OBITS: Staten Island Advance 15 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/ Csaby, Gabriel "Paul" Gabriel "Paul" Csaby Of New Dorp Beach on September 14, 2005. Beloved husband of Rosemary (nee Newman). Loving father of Kenneth and Paul Csaby, Dori Csaby-Demes, Kristen Csaby and the late Lisa Marie Cordero. Cherished grandfather of Rachel Cordero, Kenneth Csaby Jr., Marissa Csaby and Bobby Demes. Fond brother of Margaret Ratshin and Barbara Casby. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane. Religious service, Friday, September 16 at 8 P.M. A private cremation will follow. Friends will be received Friday 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 9/14/2005 - 9/16/2005. Fama, Maria Concetta Maria Concetta Fama of Mariners Harbor on September 12, 2005. Beloved wife of Angelo. Loving mother of John Fama, Palma Denino, Nancy Fama Clark and Marie Delizia. Dear sister of Giuseppe, Vincenzo, Giovanni, Pasquale and Francesco Condomitti, Pasqua Insana, Carmela D'Agostino and the late Antonia Condomitti. Also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral from Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Avenue, Castleton Corners on Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial St. Michael Church, Mariners Harbor 10 A.,M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers contributions to NYU Cancer Institute would be greatly appreciated. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/16/2005. Festa, Lucy Lucy Festa of Oakwood on September 12, 2005. Dear sister of Vincent Festa, and Isabella Starnes. Loving sister-in-law of Linda Festa. Adored aunt of four nieces and two nephews. Funeral Service from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills, on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment Cemetery of the Resurrection. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Flegar, Silvano "Nano" Silvano ''Nano'' Flegar of Great Kills on September 13, 2005. Beloved husband of Valerie (nee Tiberi). Loving father of Christopher, Michael Flegar. Cherished son of Zita Flegar. Dear brother of Magda. Funeral service from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills, on Friday. Mass of Christian Burial St. Clare's R.C. Church at 9:45 A.M. Private cremation will follow. Friends will be received Wednesday and Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Nalitt Institute for Cancer, 256 Mason Ave, SI, NY 10308 would be greatly appreciated. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Holmes, Barton M. Barton M. Holmes of Old Town on September 14, 2005. Beloved husband of Norma. Fond brother-in-law of Herbert Brandkamp and also survived and loved by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from The Hanley Funeral Home, 60 New Dorp Lane Saturday September 17, 2005 10 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Religious service Friday September 16, at 8 P.M. Friends will be received Thursday 7-9 P.M. and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The Salvation Army for the Hurricane Katrina Relief would be appreciated. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/15/2005 - 9/16/2005. Mangano, Gaetano Vincent Gaetano Vincent Mangano of Eltingville on September 14, 2005. Beloved husband of Mary. Loving father of Rosemarie Cavanagh and Lucille Fekete. Dear brother of Mary Rota. Cherished grandfather of five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), on Saturday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Holy Child Church, 9:45 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Thursday and Friday 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive,com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/15/2005 - 9/16/2005. Marcovecchio, Ida (Petrucci) Ida Marcovecchio (nee Petrucci) on September 11, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Silvio Marcovecchio. Dear mother of Noel Marcovecchio. Adored grandmother of Aaron Stern. Also survived by two great-granddaughters. A graveside service will be held at the Moravian Cemetery on Saturday, 11 A.M. Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home, 1289 Forest Ave, P.R., Meislohn-Silvie Funeral Home Family Owned www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/15/2005 - 9/16/2005. Menichino, Angelo S. Angelo S. Menichino of Merritt Island Florida on September 12, 2005. Beloved husband of Jean. Loving father of Anthony Menichino, Joanne Massa, Thomas and Steven Menichino and father-in-law of Susan Menichino, John Massa Deborah Menichino and Paul Hotsinpiller. Dear brother of Tess Nofi, Ann DiLorenzo and Rose Soriano. Also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Saturday 9:45 A.M. Service Gateway Cathedral 10:30 A.M. Committal Rosehill Crematory. Friends may call Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/16/2005. Millar, Frances Frances Millar of West Brighton on September 13, 2005. Beloved wife of Joseph. Dear cousin of Robert Toni. