John H. Achilich died peacefully at his Baiting Hollow home Feb. 9. He was 94.

John was born in Riverdale, Bronx, in 1919. He attended Pratt Institute and earned a degree in engineering. John had been employed at the Naval Training Devices Center in Port Washington and Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage. He held several engineering patents including the design of the original aluminum Grumman canoe.

John and his wife, Catherine Reeve, resided in Bethpage, where they raised their two sons. The Achilich family also had a second home in Baiting Hollow, adjacent to Baiting Hollow Scout Camp. An Eagle Scout, John was very active in the Boy Scouts of America throughout his life.

Predeceased by his wife in 1992, John is survived by his son Ken, his wife, Mary, and their son, Jason, and his son Steve, his wife, Jan, and their sons, Pearson and Drew.

Arrangements were handled by Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead.

Memorial donations in Mr. Achilich’s name may be sent to Suffolk County Council Inc., Attn: Camp Baiting Hollow, 7 Scouting Blvd., Medford, NY 11763.

This is a paid notice.

Ronald J. Ekster of New Suffolk died at his home Feb. 10, 2014. He was 61.

He was born July 30, 1952, in Greenport to Frank Arthur and Mary Magdaline (Sawicki) Ekster. Raised in New Suffolk, he attended Sacred Heart School and Southold High School and then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975.

For 25 years, he was employed as an auto mechanic at Otis Ford in Quogue.
In his spare time, he enjoyed boating and tinkering.

Surviving are his wife, Diane (née Hardison; his children, Joseph Ekster of Laurel, Sara Raynor of South Jamesport and David Raynor IV of Port Jefferson; his mother, Mary, of New Suffolk; and his sister, Diane Surozenski, and brother, Larry, both of Cutchogue.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 13, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment, with U.S. Air Force honors, will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations to East End Hospice would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Louis A. Darin died Feb. 5, 2014, at his Mattituck home. He was 92.

Born in Litchfield, Conn., Dec. 28, 1921, to Pio and Teresa (Ballarin) Darin, he was a proud World War II Navy veteran who served honorably in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.

Formerly of Whitestone, he had been a service installer for Con Edison.

Mr. Darin is survived by his wife of 68 years, Gloria (née Moss); his children, Robert and Gloria; a grandson, Gabe (Teresa); and his great-grandchildren, Anthony, Alyssandra and Robert.

The family received visitors Feb. 9 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where wake prayers were conducted by Deacon Jeff Sykes. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 10 at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment, with U.S. Navy honors, took place at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations to East End Hospice or Mattituck Fire Department would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Former Cutchogue resident John N. Fabian of Riverhead died Feb. 9 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 75.

He was born Feb. 19, 1938, in Manhattan to Nicholas and Margaret Fabian. He served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer from 1956 to 1959. On May 6, 1961, he married Joan Goyda in Astoria, Queens.

He worked for 35 years at General Motors, where he was a manager. He was a past president of Stoneleigh Woods Homeowners Association and was a current deputy grand knight and past grand knight with Knights of Columbus Marian Council in Cutchogue. Family members said he loved American history, traveling and fishing.

Mr. Fabian is survived by his wife, of Riverhead; his sons, John, of Glen Head, and George, of Lindenhurst; and one grandchild.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Wednesday, Feb. 12, at noon at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church, followed by interment at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Peconic Bay Palliative Care or St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church.

Henry P. Smith of Southold, known to many as “Peconic Henry,” died Feb. 9, 2014. He was 73.

He was born in Greenport, June 17, 1940, to Henry J. and Stella (Orlowski) Smith.

A past owner of Henry J. Smith & Son Plumbing & Heating in Southold, he had been a member and former president of the Southold Town Trustees, a past president of the Kiwanis Club, a 50-plus-year member of Southold Fire Department and a member of the Mattituck Gun and Chinese Yacht clubs. He was also a sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and found great enjoyment in hunting, boating and fishing.

