Obituaries for the Week of 10/17

Richard Franek

Richard R. Franek, of Ridge, died Sunday, Oct. 6. He was 78.

Franek was born Jan. 12, 1941, in Jamaica, Queens. He is the son of the late Rudolph and the late Olga (Siomkalo) Franek. He was a proud Navy veteran and served from 1960 to 1964. He was employed by General Electric in Melville as a parts supplier. 

He is survived by his beloved wife, Helen (Klodt) Franek, and two loving sons, William (Stephanie) Franek of Yaphank and Robert Franek of Ridge. He had one dear sister, Carolyn Volonino of Florida, and was the grandfather of one cherished granddaughter, Allison Franek.  

Celebration of the Mass of Christian burial was held Friday, Oct. 11, at St. Mark’s R.C. Church in Shoreham. A burial with military honors followed at Calverton National Cemetery. 

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.   

Patricia McKee

Patricia J. McKee, of Huntington, died Thursday, Sept. 12. She was 100.

She was born March 17, 1919, in Brooklyn and was the daughter of the late James and the late Helen (Corry) Killorin. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert McKee. 

She is survived by eight loving children, Deborah Kletter of Riverdale, Tricia Grant of Port Jefferson Station, Kathleen Miracola of Wading River, Virginia Meriam of Garden City, Faith Eccles of Port Jefferson Station, Robert McKee of Lindenhurst, Gregory McKee of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, and Thomas McKee of Huntington. 

She was the dear sister of Vera Gagliardi of Long Beach. She also had 14 cherished grandchildren and 17 cherished great-grandchildren. 

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Sept. 16 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church, in Rocky Point. Burial followed at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.  

Eleanor Weresnick

Eleanor G. Weresnick, of Shoreham, died Sept. 2. She was 83.

She was born Oct. 25, 1935, in Brooklyn and was the daughter of the late John and the late Edith (Grotheer) Buschmann. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Weresnick, in 2003.  

She was employed by Shoreham-Wading River Central School District as a registered nurse.  

She is survived by two loving sons, William (Debbie) Weresnick of Rocky Point and Greg (Laurel) Weresnick of Ridge. She also had four cherished grandchildren: Erin, Shelley, Kelly and Colleen.  

Religious services were held Sept. 7 at the Rocky Point Funeral Home in Rocky Point. Burial followed at Washington Memorial Park in Mount Sinai.

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.   

The family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://stjude.org/donate. 

Jo Ann Brooks

Jo Ann K. Brooks, of Rocky Point and formerly of Miller Place, died Sept. 27. She was 81.

She was born Dec. 20, 1937, in Bay Shore, the daughter of the late Thomas F. and the late Elizabeth (Murdock) Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel H. Brooks, in 2005. 

She had been the owner of Keepsake Dolls & Gifts in Miller Place. 

She is survived by two daughters, Debbie Coto of Rocky Point and Robin Martinez of Miller Place; her two sons, Brian Brooks of Cutchogue and Daniel Brooks of Rocky Point; one sister, Dolly Sabiston of Florida, and one brother, Frank Thomas of Florida. She also had seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 

Prayers were offered Sept. 30 at the Rocky Point Funeral Home in Rocky Point. Burial followed at Calverton National Cemetery Oct. 1, with family and friends gathering back at the funeral home for a closing prayer. 

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.  

Grace M. Pellegrino

Grace M. Pellegrino, of Stony Brook, formerly of Floral Park, died Sept. 2. She was 91. 

She was the daughter of William and Grace Mathers. Beloved wife of the late Robert. She is survived by her four children, Debra (Anthony) Castineiras, Robert (Lorraine) Pellegrino Jr., Thomas (Jennifer) Pellegrino and Donna Cubicciotti; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the St. James Funeral Home in St. James Sept. 4 and burial followed at Calverton National Cemetery.

Elizabeth “Bette” Cohen Goldberg

Elizabeth “Bette” Cohen Goldberg, 86, died of complications from cancer Oct. 9 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. 

A woman of remarkable grace, charm and wit, boundless energy and exceptional taste, Bette impressed everyone she met with her extraordinary warmth and kindness.  

Born and raised in Chicago, Bette was a 1954 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Michigan. She met Homer Goldberg, her late husband of 61 years, on a blind date. They were married in 1956, then spent a year immersed in the art and culture of Italy. In 1961, they moved to Setauket where they lived for 50 years. 