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK ROAD, on Saturday 10 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament Church 10:30 A.M. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations to Blessed Sacrament Church would be appreciated. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Piccirillo, William "Bill" William (Bill) Piccirillo age 58 of Grant City on September 13, 2005. Beloved nephew of Marie and Joseph Piccirillo. Cherished cousin of three. Also survived by many loving neighbors and friends. Funeral service at the Richmond Funeral Home, 2052 Richmond Road at Midland Ave, on Friday at 10 A.M. Interment Ocean View Cemetery. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4 and 7-9:30 P.M. Richmond Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 9/15/2005. Rodi, Esther Esther Rodi of New Port Richie, Fl, formerly of Staten Island on September 9, 2005. Beloved wife of Joseph Sr. Loving mother of Joseph Jr. and John and the late Barbara Laganga. Dear sister of Rose Sajkowski. Also survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Funeral from MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Saturday 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church 9:45 A.M. Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Romano, Josephine Josephine Romano of Eltingville on September 12, 2005. Beloved wife of Philip. Loving mother of Marie Bonanno and Ralph. Dear sister of Mary Douglass. Cherished grandmother of five grandchildren. Funeral from JOHN VINCENT SCALIA HOME FOR FUNERALS, 28 ELTINGVILLE BLVD. (AT ELTINGVILLE STATION), on Friday 9:00 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial Holy Child Church, 9:45 A.M. Interment St. Charles Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place on Wednesday from 7-10 P.M. and Thursday 2-5 and 7-10 P.M. www.SiLive,com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Ruggero, Matthew J. Matthew J. Ruggero of Ocala, Florida, formerly of Staten Island, on September 12, 2005. Beloved husband of the late Shirley (nee Packer). Loving father of Rosemarie and Matthew R. Ruggero. Fond brother of Salvatore Ruggiero. Adored grandfather of Lauren Guinta. Dear father in law of Charles (Chuck) Guinta. Funeral from Harmon Home for Funerals, 571 Forest Ave, West Brighton. Roman Catholic Service Friday 10:15 A.M. Interment to follow Ocean View Cemetery. Friends will be received Wednesday 7-9 P.M., Thursday 2-4, 7-9 P.M. 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 9/13/2005 - 9/15/2005. Scaccia Sr., Thomas M. Thomas M. Scaccia Sr. of Tottenville on September 14, 2005. Beloved husband of Lena (nee D'Arienzo). Loving father of Toni Lagattuta, Thomas Scaccia and Christine Scaccia. Dear brother of John Scaccia. Cherished grandfather of Danielle, Elena, Corinne and Nicole. Funeral from Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Ave, Great Kills. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday 1 P.M. at Church of the Holy Child. Private cremation to follow. Friends will be received Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. In lieu of flowers, if so desired, donations may be made to American Heart Association. Casey McCallum-Rice Funeral Home www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 9/15/2005. Seiden, Veronica Veronica Seiden of Bulls Head on September 13, 2005. Beloved wife of the late John A. Seiden. Loving mother of Tara Furgiuele and Jeffrey Seiden. Dear sister of Olivia Bradshaw, Frances Kelly, William and Ann Bradshaw. Adoring grandmother of Sonya and Natasha Anderson. Funeral Service MATTHEW FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 2508 VICTORY BLVD. AT WILLOWBROOK RD., on Friday 1 P.M. Committal Rosehill Crematory, Linden, N.J. Friends may call Friday 11 A.M.-1 P.M. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance on 9/15/2005. Vere, Lucy V. (Comeforo) Lucy V. Vere (nee Comeforo) formerly of Dongan Hills on September 11, 2005. Beloved wife of the late Fred. Loving mother of Marlyse McCormack, Arleen Vere Olson. Adored grandmother of six, great-grandmother of eleven and great-great-grandmother of one. