U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Maria Joanides
Manorville resident Maria Joanides died July 24, 2004 at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead. She was 78.
Ms. Joanides was born in the Ukraine on March 26, 1926, to Aleksander and Duna (Pytkow) Bosko. According to family members, she emigrated to America in 1951 to escape the post-war chaos of Europe. She initally moved to Middle Island and permanently settled in Riverhead in 1954.
Ms. Joanides worked for many years as an assembly worker for Hazeltine, the former defense contractor.
Ms. Joanides' son Frank said she had many hobbies, including fishing, baking, knitting and gardening. She also was a longtime member of a bowling league.
In addition to her son Frank, of Riverhead, Ms. Joanides is survived by sons Bill and Roman, both also of Riverhead, and son Edmund, of Martinsburg, W.Va.; a daughter, Irene Schumpf of Riverhead; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ms. Joanides was predeceased by her husband, Frank, on May 25 of this year.
Visitation was July 26 at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home in Riverhead. Funeral services were July 27 at St. John's R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery.
Ann Palermo
Ann Palermo, a 73-year-old resident of Riverhead, died at her home on Saturday, July 24, 2004. Liver cancer was the cause of death.
Ms. Palermo was born in Brooklyn on May 4, 1931, the daughter of Anthony and Carmela (Fasano) Giannone.
She and her husband, Joseph, who died in 1993, lived in Ozone Park, Queens, from 1963 to 1976, and then in West Hempstead until 1993, when they moved to Riverhead.
According to surviving family members, she enjoyed bowling and served on the board of directors of the Glenwood Recreation Club.
Ms. Palermo is survived by two sons, Joseph, of Jamesport, and Michael, of Southampton, and four grandchildren.
Visiting was Tuesday at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home of Riverhead. The funeral was Wednesday at St. Isidore's R.C. Church in Riverhead. Father Kenneth Zach presided.
Burial followed at Calverton National Cemetery.
Raymond V. Bonczyk Sr.
Lifelong Riverhead resident Raymond V. Bonczyk Sr. died on Dec. 16, 2002 at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead. He was 82.
Mr. Bonczyk was born in Riverhead on May 15, 1920, to Vincent and Frances (McKay) Bonczyk. He was a longtime district manager for H.C. Bohack & Co., representing the East End. He began as manager of the Riverhead Bohack on Main Street.
He was raised in Polish Town across from the Riverhead Polish Independent Club, where as a schoolboy he set pins in the bowling alley and was one of the original "Polish Town Terrors." While attending Riverhead High School he participated in many sports, including pole vault and track.
Mr. Bonczyk was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1946 and received numerous medals for his service in the Pacific. He married Anna Kulesa on Aug. 31, 1941, at St. Isidore's R.C. Church. After his retirement he worked on the Chicanowicz farm on Northville Turnpike and with his wife sold cauliflower and other produce. He also enjoyed working with his wife on yard sales and at the annual Polish Town Fair.
An avid baseball fan, he attended many New York Giants games prior to the team's departure. As a diehard Yankee fan he witnessed Roger Maris's record 61st home run on the last day of the 1961 season. His family described him as kind to everyone he encountered.
Mr. Bonczyk leaves his children, Judith Wurtz of Cutchogue, Raymond Jr. and Timothy, both of Naples, Fla., as well as three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife in 1996 and a son, Kenneth, in 1971.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Dec. 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home in Riverhead. The Celebration of the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. at St. Isidore's R.C. Church. Burial with military honors will follow at St. John's Cemetery.
Reginald F. Nelsen
Reginald F. Nelsen of Riverhead died on Dec. 9, 2002 at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead. He was 82.
He was born on June 11, 1920, in New York City to Nels and Christine (Johnson) Nelsen. He was a retired computer programmer for Holmes Insurance Company in New York City. During World War II he served in the Army with the 521st Combat Engineers Company in the Pacific. He also was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Riverhead. According to one of Mr. Nelsen's nieces, Anita Moffatt: "He was a great guy. He always had a kind word for everyone and was an optimist who looked at the sunny side of life. He always left people smiling and was loyal to his family."
In addition to Ms. Moffatt, many other nieces and nephews survive.
A funeral service was held on Dec. 16 at Calverton National Cemetery, where Mr. Nelsen was buried with military honors. Arrangements were handled by F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home of Riverhead.
Vincent 'Hap' Hoeffling
Vincent "Hap" Hoeffling died on Dec. 10, 2002 at Veterans Home at Stony Brook. He was 85.
He was born on May 29, 1917, in New York City to Harold and Matilda Hoeffling and was a retired truck driver with Shell Oil Co. During World War II he served in the Army Air Force.
He is survived by his children Gary, of Flanders, Jackie McKay of Riverhead and Kathy Avidani and Jimmy, both of Southold. He also leaves 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by daughters Carol Berry and Rosanne Batiato.
Visiting hours were held on Dec. 12 at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home in Riverhead, where a funeral service was held on Dec. 13. Burial was at Calverton National Cemetery.
Robert J. Fleming
Robert J. Fleming of Jamesport died at home on Dec. 14, 2002. He was 69 years old.
He was born in Passaic, N.J., on Nov. 28, 1933, to Joseph and Helen (Milewski) Fleming. He was a retired foreman for Suffolk County Department of Public Works and a former member of the Jamesport Fire Department.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor; son, William, of Aquebogue; daughter, Suzanne, of Manhattan; four siblings, Carol Terry of Peconic, Patricia Fortier of North Carolina, Carolyn Mayden of California and Stephen Guyer of Center Moriches; and one grandson. A sister, Maryann Amato, predeceased him.
Visiting hours were Dec. 17 at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home in Riverhead. The funeral service was held Dec. 18 at St. Isidore's R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment followed at St. John's Cemetery, Riverhead.
Memorial donations may be sent to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.
Linda J. Liggan
Lifelong Riverhead resident Linda J. Liggan died at home on Dec. 14, 2002 of cancer. She was 49.
She was born in Riverhead to William and Anne (Woodson) Smith on Feb. 5, 1953. She worked as a private duty home health attendant and was employed for 15 years at San Simeon by the Sound nursing home in Greenport, where she was a shop steward for Local 1115. She was a member of the Eastern Star of Riverhead and belonged to First Baptist Church of Riverhead.
According to a family statement: "Linda loved the Lord. She accepted His will and even in her darkest hour, she graciously thanked Him for His love and goodness to her. We will always fondly remember Linda for her beautiful, megawatt smile, her zest for life, her unwavering strength and her passionate love of family friends and good times. She had such a capacity to love unconditionally and to listen and she was everyone's best friend."
Ms. Liggan is survived by her husband, Lawrence; two daughters, Eboni Marshall of Calverton and Courtnee Liggan of Riverhead; a brother, William Smith Jr. of Central Islip; eight sisters, Dorothy Tillman of Pound Ridge, N.Y., Mary Robinson, Betty Smith, Carol Williams and Lenora Smith, all of Riverhead, Shirley Lamar of Salem, N.J., Donna Brown of Baltimore, Md., and Marlene Smith of Yonkers. Two grandchildren also survive, as well as her stepmother, Anna Smith of East Patchogue, and eight step-siblings. Her parents and two brothers, Edward and Jerome Smith, predeceased her.
Visiting hours were Dec. 16 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. The funeral service was held Dec. 17 at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, with the Rev. Charles A. Coverdale officiating. Interment followed at Riverhead Cemetery.