A lifelong lover of the arts with an impeccable sense of style, Bette served from 1976 to 1992 as director of Gallery North and later as president of its board of trustees. First opened in Setauket in 1965, the gallery displays and supports the work of local and nationally recognized artists working in all media. As director, Bette nurtured new and established artists, curated exhibitions, ran its popular annual Outdoor Art Show and led fundraising efforts. She was treasured by artists and patrons alike, and in 1986 she was named The Village Times Woman of the Year in the Arts.

After Bette and Homer moved to Minneapolis in 2010, she became an active member of the Loring Green East condominiums community, organizing a book club, an annual art show, exercise classes and serving on the design and social committees. A regular concert, theater and moviegoer, she remained dedicated to the arts, recently serving as a volunteer for the Minneapolis Institute of Art. 

Bette was also a gourmet cook, an impossibly fast walker and a master of the art of the consumer complaint letter. She never tired of food and wine with family and friends, travel and literature. “Cutes,” as her grandchildren called her, was beloved by all those who had the good fortune to know her.

Bette is survived by her daughter Emily and partner Chris; her son John and wife Julie; her four grandsons Alex, Matt, Zach and Ben; her sister-in-law Lois, and her nieces and nephews Phil, Barbara, Terry and Beverly. 

A memorial celebration is being planned for Sunday, Nov. 10. Contributions in Bette’s memory may be made to Planned Parenthood, the Minneapolis Institute of Art or The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Alvera G. Scudieri 

Alvera Scudieri (née Lafantano) of East Northport died on Oct. 8 at the age of 89. She was the former deputy treasurer of the Village of Northport. She was the beloved wife of the late Pasquale, loving mother of Michael and Patrick (Donna), cherished grandmother of Nicholas (Kate) and Christopher and adored great-grandmother of Kieran and Brandon. Reposing was held at Nolan Funeral Home in Northport Oct. 10 and 11. Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 12 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, E. Northport. Interment followed at St. Patrick Cemetery, Huntington. Donations to St. Jude Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) in her memory are appreciated. 

Jacqueline Moisan 

Jacqueline Moisan of Northport died on Sept. 27 at 92 years of age. She was the beloved mother of Leon (Patricia), Michael (Janice), the late Zachary and the late David Moisan; cherished grandmother of David (Catherine Lamb), Robert, Matthew, Jonathan Moisan, Jared Moisan, Christina Moisan and Jennifer Gallace (Michael); and loving great-grandmother of Isabella, Gabriella and Tony Gallace. Visitation was held Oct. 3 at Nolan Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 4 at St. Patrick’s Church, Huntington. Burial followed in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. 

Mary U. Dawkins 

Mary U. Dawkins of Northport died on Sept. 28 at 82 years of age. She was the adored wife to Bertram; devoted mother to Bonnie (Kristin Harper) Dawkins, Peter (Catherine) Dawkins and Nancy (Robert) Pisani; cherished grandmother to Claire and Colleen Dawkins and Jordan and Spencer Pisani; and loving sister to James Bonney. Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 2 at St. Philip Neri Church, Northport. Interment followed at parish cemetery. Donations in Mary’s memory to Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice 505 Main St. Northport, NY 11768, would be appreciated. www.visitingnurseservice.org/. 

John J. Proscia

John J. Proscia of Northport died on Sept. 30. John retired as a mechanical engineer with Grumman Aerospace after 40 years. He was the beloved husband of JoAnn; cherished father of David (Dayna Hanson) Proscia and Douglas (Maria) Proscia; dear brother of Lucille (Louis) Gallina and nephew of Alfred Pennacchia; and devoted uncle of Joanne (Gary) Silko, Frank (Nancy) Gallina, Paul (Maria) Gallina, Laura (Edward) Biosca, James (Carol) Chmielewski, Brian Chmielewski, Andrew (Vanessa) Chmielewski, Christine (Frank) Scarfuto and Lauren (Rick) Picozzi. He was also survived by many loving cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews. Visitation was held Oct. 4 at Nolan Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 5 at St. Philip Neri Church. Private cremation followed. Donations in his memory to V.N.S. Hospice of Suffolk (www.visitingnurseservice.org), 505 Main St., Northport, NY 11768 are appreciated.