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from Dongan Hills Virginia Funeral Chapel, 1707 Hylan Blvd., on Friday 9:30 A.M Mass of Christian Burial St. Ann's R.C. Church 10 A.M. Interment Moravian Cemetery. Visiting hours Thursday 2-4, 7-9 P.M. www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. Yasosky, Frank G. Frank G. Yasosky of Greenridge on September 13, 2005. Beloved brother of Michael and Irene M. Lucas. Dear uncle of Beatrice Mulcahy and Diane A. Lucas. Funeral from Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, 7447 Amboy Rd. Friday 9:15 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial 10 A.M. at St. Joseph R.C. Church (Rossville). Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery. Friends may visit Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Family Owned & Operated since 1841 www.SiLive.com / obits Published in the Staten Island Advance from 9/14/2005 - 9/15/2005. THOMAS SCACCIA, 81 Native of Sicily married his high school sweetheart Thursday, September 15, 2005 Thomas M. Scaccia Sr., 81, of Tottenville, a World War II veteran who trained and worked as a tailor before becoming a public school custodial engineer, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. Born in Sicily, Italy, he was brought to Park Slope, Brooklyn, as an infant. He graduated from the former Needle Trades High School in Manhattan, where he learned to be a tailor. In 1943, Mr. Scaccia shipped off to the Pacific theater to fight during World War II. A sergeant in the U.S. Army, he was discharged in 1945. Two years later, he married his high school sweetheart, the former Lena D'Arienzo. The couple settled in Brooklyn, and Mr. Scaccia made men's suits for the former Bonwit Teller, a high-end department store, working in both Long Island and Boston. He also made suits on commission for individual clients. In 1972, he switched to a career with fewer hours and more pay -- becoming a custodial engineer for public schools. His last assignment before retiring in 1993 was at PS 50 in Oakwood, where he had worked for about five years. During the late 1970s, the Scaccias moved to Eltingville, desiring a better education for their youngest daughter, Christine, and to be closer to their grandchildren -- the children of their oldest daughter, Toni Lagattuta. In 2000, the couple moved to Tottenville to live with their youngest daughter. I can't put it into words how terrific he was, said his daughter, Christine. He was strong as an ox. He would do anything for anyone. And he always put his family before himself. She added, I couldn't think of a person I'd rather be more like, than him. Mr. Scaccia was a parishioner of Holy Child R.C. Church in Eltingville. A member of a Brooklyn Knights of Columbus council, he had competed in its bowling league for many years. He also was a passionate fan of the New York Jets. In addition to his wife, Lena, and his daughters, Christine and Toni, Mr. Scaccia is survived by his son, Thomas M. Jr.; a brother, John Scaccia, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be tomorrow from the Casey-McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 1 p.m. in Holy Child Church. The arrangements include cremation. MARIE NICKENS, 83 Willowbrook State School aide celebrated her faith Thursday, September 15, 2005 Former Staten Islander Marie (Victoria) Nickens, 83, of Birmingham, Ala., a retired aide, died Saturday in Princeton Hospital, Birmingham. The generous woman with a deep sense of social justice who registered voters during the civil rights era and attended church every Sunday was born Marie Smith in Birmingham. She relocated to Brooklyn in 1942, and also lived in Manhattan before moving to New Brighton 30 years ago. Mrs. Nickens moved to Rosebank five years ago, and returned to the place of her birth in 2002. For more than two decades, she took care of youngsters at the former Willowbrook State School, helping them with all of their daily activities. She retired from the now-shuttered school in the late 1980s. "She was always ready to help other people; she was calm and sweet," said her sister-in-law, Willielee Bozman. Mrs. Nickens was a member of First Central Baptist Church, Stapleton, where she had belonged to the pastor's aides ministry and participated in many different activities. Every Sunday, she donned her finest clothes -- from her hats to her shoes -- and opened her heart to celebrating her faith, said her longtime friend Shirley Scott, who worked with her at Willowbrook. She also went faithfully to Monday-night Bible study at her friend Mavis Spencer's home. "She taught me a lot," said Mrs. Scott. "She was a wonderful, kind person." Mrs. Nickens was preceded in death by her first husband, Odell Nickens. Her second husband, J.C. McDonald, died in 2000. She is survived by her brother, Major Bozman, and several stepchildren. The funeral was scheduled for today from the Bushelon Funeral Home, with a service at 11 a.m. in Warriors of the World Baptist Church, both Birmingham. Burial