OBITS: Staten Island Advance 3 Sep 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/ CARMELA MARINO, 76 Seamstress enjoyed canning her own vegetables Saturday, September 03, 2005 Carmela Marino, 76, a homemaker, seamstress and native of Italy, died Thursday at her Great Kills home after a long illness. Born Carmela Nania in 2003 Taurianova, Reggio Calabria, Italy, she learned how to be a seamstress at a specialized school and then worked from home. Knitting and crocheting would later become two of her favorite pastimes. In 1947, she came to the United States -- living in Brooklyn before relocating to Hollywood, Fla., and then to Cairo, N.Y., in 1976. A typical snowbird, she spent her winters in Hollywood and the summers upstate. In 1994, Mrs. Marino settled in Great Kills. Despite her passion for creating blankets and other items, she especially loved to eat and cook. Mrs. Marino canned her own tomatoes, olives and eggplant, among other foodstuffs. "Everytime she fed the grandchildren, to get them to finish, she used to tell them: 'The last is the best -- and how!" said her son, Salvatore. She also enjoyed traveling to Atlantic City with family as much as she could to play her favorite slot machines. Mrs. Marino also was known to play a game or two of poker with her family. Her husband of 51 years, Salvatore, died in 1998. In addition to her son, Salvatore, Mrs. Marino is survived by her son, Frank; her two daughters, Maryann Inguagiato and Pauline Petulla; three brothers, Salvatore, Joseph and Patsy Nania; two sisters, Nancy Donofrio and Pauline Petulla; eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. The funeral will be today from the Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in St. Clare's R.C. Church, both Great Kills. Burial will follow in Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, L.I. HILDA SPINELLI, 85 'One of the great Italian cooks' Saturday, September 03, 2005 Hilda Spinelli, 85, of Prince's Bay, a homemaker and renowned family cook, died Thursday at home. Born in Brooklyn, the former Hilda Lazzaro was the seventh child born to Carmello and Josephine Lazzaro -- with her mother also being a seventh-born child. She moved to Eltingville 20 years ago and to her daughter's home in Prince's Bay about 10 years ago. Advertisement At the age of 17, in 1937, Mrs. Spinelli worked in Brooklyn's Diamond Candle Co. to help support her family while her brothers were away in the service. She wicked candles and told her family she was the fastest worker in the factory, making the most money each week -- $12. While working there she met her future husband, Frank; they wed in the early 1940s. Mrs. Spinelli was famous in her family for her Italian specialties, including spaghetti pie, potato croquettes and rice balls "to die for," said her son, Vincent. "My mother was one of the great Italian cooks," he said. "She taught me and my sister how to cook and left us some great recipes." Mrs. Spinelli called her children daily to check on everyone. She had one absolute rule -- everyone who visited her had to be fed and they had to eat -- no matter what. "Her special presence during the holidays and special events will be greatly missed, but her traditional four-to-five-hour Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners will not be forgotten," said her son. "Just this July 4, she enjoyed a luau at her home in Prince's Bay with the entire family. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother." Mrs. Spinelli enjoyed shopping with her daughter, Carmela Cafiso, and loved to knit and crochet. She enjoyed making dresses and sweaters for her grandchildren and blankets for her family. "She had a great, full life," her son said. Mrs. Spinelli's husband of nearly 40 years, Frank, died in 1981. In addition to her son, Vincent, and her daughter, Carmela, surviving Mrs. Spinelli are a brother, Carmello Lazzaro; five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The funeral will be today from the Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, Huguenot. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. JOANNE IOMMI-SHANLEY, 48 West Brighton native was devoted to her family Saturday, September 03, 2005 Joanne Iommi-Shanley, a native Staten Islander and systems programmer who resided in Matawan, N.J., died Thursday in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, N.J. She was 48. The former Joanne Iommi was born in West Brighton. She was 6 years old when her mother died, and her aunt, Julia DiFortuna, helped to rear her. As a girl, she lived in Port Richmond and Mariners Harbor, and graduated from St. Peter's Girls High School, New Brighton. She married her high school sweetheart, Dennis A. Shanley, in 1981 and the couple moved to Huguenot in the early 1980s. They settled in Matawan 20 years ago. "She was devoted to her family," said her husband, who added that juggling a career and family was her specialty. "She loved spending time with her daughter, and taught her through example how to be kind and caring and respectful of other people." After receiving a degree in computer science in 1980 from Hunter College in Manhattan, Mrs. Iommi-Shanley began a 25-year career as a systems programmer for AXA Financial, Leonia, N.J. She had been a director there for one year before she stopped working in April. A member of the National Hemophilia Association, Mrs. Iommi-Shanley helped with the Staten