Surviving are his wife Vera (“Eleanor,” née Schelin); his son, Henry P. Smith Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Michelle Smith; grandchildren Sarah Smith, Shannon Smith, Samantha Berry and Brittany Berry; a great-grandson, Bennett; his aunt, Jessie Verostek; and beautiful sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and many friends.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 4 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where firematic services will take place at 7:30 p.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations made to Southold Fire Department, Ducks Unlimited, Eastern Long Island Hospital or San Simeon by the Sound would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Florence M. Golden of Riverhead died Feb. 11 at Riverhead Care Center. She was 91.

She was born Feb. 3, 1923, in Freeport to Paul and Mary McMichael. Family members said she was a homemaker who enjoyed sewing.

Predeceased by her husband, Charles, in 2003, Ms. Golden is survived by her daughter, Judith Lewis of Riverhead; her sons, Richard, of Centerport, and Jay, of Minnesota; her brother, Thomas McMichael of Hicksville; two grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandaughter.

Arrangements for private cremation were handled by McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead.

David I. DeFriest, a 74-year resident of Southold, passed away in Flagler Beach, Fla., Feb. 6, 2014. He was 97.

He was born Sept. 1, 1916, in Riverhead, the son of Irad B. and Elizabeth Glover DeFriest. He attended Riverhead and Bay Shore schools and prep school at Northfield Mount Hermon in Gill, Mass. He attended Renouard School for Funeral Service in New York City and acquired his funeral director’s license.

Mr. DeFriest established DeFriest Funeral Home in a rented house — where Agway is currently located — in Southold in 1940. In 1941 he acquired the home on Main Road where the funeral home has been located for the past 73 years. In later years, he established locations in Cutchogue, Mattituck and Shelter Island. Mr. DeFriest also owned and operated DeFriest Ambulance Service from 1950 to 1980. He also ran a flower shop and greenhouse behind the Southold funeral home managed by the late Bill Rusch during the 1950s and 1960s.

Mr. DeFriest was a past president of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and a past member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association. He was the last active charter member of the Southold Rotary Club, a 50-year member of Southold Fire Department, a 50-year member of Peconic Lodge 349 Free and Accepted Masons, a longtime member of the Chinese Yacht Club and a past member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was also president of Willow Hill Cemetery Association.

His personal interests included family gatherings, boating, community affairs, spending winters in Florida and small-game hunting. He was also interested in NASCAR stock car racing, and owned several stock cars over the years that competed at Riverhead Raceway.

Mr. DeFriest was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marguerite Albertson DeFriest, in 1998. He is survived by his longtime companion, Norma Miller; his children, Shirley (Paul) Danowski of Riverhead and David E. (Vickie) DeFriest of Southold; six grandchildren, Darlene Grattan (Tom) Ferris, Diana (Luke) Curry, Kelly (Scott) Tocci, Steven DeFriest, Renee (Michael) Harvey and Garrett DeFriest; three step-grandchildren, Jared (Jeanette) Born, Vivian (Bradley) Gardner and Bradford (Sabrina) Born; nine great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four nieces, Elizabeth Leahy, Margery Connor, Linda Ehrlich and Mary Hoch; and one nephew, Robert DeFriest. He was predeceased by his brother, Irad Robert DeFriest, and a sister, Thelma DeFriest Pfutzner.

The family received visitors Feb. 10 and 11 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m., the Rev. Dr. Peter Kelley officiating. Interment will follow at Southold Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorial donations to the Southold Rotary Club, Southold Fire Department or a charity of the donor’s choosing would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Frank R. Trentacoste of Aquebogue died Feb. 15, 2014, at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 22.

He was born Oct. 15, 1991, in Mineola to Russell and Antonia Trentacoste. Frank attended Riverhead High School, where he was involved in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and worked on the Labyrinth, the high school’s literary magazine. He graduated from high school in 2010 and Suffolk County Community College in 2012.

Family members said Frank loved the armed services and police agencies and recently applied to join one of these agencies. Most recently, he was employed as a manager at Oakley at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, where family said he was proud of his job. Frank also enjoyed music, photography, longboarding, surfing and spending time with his family.