will be in George Washington Carver Cemetery, also Birmingham. JOHN ANDERSON, 75 Utility supervisor liked gardening, time with family Thursday, September 15, 2005 Former New Dorp resident John Anderson, 75, of Toms River, N.J., a supervisor for Consolidated Edison, died Sept. 7 in Meridian Hospice, Brick, N.J. Born in Queens, he graduated from Bryant High School there. He then lived in New Dorp for about 30 years before relocating to Toms River in 1993. For 39 years, Mr. Anderson worked as a supervisor for Con Edison in Brooklyn. He retired in 1990. Mr. Anderson enjoyed gardening and watching movies and sports on television. His favorite sport was football. Above all, he valued time spent with his family. He was a loving husband and a very devoted father, said his son, John. Mr. Anderson was an active parishioner of St. Luke's R.C. Church, Toms River. In addition to his son, John, surviving are his wife of 56 years, the former Sophie Avvampato; his son, Bruce; his two daughters, Caroline Masco and Jackie Fogarty; a sister, June Tripodi, and 10 grandchildren. The funeral service was held Sept. 9 in the D'Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood, N.J. The arrangements included cremation. G. PAUL CSABY, 67 Security firm owner created model train railroads Thursday, September 15, 2005 G. Paul Csaby, 67, of New Dorp, a retired business owner, died yesterday of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. He had battled the illness for nine months. Born in Rahway, N.J., Mr. Csaby graduated from the former South Side High School in Newark, N.J., and attended the former Newark College of Fine Arts. He settled in New Dorp 46 years ago and moved to his current home 35 years ago. Mr. Csaby served in the U.S. Air Force during the late 1950s, stationed in Texas, North Dakota and the Suffolk County Air Force base on Long Island. For 35 years, he was the owner and president of Guardian Knight Co., a security firm in New Dorp. He retired last year. Described as a "great guy" by his wife, Rosemary, Mr. Csaby sometimes would go on service calls and not charge his elderly clients. Good with his hands, he created model train railroads in his backyard -- complete with mountains, bridges and waterfalls. According to his family, he enjoyed carpentry and remodeling, and redid his entire house by himself through the years. Mr. Csaby also enjoyed using his ham radio and once belonged to the Staten Island Amateur Radio Association. In addition to his wife of 46 years, the former Rosemary Newman, Mr. Csaby is survived by his two sons, Kenneth and Paul; his daughters, Dori Csaby-Demes and Kristen Csaby; two sisters, Margaret Ratshin and Barbara Casby, and four grandchildren. His daughter, Lisa Marie Cordero, died in 2003. The funeral service will be tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp. Cremation will be in Rosehill Crematory, Linden, N.J. GAETANO MANGANO, 87 WW II veteran was active in the Democratic Party Thursday, September 15, 2005 It can truly be said that Gaetano Vincent Mangano delivered -- for the government, as a 39-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service; for his country, as a Navy Seabee in World War II; for his co-workers, as a respected union leader; for his fellow Staten Islanders, as an extremely active member of the community; and as a husband and father, as the cornerstone of his Eltingville family. The 87-year-old died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, where he had been a patient for three weeks. Born in Brooklyn in 1918, Mr. Mangano defined his life by service to others -- most notably as a former national vice president of the American Postal Workers Union and as an Island activist, including several years as a member of Community Board 3. He was the type of person who was very positive, and he had a very uplifting spirit, said his daughter, Rosemarie Mangano-Cavanagh. He was driven to help others. After attending St. Augustine High School in Brooklyn, Mr. Mangano was employed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal program. Later that year, he began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a special-delivery messenger. In 1940, he married Mary Sparta, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 after the first of his two children was born. Mr. Mangano served with the Navy Seabees until 1946, earning the rank of petty officer third class, with his duties involving mail delivery. He saw action in the South Pacific and the Philippines, and was awarded several medals, including some from the Philippine government. When he got home, he was so happy that he gave away all of his medals and his uniform, said Mrs. Mangano-Cavanagh. He