Island chapter's functions. She enjoyed taking road trips with her family to Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Hawley, Pa., to the Jersey shore and other locations. She also liked to cook and read romance novels. Mrs. Iommi-Shanley was a parishioner of St. Benedict's R.C. Church in Holmdel. While living on the Island, she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, West Brighton. In addition to her husband, Dennis, she is survived by her daughter, Kaitlin J. Shanley; two stepbrothers, John and David Babicky, and two step-sisters, Linda Fogliani and Susan McGuinness. The funeral will be Tuesday from the Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, Port Richmond, with a mass at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, West Brighton. MICHAEL LODATO, 63 Firefighter, New York Post driver liked to play cards Saturday, September 03, 2005 Michael J. Lodato, 63, a retired city firefighter and former newspaper truck driver, died Thursday at his Sunnyside home. Born on Manhattan's 1960 Lower East Side, he moved to Grymes Hill in 1969, and settled in Sunnyside around 1973. Mr. Lodato was an FDNY firefighter for 11 years, before retiring in 1975. While on the job, he was awarded the Vincent J. Kane medal for valor by then-Mayor John V. Lindsay for pulling an unconscious man from a burning building on Avenue C in Manhattan on Sept. 7, 1968. At that time, he was assigned to Engine Co. 5 on 14th Street in Manhattan. After retiring from the FDNY, Mr. Lodato drove a newspaper truck and later worked in the circulation department of the New York Post. He retired in the mid-1980s. Mr. Lodato graduated in 1957 from St. Joseph's Elementary School on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He later attended the New York School of Printing and Chelsea Vocational High School, both Manhattan. In his retirement, he enjoyed taking the ferry to Manhattan nearly every day to visit friends in his old neighborhood and to play cards. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, which was very important to him, said his son, Michael R. In addition to his son, surviving are his ex-wife, the former Carol Ridenour; his two daughters, Cara Murray and Lauren Lodato; two brothers, Augustus and Robert; a sister, Theresa DuChemin, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, both West Brighton. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, also West Brighton. MICHAEL SOFIA, 53 FDNY chauffeur, golfer Saturday, September 03, 2005 Lifelong Staten Islander Michael Sofia, 53, a firefighter and golf enthusiast, died Thursday at his Grant City home, of cancer. Born in Great Kills in 1952, 2003 he moved to Eltingville in 1975 and settled in Grant City in 1987. Mr. Sofia graduated from New Dorp High School, where he was on the New Dorp Centrals football team. He received an award for his outstanding performance during a game between New Dorp and the Bronx's DeWitt Clinton High School, his family said. Mr. Sofia met the woman who would become his wife of 30 years, Janet, at New Dorp High School. He attended Brooklyn College from 1970 to 1972, studying physical education. He became a city firefighter in 1973, assigned to Engine Co. 15 in Manhattan. He later transferred to Engine Co. 9, also Manhattan. The 32-year veteran was an active firefighter at the time of his death. Mr. Sofia had been the chauffeur at Engine Co. 165 in New Dorp for 18 years and took part in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. He was a union delegate and member of the Columbian Association. An avid golfer, he enjoyed making custom clubs for his family and friends. A member of the Glenwood Country Club in Old Bridge, N.J., Mr. Sofia also was the vice president of LaTourette Golf Club from 1994 to 1995 and was its club champion in 1995. He enjoyed playing in father-and-son tournaments with his son, Mike, and his father, the late Daniel. Mr. Sofia was a member of several fishing preservation groups. With a passion for travel, the Sofias had vacationed in Europe -- including England, Italy, Spain, Wales and Greece -- as well as California, Texas, Canada, New Jersey and the most of the East Coast. In addition to his wife, Janet, and his son, Mike, surviving Mr. Sofia are his mother, Sarah, and two brothers, Danny and Joey. The funeral will be Thursday from the Hanley Funeral Home, with a mass at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Queen of Peace R.C. Church, both New Dorp. The arrangements include cremation. RICHARD BATIGNANI, 64 Yacht captain enjoyed skydiving, skiing and sailing Saturday, September 03, 2005 Richard Batignani, 64, a retired firefighter and former captain on private yachts, died yesterday of cancer at his Annadale home. Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Batignani moved to Great Kills 2004 in 1945 and Annadale in 1970. He was a New York City firefighter at Engine Co. 18 in Manhattan from 1962 until his retirement in 1974. Mr. Batignani then worked for five years as a driver for the former Joseph F. Whalen Trucking Co. in Mariners Harbor, before taking a job as a corporate yacht captain with Van Blarcom Closures Inc. in Brooklyn. He remained with that company for 17 years. At the time of his death, he had worked as a private yacht captain for four years in Kings Point, L.I. An athlete with an acute sense of adventure, Mr. Batignani made his first skydive jump in 1964 and nearly 100 more jumps over the course of the next four decades. Through the years, he also enjoyed skiing, scuba diving and sailing. "He was a person who really enjoyed everything life had to offer," said his wife, Gail. Mr. Batignani was a member of the Staten Island Ski Club, the Richmond County Yacht Club, the U.S. Parachute Association and the Staten Island division of Fire Department Retirees. He was a parishioner and usher at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, Huguenot. Mr. Batignani served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1964 to 1969. In addition to his wife, Gail, surviving are his two sons, Devon and Cris, and three grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 11 a.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Entombment will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp. RICHARD SCHENK, 72 Korean War vet was machine operator Saturday, September 03, 2005 Lifelong Staten Islander Richard V. Schenk, 72, of Elm Park, a retired machine operator and former security guard, 2001 died Thursday in St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton. Born in Stapleton, he moved to Port Richmond in 1955 and settled in Elm Park three years later. Mr. Schenk attended McKee High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951 and served with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. While in the service, he was a truck driver with motor transport and attained the rank of corporal. He was discharged in 1954. Mr. Schenk began working as a machine operator at the former Smith Textile plant in West Brighton when he returned from the service. Approximately two years later, he changed occupations, becoming a security guard at the former Bankers Trust in Manhattan and, later, Great Kills. In 1967, he returned to his original occupation as a machine operator with the former Octagon Processing Co. in Edgewater, N.J. He retired 15 years later due to a disability. A charter member and former member of the board of directors of the Staten Island Leukemia Association, Mr. Schenk was a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League and a member and past commander of the Mariners Harbor Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also was a member, active usher and former council member of St. Paul's-St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Port Richmond. In his leisure time, Mr. Schenk enjoyed reading and traveling, particularly to Lancaster County, Pa. "He was a good man, a loving husband and extremely proud of his Marine Corps service," said his wife, the former Elizabeth (Betty) Henry. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary May 14. In addition to his wife, Mr. Schenk is survived by his sister, Muriel Maffeo. His daughter, Elizabeth Schenk, died at age 3 in 1969. The Rev. Virginia Kaada, pastor of St. Paul's-St. Luke's Church, will conduct the funeral service Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, Port Richmond. Burial will be in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood. VIRGINIA SMITH, 89 World War II WAC graduated college at age 69 Saturday, September 03, 2005 Virginia Smith, 89, of Lighthouse Hill, a homemaker and former secretary, died Thursday in Bayshore Health Care Center, Holmdel, N.J. At age 65, Mrs. Smith decided to go to college -- attending the College of Staten Island, and earned her bachelor's degree in English, magna cum laude, when she was 69. "She was very proud of that," said her daughter, Maria Smith. "After the Depression, she had to go to work and couldn't go to college, and she always felt like it was unfinished business. She always wanted a college degree, so she finally said, 'I'm going to do it.'" After graduating from college, Mrs. Smith became a volunteer with the Alice Austen House in Rosebank, giving tours to school children. She was also a volunteer tour guide at High Rock Park. Born Virginia O'Brien in Brooklyn, she graduated from the former Girls High School in that borough. She moved to Grymes Hill in 1953, to Lighthouse Hill in 1956 -- to a house she and her husband, Arthur, had built -- and entered Bayshore last year. During the Depression, Mrs. Smith worked as a secretary for eight years with the former Standard Bank of South Africa, Manhattan, until leaving the workforce to bring up her children. During World War II, she became a member of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) and served as a secretary at Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, N.J. Mrs. Smith loved to read and visit her son, who lived in New Orleans. According to her family, she also enjoyed visiting and walking the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston. "She really enjoyed life and she loved her family. She loved Staten Island, also," said her daughter. A longtime parishioner of St. Patrick's R.C. Church in Richmond, Mrs. Smith was active in the parish until illness prevented her from attending services. She was a member of the Huguenot Garden Club and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Staten Island Historical Society. Mrs. Smith's husband of 56 years, Arthur W., died in 2002. In addition to her daughter Maria, surviving are her son, Arthur M.; her daughters, Diane Swist and Virginia Hutchinson; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The arrangements, including cremation, are being handled by