In addition to his parents, Frank is survived by his brothers, Michael (Eileen), of Lindenhurst, and Philip, of Aquebogue, and his grandparents Vincenzo and Teresa Mele of Elmont. He was predeceased by his grandparents Michael and Anne Trentacoste.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Feb. 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Cremation will be private.

Donations in Frank’s memory may be made to Francesco Russell Trentacoste Memorial Scholarship in Music, care of Michael Trentacoste, 121 43rd St., Lindenhurst, NY 11757.

This is a paid notice.

Michael J. Orlando of Riverhead died Feb. 14 at Riverhead Care Center. He was 88.

He was born Sept. 24, 1925, in Boston, Mass., to Thomas and Lucy (Puzzo) Orlando. Mr. Orlando served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a photographer’s mate, 1st class. He had been employed as a certified public accountant for Pannell, Kerr and Forster.

Mr. Orlando is survived by his wife, Marion (née Hughes), of Riverhead; his daughter, Susan Menna of Rockville Centre, and his son, Thomas, of New Jersey; his sister, Maria Mauro of Nevada; and two grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place Thursday, Feb. 20, at 9:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, Father Larry Duncklee officiating. Cremation will be private. Interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead.

Mary Catherine Clark, a 66-year resident of Southold, passed away Feb. 10 at Stony Brook University Hospital. She was 91.

If a life is judged to be successful by the love that surrounds one, then Cathy’s was a shining light.

Mary Catherine Chace was born in Sturbridge, Mass., Oct. 31, 1922, to Anna and Percy Chace. She graduated in 1939 from Mary E. Wells High School in Southbridge, Mass. Cathy was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in 1943 of New Jersey College for Women in New Brunswick and later did post-graduate studies at C.W. Post College in New York.

A career teacher with a love of learning, Cathy had her first teaching job in a small school in Weare, N.H., followed by a position at Woodstock Academy, in Woodstock, Conn. She then taught English and French to a multitude of children — sometimes two generations from the same family — at Southold School from 1948 to 1977. For a portion of her career at Southold School, Cathy also worked as the librarian.

Cathy was happiest with her hands in a garden or her nose in a book. She enjoyed knitting and loved shell collecting along the beaches of Florida where she, with her husband, spent many retirement winters.

From 1958, Cathy was very active in Southold United Methodist Church, where for many years she was secretary of the United Methodist Women’s organization, and she spent hundreds of hours volunteering in the church thrift shop.

Cathy is survived by her husband, Lloyd Hubbard Clark, of Southold. They were married for 64 years. Other living relatives are her three sons, Richard L., of East Marion, Robert C. (wife Darice), of Greenport, and Roger H. (wife Colleen), of Southold, and her daughter, Ann E. Martin (husband Billy) of Bonn, Germany. Her grandchildren are G. Gregory Heuschele (wife Jessica) of Gales Ferry, Conn., Michael L. Heuschele of Cutchogue, Kelly A. Utz (husband Mark) of Cape Coral, Fla., Erin E. Clark of Groton, Conn., and Abbey L. Clark of Boston, Mass.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 23, at 11:30 a.m. at Southold United Methodist Church. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, 55135 Route 25, Southold, NY 11971. Internment will be private.

Funeral arrangements were handled by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.

Edward Thomas Berkoski of Mattituck passed away Feb. 12, 2014, at his home. He was 98.

Edward was born Nov. 12, 1915, in Peconic to Antone and Josephine (Deerkoski) Berkoski. He attended Braniff Airlines School of Mechanics in Dallas, Texas, in the late 1930s and graduated from Faust Aircraft Sheetmetal Training School in Jericho in 1940. He was employed by EDO Aircraft Corporation in College Point until 1943 and then returned to the North Fork to co-manage his family’s farm.

An owner/grower, wholesaler, distributor and general manager, his calling and career was farming, which he pursued well into his 80s.

