Lifelong Riverhead resident Cecile B. Kozak died March 26 at the Riverhead Care Center. She was 93. 

She was born April 21, 1920, in Riverhead to Emilia (Gref) and Stanley Kozak. After graduating high school, she worked for the Riverhead office of New York Telephone as an operator.

Family members said he enjoyed gardening and photography.

Ms. Kozak was predeceased by her siblings Anthony, Stella, Bertha and Frank and is survived by her sister, Helen as well as her nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors Friday, March 28, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Saturday, March 29, at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Cemetery, also in Riverhead.

Joan Sheehan was born Aug. 12, 1932, in New York City and is survived by her sister Betty Sheehan, who resides in Jackson Heights and their dear cat, Megan, as well as her nieces and nephews, Tom Weigel, Mary Susan Shaffer, George Locke, Monica Claire Antonie, Kevin Doherty, Kathy Mazzo and Diane Coleman and their respective children.

Joan was the youngest in her family – born during the Great Depression in New York City where the Sheehan family lived in the East 60s section of Manhattan. She is remembered for her exceedingly sweet and gentle nature. As her older sisters married and had children, Joan often took care of her nieces and nephews and went on to be a nanny to other families as well.

Joan visited Ireland and was always seen wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. She was also an avid reader who always had a cat by her side. Joan often spent summers in Southold with her sister, Eleanor Waldheim, who was a resident in the community.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, April 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Father Peter Garry will conduct a prayer service at the funeral home at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery in Southold. The family would like to thank the Margaret Teitz Nursing Home in Jamaica, Queens for their loving care. Joan passed away there on March 29th at the age of 81.

This is a paid notice. 

Writer, editor, sun-worshipper, channel swimmer, oyster hunter, animal lover, activist and former bowling champ Susan E. Miller of Cutchogue died March 25, 2014, in Cutchogue. She was 59. 

Born in Philadelphia, Pa., on May 24, 1954, to Charles and Claire Eisenstein, Sue grew up mostly in Metuchen, N.J., graduating from Metuchen High School in 1972. She graduated from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tn., in 1976 and stayed in Nashville to begin her working career. In addition to other jobs, she waited tables at the music club Exit/In, where she once told a customer that he had to hand over a credit card before he could run a tab. “I’m Neil Young,” he said. “I don’t care,” she replied. While in Nashville she also worked as an investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, at which she excelled thanks to her fierce sense of fairness. This same trait fueled the passion she brought to her role as a consumer columnist for Times/Review Newspapers, and in her efforts to improve her community.

After a brief foray to St. Croix, Sue moved to the North Fork in 1980, settling in Cutchogue and marrying Jeff Miller in 1981. She started her journalism career as a reporter for Dan’s Papers, moving to The Southampton Press and then to The News-Review, where she became editor in 1986. Her consumer-advocacy column, “On the Money,” was one of every week’s most popular offerings. Of the many writing and design awards she won over the years, she was perhaps proudest of the first-place prize for a feature about a locally invented board game. The story began, “Torso Mayslax sleeps in a vat of red meat.” Among her other roles at Times/Review she served as co-publisher and editor of special sections, including Vacation Guide and Wine Press.

After retiring in 2004, Sue wrote independently, designed special sections for The Southampton Press, served as a Hospice volunteer and created her own charity for the North Fork’s needy.

Sue is survived by her husband, Jeff; her daughter, Sally, and wife Lauren Erwin; her son, Ben; Ronnie Atkinson, whom she loved like a son; her parents, Charles and Claire Eisenstein; three sisters, Sandi, Jayne and Jan; her brother, Steve; a throng of beloved nieces and nephews; her cherished mutt, Homer; and all who share her warm spirit.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, the North Fork Animal Welfare League and/or East End Hospice.

John L. Hussnatter of Mattituck died April 1 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 82.

Funeral arrangements, which are incomplete at this time, are in the care of the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.

A complete obituary will follow.

Services for Jean Taber, 82, will be held this upcoming weekend at Calvary Baptist Church in Riverside.

Ms. Taber, of Riverside, is survived by three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Baptist at 515 Riverleigh Avenue at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to Calvary Baptist or Kent Animal Shelter, on River Road in Calverton.

Ms. Taber was reported missing on Friday, and after a two-day search over the weekend, was found deceased in the woods with her dog sitting by her side.

Gregory P. Hayes of Calverton died April 5 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 66.

He was born April 27, 1947, in Floral Park to Stephen and Eleanor Hays and graduated from Riverhead High School in 1966. He married Linda Sass, Sept. 23, 1967, in Bethpage.

Mr. Hayes was the former owner of Meetinghouse Deli in Aquebogue. Family members said he enjoyed golf, bowling and racing.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hayes is survived by  his son Jarrod (Melissa) Hayes; and his grandaughter, Delilah Violet.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, April 9, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead, with a funeral service taking place during the evening hours. Cremation was private.