the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp. Athanasopoulos, Mary ATHANASOPOULOS Mary Athanasopoulos of Bay Terrace on September 2, 2005. Beloved wife of Steve. Loving mother of Chris. Dear mother-in-law of Kathleen. Cherished grandmother of Caitlin and Mary. Funeral from the JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION) Tuesday 9:15 A.M. Funeral Service Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 10 A.M. Interment Cypress Hills Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday from 7-10 P.M. and Monday from 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005. Basil, Marie BASIL Marie Basil on September 1, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Nick. Devoted mother of Elaine and Frank. Mother-in- law of John and Charlene. Cherished grandmother of Thomas, Frances, Mariaelena, Janine, David, Mark and Peter. Great-grandmother of thirteen. Loving sister of Raymond Florio and the late Helen Forzano and Dorothy Florio. Funeral from Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd., corner of Tysens Lane. Visiting hours Sunday and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Service at Colonial Funeral Home on Tuesday at 11:30 A.M. Interment Ocean View Cemetery. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 9/3/2005. Batignani, Richard BATIGNANI FLAG NYFD Richard Batignani of Eltingville on September 2, 2005. Beloved husband of Gail I. Loving father of Devon and Cristin. Cherished grandfather of Frank, Bridget and Carli. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD., AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Tuesday 10:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church 11 A.M. Entombment Moravian Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday 7-9 P.M. and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/3/2005 - 9/6/2005. Iommi-Shanley, Joanne SHANLEY Joanne Iommi-Shanley on September 1, 2005. Beloved wife of Dennis A. Shanley. Dear mother of Kaitlin J. Shanley. Adored daughter of the late Catherine and Albert J. Iommi Sr. Fond sister of the late Albert J. Iommi Jr. Stepsister of Linda Fogliani, Susan McGuiness, John and David Babicky. Loving niece of Julia DiFortuna. Also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral from Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Avenue, P.R., on Tuesday at 10:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Sacred Heart R.C. Church 11 A.M. Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. Freinds will be received Sunday and 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 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005. Lodato, Michael J. LODATO Michael J. Lodato (Retired FDNY) of Sunnyside of September 1, 2005. Loving father of Cara Murray, Lauren Lodato and Michael R. Lodato. Fond brother of Theresa DuChemin, Augustus and Robert Lodato. Cherished grandfather of Rachael, Alexandra, Sean and Cathryn. Funeral from Harmon Home for Funerals, 571 Forest Avenue, West Brighton Tuesday 9 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament Church 9:45 A.M. Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday and Monday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. 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 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005. Pearson, Walter "Wally" PEARSON Walter (Wally) Pearson of New Dorp on September 1, 2005. Beloved husband of Margaret (nee Curran). Loving father of Linda Sullivan, Stephen Pearson, Bernice Cunningham, Jane Girello and Trisha Giglio. Cherished grandfather of Melissa, Erin, Kerrie, Jonathan, Jason, Alex and Olivia. Fond brother of Mildred Basmajy, Carol Lang and John Pearson. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane Tuesday 8:15 A.M. Mass St. Charles Church 9:15 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday and Monday 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 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005. Schenk, Richard V. SCHENK Richard V. Schenk of Elm Park on September 1, 2005. Beloved husband of Elizabeth M. (Betty) (nee Henry). Beloved father of the late Elizabeth Schenk. Dear brother of Muriel Maffeo and the late George Schenk and Joan Werner. Fond brother-in-law of Emily Harkins-Cuevas and Peter Cuevas. Also survived by several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great nephews. A Funeral Service will be conducted in Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Avenue, P.R., on Tuesday at 11:30 A.M. Interment Ocean View Cemetery. Friends will be received Sunday and 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 9/3/2005 - 9/4/2005. Sofia, Michael SOFIA Michael Sofia on September 1, 2005. Beloved husband of Janet. Cherished father of Mike. Loving son of Sarah and the late Daniel. Brother of Danny and Joey. Also survived and loved by many nices, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral from the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane, Thursday 10 A.M. Service 11 A.M. Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Private cremation to follow. Visiting 2-4, 7-9 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, donations to Kids Against Cancer, 2241 Victory Blvd. S.I., N.Y. 10314, would be appreciated. Hanley Funeral Home, Inc Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com/obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/2/2005 - 9/4/2005.