Edward is survived by his sister, Theresa (Mitchell Wilcenski); his daughters, Diane (Thomas Sparks) and Susan; his son Antone (Geraldine Brush); and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings Mary, Stanley, Helen and Sophie and his wife, Tess (née Pisarewicz).

A funeral Mass was held Feb. 17 at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue, the Rev. Stanislaw Wadowski officiating. Burial took place at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mattituck or Cutchogue fire department rescue squads.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.

Former Aquebogue resident Dolores Podlas Corwin of Riverhead died Feb. 18 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson. She was 87.

She was born Jan. 9, 1927, in Harrison, N.J., to Frank and Florence Podlas and graduated from Riverhead High School in 1944. Family members said she was a homemaker, a member of St. Isidore Altar Rosary Society, Jamesport Homemakers and Jamesport Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

Ms. Corwin is survived by her children, Deborah, Florence and Philip (Dianne), all of Florida, Timothy (Cathy), of Riverhead, and Leslie H. III (Victoria), of Water Mill; her brother, Paul Podlas of Riverhead; and her grandchildren, Adam, Timothy, Ashley, Melissa, Jonathan and Sarah.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Isidore Altar Rosary Society.

This is a paid notice.

Riverhead resident Richard W. Jurgensen, formerly of New York City and Hicksville, died Feb. 13 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 70.

He was born in New York City Aug. 5, 1943, to Joseph and Ethel Jurgensen. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany from 1965 to 1967, during Vietnam. He retired from Teamsters Local 814 after serving for 45 years.

Mr. Jurgensen is survived by his wife, Joyce (née Thorburn), of Riverhead; his sons, Paul and Peter; his daughter, Elizabeth Comito; six grandchildren; his siblings, Judy Blanks, Joseph and Kenneth; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements were handled by McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Cremation was private. Interment took place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Richard G. (Dick) Reilly of Founders Village in Southold died at his home Feb. 17, 2014. He was 90.

Dick was born Oct. 10, 1923, in New York to Philip and Elizabeth (O’Neill) Reilly and later attended Chaminade High School and Columbia University. 

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force in Hawaii and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Following his service to his country, Dick married Patricia Ann O’Connor in 1947. He then began his career as a salesman in the printing industry.

Formerly of Cold Spring Harbor and Peconic, Dick had been a North Fork resident for the past 30 years. He was a member of the Lions Club.

Predeceased by his wife, Patricia, he leaves five children, Pamela Schider of Southold and Cold Spring Harbor, Priscilla Reilly of Southold, Richard G. Reilly Jr. of Alexander, N.C., Christopher Reilly of Mattituck and Jonathan Reilly of Huntington; two daughters-in-law, Pam and Anna; and nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by two brothers, Chester and William.

In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.

Former Southold resident Mildred Rakowicz of Brevard, N.C., known as Millie, passed away Feb. 19, 2014. She was 95.

She was born June 3, 1918, in Suffolk County to Joseph and Bertha (Zilnicki) Droskoski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell Rakowicz, her grandson Scott Rakowicz, five brothers and one sister. 

Ms. Rakowicz is survived by her son, Stanley M. Rakowicz, and his wife, Barbara, of Brevard; two grandchildren, Deanna Laine and her husband, Dean, and Todd Rakowicz, all of Brevard; a great-grandson, Aaron Laine; and her sister Helen Wolanski of Cutchogue.

The family will receive visitors Monday, March 3, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated March 4 at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold, followed by interment at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

This is paid notice.

Lifelong North Fork resident Betty J. Wells of East Marion died Feb. 18, 2014. She was 80.

She was born in Mattituck, Oct. 31, 1933, to George and Mary Jane (Brewer) Tuthill and later married Gerald S. Wells. Together, Gerald and Betty made their home in Cutchogue for many years before moving to East Marion. 

Betty had been president of the Suffolk County Historical Society, a Friend of Floyd Memorial Library and a past-president and member of the CSEA-Southold unit. She had also been a public relations director for the Silversmith Corner Group in Southold for 15 years.