Memorial donations may be made to Smoke Free America, anti-smoking.org.

This is a paid notice. 

On Friday April 4, we said goodbye to a great man, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Frank Donahue passed away at the age of 90 at his Greenport residence in Peconic Landing. 

Frank was born Jan. 17, 1924, to John and Ethel Donahue in Brooklyn. He attended Manual High School in Brooklyn and at the age of 17 enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He served in the South Pacific with the 1st Marine Division and was wounded during the Battle of Okinawa, receiving a Purple Heart. He served with the Marines until 1946 and in 1950 married Rose Mazza. Frank joined the New York City Police Department in 1952 and retired as a detective after a 22-year career. He then worked for Chase Bank as a supervisor of credit card investigators for 10 years.

In 1970 the family moved to Southold, where Frank was active with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Southold American Legion Post 803 and the East End Disabled group.

Frank loved sports. He was an accomplished baseball player in his youth, an avid bowler, pool player and most of all, an avid golfer. Despite being classified as legally blind in his later years, he was still able to sink a chip shot from 30 yards out.

Frank was predeceased by his wife, Rose, in 2009 and his daughter Cindy Ruggles in 2011. He is survived by his daughter Karen Danzer of Southold, his son, Ralph, of Largo, Fla., as well as six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

The family received visitors April 7 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. A funeral service was held April 8 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport, officiated by the Revs. Garret Johnson and Peter Kelley. Interment took place at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Southold American Legion Post 803.

This is a paid notice. 

On April 3, 2014, we lost a happy and fun-loving Joey to a sudden fatal stroke. 

Left to mourn her passing are her companion of 41 years, Thomas Coyne, of Southold and her sister, Roberta Verwayen of Beacon, N.Y.

During her lifetime, Joey was a serious runner and entered many races in New York City and Southold.

Joey and Tommy spent many weekends doing the yard sale circuit and shopping for gifts to give to their many friends and relatives in New York and Connecticut.

Joey was a “dog walker” in New York City for a period of time and a life-long true lover of animals.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 12, at noon at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold, with Father Peter Garry officiating.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.

Jean Taber of Riverhead died April 6. She was 82. 

Jean was born April 16, 1931, and resided in Patchogue for most of her life before moving to Riverhead. Family members said that she was a “well-loved, wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend” and that she will be missed by all who knew her.

She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur and is survived by her children, Tim (Eileen), Susan (Bob) Duffin, and Glenn (Sheryl); her grandchildren, Guthrie, Zachary (Lan), Mark (Carrie), Rylan and Cory (Laura) and her great-grandchildren, Lisa and Michael.

The family will receive visitors for a memorial service, Saturday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at Cavalry Baptist Church in Riverhead. Memorial donations may be made to Cavalry Baptist Church, 515 Riverleigh Ave., Riverhead or Kent Animal Shelter, 2259 River Road, Calverton.

This is a paid notice. 

Walter T. Chance of Greenport died April 1. at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 64.

Walter T. Chance of Greenport died April 1. at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 64. 

Mr. Chance was born Jan. 1, 1950, in Bethel, N.C., to James Henry Langley and Mary Chance. He was educated in the Pitt County, N.C., school system before moving to Florida.

While in Florida, Mr. Chance harvested crops for a short time before moving to Riverhead. He worked for many different North Fork locations, including Cooper’s Fish Market in Greenport, Mattituck Senior Center nutrition program, Orient by the Sea and San Simeon by the Sound.

Mr. Chance’s friend Dorothy Watson said “Walter enjoyed all genres of music — from gospel and jazz to rhythm and blues and pop. He played the drums and one of his regular gigs was at the now-defunct Wright’s Inn nightclub in Riverhead, where he was also a resident bouncer.” She also mentioned that Mr. Chance loved all sports and from 1966 to 1970, Mr. Chance trained with professional boxers in a Riverhead gym to prepare for the New York Golden Gloves, Amateurs.

Family members said that he is remembered for loving his children and being a loving and kindhearted man.

Mr. Chance was predeceased by his father; and his sisters, Angela Marchelle and Ophelia Chance. He is survived by his mother, Mary, of Tarboro, N.C.; his sons, Andre Edwards and Anthony Chance of Greenport; his siblings, Jimmy, also of Tarboro, N.C., Lizzie Teel of Hassell, N.C., Mary Best of Greenville, N.C., Carolyn Graham of Nashville, N.C., and James Arthur Langley of New Haven, Conn.; and one grandchild.

The family received visitors April 9 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, which included a funeral service officiated by the Rev. Jimmie L. Smiley. Cremation was private.

Memorial donations may be made to SAVES, Inc. of Greenport or North Fork Animal Welfare League in Southold.

Walker (Sonny) Turner of Riverhead died April 3. He was 83. 

