged to the American Committee of Italian Migration and the Staten Island Mental Health Society. In her leisure time, she enjoyed sewing and traveling. Her son lived in Arizona and she took pleasure in her annual visits there. Puerto Rico, Cancun and Las Vegas were a few of her other favorite destinations. Mrs. Rocco's top priority, though, was always her family -- she often volunteered to baby-sit her grandchildren. "She really was the caretaker of the whole family," said her daughter. Mrs. Rocco was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, West Brighton. In addition to her daughter, Linda, Mrs. Rocco is survived by her husband of 52 years, Joseph; her two sons, Joseph P. and Robert; a brother, Richard Cambareri, and six grandchildren. The funeral will be Friday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.