She had worked for North Fork Oil and, more recently, as a senior account clerk for Southold Town at police headquarters.

Surviving are her husband of 58 years, Gerald S. Wells; three sons, Gerard S. Wells, David N. Wells and Kevin E. Wells; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

The family received visitors Feb. 20 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Graveside services were held Feb. 21 at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Suffolk County Historical Society, East End Hospice or Eastern Long Island Hospital.

This is a paid notice.

Former Calverton resident Eileen A. Wells of Oak Run, Ocala, Fla., passed away Feb. 7, 2014, at McGraw Hospice in Jacksonville, Fla. She was 61.

Eileen spent her life as a teacher and reading specialist, first in New York and then in Marion County, Fla., after moving to Ocala in 2006.

She is survived by her son, Randy Wells; daughter-in-law, Kristen Wells; her two grandchildren, Hunter and Grant; her brothers, Kevin and Bill Oefelein and Scott and James Ponder; her sisters, Laureen Gerzack and Doreen Farscht; and her nieces, Vanessa and Diandra Farscht.

A memorial will take place Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead.

She is safe in the arms of Jesus.

This is a paid notice.

Evan Papageorge of Riverhead died Feb. 17 at the Westhampton Care Center. She was 58.

She was born Sept. 26, 1955, in Queens to George and Eleftheria (Karakasi) Papageorge. 

Ms. Papageorge was predeceased by her mother in 2005 and is survived by her father, of Riverhead, and her sisters, Georgette Zenk of Riverhead and Joanne Malahias of Connecticut.

The family received visitors Feb. 24 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service took place Feb. 25 at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church in Blue Point, Father Andrew Cadieux officiating. Graveside services followed at Riverhead Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to AHRC Suffolk County, 2900 Veterans Memorial Highway, Bohemia, NY 11716.

Former Southold resident Philip J. Ofrias Jr. died Feb. 24, 2014, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va. He was 75.

Born in New York City in 1938, Phil graduated from St. John’s Law School in 1966 and practiced law in Riverhead until 1985, when he and his wife, Sharyn, moved their family from Southold to Free Union, Va. They established Lost Valley Tree Farm, which they operated until 1997. After selling the farm they traveled the country in their 36-foot motor home while maintaining a home base in Louisa, Va. During the course of his life, Phil had many interests and became a pilot, an accomplished sailor and a student of American history.

Phil is survived by his beloved wife, Sharyn, and their four children: Gregory and his wife, Paulette, of Southold, Philip and his wife, Kimberly, of Charlottesville, Shane, also of Charlottesville, and Jordan Elizabeth of Troy, Va. He is also survived by his sister, Bess Mosley of Portsmouth, N.H., and five grandchildren: Scott, Patrick, Katlin, Philip and Mary.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hill & Wood Funeral Home in Charlottesville. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This is a paid notice.

Rita Patricia Maher Stewart of Laurel, a homemaker, gardener and dog lover, died Feb. 19, 2014. She was 96.

She was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 28, 1917, to John and Mary Maher. She spent her youth there until her marriage to William Fisher Stewart of Watertown, Mass. 

Rita attended Notre Dame Academy in Roxbury, Mass., and Boston School of Practical Art. She worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology during World War II while her husband served in the South Pacific.

The Stewarts resided in Flushing from 1946 until 1971, at which time they moved to Mattituck full time. They were married for 57 years until Mr. Stewart’s death in 1999. Mrs. Stewart was a full-time wife and mother and enjoyed staying at home with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving are her three children, Maryanne Stewart Langton of North Attleboro, Mass., John Stewart of Fredericksburg, Va., and Bruce Stewart of Cutchogue; four grandchildren, Amanda, Robert, Johnny and Kathleen; and five great-grandchildren, Robert Jr., Ava, Ayden, Raylan and Isla Victoria.

The family received visitors Feb. 23 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 24 at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment was at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations to the Mattituck Fire Department would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.