also had a renowned stamp and coin collection that he ended up giving to his nieces and nephews. He was a very generous, loving and giving person. VP OF POSTAL UNION Upon his return from military service, Mr. Mangano continued his postal career and eventually became national vice president of the American Postal Workers Union. In 1967, he was president of the cafeteria fund for the postal service, and stayed involved with the fund until his retirement in 1975. Mr. Mangano also was a driving force behind the inception of the employees' wellness fund in 1968, serving as president. He was also a president of Local 62, Special Delivery Messengers of the American Postal Workers Union; served as an arbitrator for the employees' union, and was president of the city Civil Service Retirement Employees Association. He was a captain of the Gallon Club of the Brooklyn Post Office Blood Bank. In 1960, in addition to working for the U.S. Postal Service, Mr. Mangano purchased W.G.L. Service Parcel Pick Up, a Brooklyn-based delivery business that he owned and operated for 15 years. A cousin of the late James V. Mangano, former sheriff and chief administrator for the state Supreme Court, Mr. Mangano's own community and political involvement began in 1942, when he was appointed a poll watcher in Brooklyn by the Democratic Party. In 1963, he was installed as president of the Columbian Association, also Brooklyn. POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT He continued his community and political involvement when he moved to Eltingville in 1974, becoming a member of the Borough Board in Sea View for about five years, and later as a member of Community Board 3 for several years. He also served as vice president of the South Shore Democratic Club, and was active in supporting Island Democratic candidates. My father loved politics, and he inspired me, said Mrs. Mangano-Cavanagh, who ran for office three times. Even though I didn't win, I gained a lot from those experiences. Mr. Mangano was president of the Memphis Avenue Association in Eltingville, and formed the Residents of Memphis Avenue Civic group. He also served as board member of the South Shore Social Club and the Great Kills Friendship Club. Diane Carducci, who served with Mr. Mangano for almost a decade on the Health Systems Agency -- a volunteer organization founded to provide health care services to people throughout the city -- praised her former co-worker. He spent endless hours trying to assure people, regardless of their economic class, that they would receive health care services, said Ms. Carducci, former chairwoman of the project review committee of Health Systems Agency and currently the director of early childhood for the South Shore YMCA, Eltingville. He was a very kind man with a good sense of humor. He tried to get the best out of people. His influence stretched even to Long Island. From about 1950 to 1975, Mr. Mangano owned a summer home in Riverhead, where he became a board member and, in 1964, president of that community's Peconic Lake Estate Civic Association. RELIGIOUS MAN A past member of the Holy Name Society, Mr. Mangano was a parishioner of Holy Child R.C. Church, Eltingville. My father was a very religious man. He always said the prayers at dinnertime, said Mrs. Mangano-Cavanagh. Mr. Mangano demonstrated an artistic flair, too. He attended Leonardo da Vinci Painting School of Fine Arts as a youngster in Brooklyn, and enjoyed painting in oils. He collected art and was a self-taught piano player. He enjoyed gardening and was a longtime New York Mets fan, forever cherishing the memory of a 1968 meeting with then-manager Gil Hodges, captured in a photo that the family treasures. My father was our guiding light, but he got so much enjoyment out of helping other people, said Mrs. Mangano-Cavanagh. In addition to his daughter, Rosemarie, and his wife of 65 years, Mary, Mr. Mangano is survived by his daughter, Lucille Fekete; a sister, Mary Rota; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The funeral will be Saturday from the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Eltingville, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Holy Child Church. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains. ESTHER RODI, 89 West Brighton native loved cooking for her family Thursday, September 15, 2005 Native Staten Islander Esther Rodi of New Port Richey, Fla., a homemaker, died Friday in Community Hospital, New Port Richey. She was 89. An avid cook, she spent as much time as she could with her family. According to her granddaughter, Esther LaGanga, Mrs. Rodi's specialties were lasagna, zeppoles and Italian cheesecake -- which she prepared from scratch. "She'd get up at 4 a.m. to make her cheesecake dough," Ms. LaGanga said. "She made the cheesecake on special holidays." Ms. LaGanga said her grandmother's life "exemplified the true meaning of the word 'mother.' She always put her family before herself." Born Esther Gagliardi in West Brighton, Mrs. Rodi settled in New Port Richey during the 1980s. While living on Staten Island, she was a parishioner of St. Roch's R.C. Church, Port Richmond. After moving to New Port Richey, Mrs. Rodi became a member of an Italian-American Club. In addition to her granddaughter, surviving are her husband of 67 years, Joseph A. Sr.; her two sons, Joseph A. Jr. and John; a sister, Rose Sajkowski; eight more grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Rodi's daughter, Barbara P. LaGanga, died in a hit-and-run accident in 1996. The funeral will be Saturday from the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament R. C. Church, West Brighton. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, also West Brighton. BARTON HOLMES, 87 Spent 36 years at sea with U.S. Merchant Marine Thursday, September 15, 2005 Barton M. Holmes, a lifelong Staten Islander, retired master mariner and World War II veteran, died of heart failure yesterday at his home in Grasmere. He was 87. Though the native Islander grew up in St. George and later settled in Grasmere, he spent much of his life at sea. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine as an able-bodied seaman. During World War II, he helped convoy supplies to Europe and survived three torpedo attacks, according to his family. When the merchant mariner retired after 36 years of service, he had attained the rank of captain. "He saw much of the world through his travels, and appreciated all he saw," said Mr. Holmes' wife of 54 years, the former Norma Brankamp. Mr. Holmes also enjoyed traveling on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and throughout Europe with his wife -- he had visited every country in Europe except Greece and Malta. The sea was his passion. He decorated his home with drawings and paintings of lighthouses and ocean scenes; he named his cocker spaniel, Binnacle, after the mounting of a ship's compass; he loved to read books on naval history and built models of warships in a workshop at his home. "He was rated a master modeler and received many trophies and plaques in recognition of his work," said Mrs. Holmes. Mr. Holmes also loved to research the ships he was building, and donated several of his models to the John Noble Maritime Museum at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston. Mr. Holmes "loved his country and our flag," said Mrs. Holmes. He also loved oompah bands. He was a member of an Island American Legion post and the Old Town Civic Association, and he attended services at New Dorp Baptist Church. The funeral service will be tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp. The Rev. John G. Gueli, pastor of New Dorp Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, also New Dorp. ANNA SIMONSON, 85 Senior county clerk worked at Advance for 3 years Thursday, September 15, 2005 Anna Simonson, a former Dongan Hills resident who worked for the Richmond County Clerk's office, died Tuesday in Atria, a senior living center in Cranford, N.J. She was 85. Born Anna Hull in Manhattan, she grew up on the Lower East Side and moved to Dongan Hills in 1955. Mrs. Simonson was employed by the Staten Island Advance for three years -- working as a typist in the accounting department -- before going to work in the Richmond County Clerk's Office. She was a senior county clerk from 1971 until her retirement in 1985. A parishioner of St. Ann's R.C. Church in Dongan Hills, Mrs. Simonson was a member of its Rosary Society. She also belonged to the Staten Island Grandmothers Club, the Arrochar Friendship Club and St. Margaret Mary's Church Senior Club in Midland Beach. Mrs. Simonson enjoyed playing cards, arts and crafts projects, crocheting and volunteer work. For 15 years, she volunteered in the gift shop at St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton, as well Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Egbertville. She enjoyed volunteering, said her daughter, Rita Kuhn. She will be missed by her grandchildren, Alexander, Stefanie and Taylor. Mrs. Simonson's first husband of 25 years, Richard Feit, died in 1974. Her second husband, Walter Simonson -- they were married for 18 years -- died in 1998. Her son, Robert Feit, died in 1999. The funeral will be Saturday from the Richmond Funeral Home, Grant City, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Ann's Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.