Mr. Turner was the son of Walker and Martha Turner. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years and after his retirement from the post office, he worked for Suffolk County National Bank for 14 years. Mr. Turner was also a volunteer with Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. for 30 years and a counselor for inmates at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead.

Mr. Turner enjoyed photography, and after retiring from the bank, devoted most of his time to taking pictures for local fire departments. He was also a photographer for Fire News.

Mr. Turner is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hattie Mayo Turner; his sons, Michael and Brian; his sisters, Evelyn Shannon of Riverhead and Martha Arch of Southampton; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Ernest.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Cremation will be private and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Tuner’s name to to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Wintess, Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps or East End Hospice.

Lifelong Riverhead resident Garrett W. Jackson died April 10 at his home. He was 60.

He was born May 13, 1953, in Riverhead to William and Virginia (Harris) Jackson and was employed by Stony Brook Hospital in tech support.

Mr. Jacks was predeceased by his brother, Gerald Braunskill and is survived by his wife, Roseann (née Ranaldo); his brothers, Bruce Simpson and Ralph McLoud; and his sisters, Sheryl Simpson-Cason, Mary Ann Braunskill, Dana T. Braunskill and Evette Simpson.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, April 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Monday, April 14, at 10 a.m. at Galilee Church of God in Christ in Riverhead, officiated by the Rev. Roy Pennon. Interment will take place at Riverhead Cemetery.

Harold (Red) Ratcliff of Flanders died April 12 in Laurel. He was 76.

Mr. Ratcliff was born July 7, 1937, to William and Helen (Travis) Ratcliff. From 1954 to 1962, during the Korean War, he served as a U.S. Navy aviation machinist mate. Most recently, Mr. Ratcliff was employed as a truck driver by Montecalvo Inc., in Speonk.

He was predeceased by his wife, Karen (née Flynn) Ratcliff, Jan. 30, 2o14 and is survived by his son Vaughn Michand of Flanders; his daughter, Tammie Hildesheim of Laurel; his brother, John, of Georgia; his sister, Phyllis Walker of Georgia; and seven grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, April 15, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead, with a funeral service taking place during the evening hours. Interment will take place Wednesday, April 16, at 10 a.m. at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Boots on the Ground, P.O. Box 675, Bellport, NY 11713.

John M. Urevich of Riverhead died April 11. He was 48.

John was born to John and Arlene Urevich and attended Riverhead High School.

He was affiliated with many fire fighting organizations, serving as chairman for Central Pine Barrens Wildfire Task Force; chairman of the board of New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy; volunteering for Riverhead Fire Department Ever Ready Engine Company #3 and the Riverhead Exempts Volunteer Fireman’s Association; serving as an ex-chief for Flanders Fire Department; treasurer of Suffolk Fire Chief’s Council and treasurer of Suffolk County Fire Districts Managers’ Association.

According to family John greatly enjoyed volunteer fire fighting. They described him as a “leader of the fire service who always led behind the scenes.”  He also enjoyed spending time building model rockets, spending times with his family and his dogs, Peyton and Peggy Sue, whom he referred to as “the girls.”

John is survived by his wife of 18 years, Catherine (née Stotsky); his dogs; his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Laura and David Minsk; his nephews, Daniel, Justin and Noah Minsk; his sister-in-law, Patricia Stotsky; aunts; cousins; great-nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.

Arrangements were handled by McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Cremation was private. A celebration of life service will take place Saturday, May 10; details will be announced.

Memorial donations may be made to Kent Animal Shelter, 2259 River Road, Calverton, NY 11933 or New York Wildlife Academy, care of: Central Pine Barrens Commission, 624 Old Riverhead Road, Westhampton, NY 11978.

This is a paid notice. 

Edward Mickaliger of Riverhead died April 14 at Riverhead Care Center. He would have celebrated his 101st birthday on April 15.

He was born April 15, 1913, in Riverhead to Martin and Catherine Mickoliger and, after serving in the military from 1942 to 1945, worked as a salesman for Carl and Bob’s in Riverhead.

Family members said Mr. he enjoyed fishing and gardening.

Mr. Mickaliger was predeceased by his wife, Bertha, and is survived by his brother, Stanley Mickaliger of Mattituck, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family will receive visitors Friday, April 18, from 2 to 6 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at St. Isidore R.C. Cemetery in Riverhead.

James R. Golden Sr. of Riverhead died April 13 at Riverhead Care Center. He was 82.

Mr. Golden was born June 15, 1931, in Riverhead to Viola Blanche (Homan) and John Golden. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 as a an aviation machinist mate, 3rd class. Following his military service, he worked at Grumman in Calverton as an inspector.

He is survived by his wife, Joan (née Mortimer); his son, James R. Golden Jr. of Australia; his daughters, Diane Wilhelm of Calverton and Janet Walsh, Maureen Talmage and Eileen Thieme, all of Riverhead; his sister, Jesse Palmieri of New Jersey; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Monday, April 21, at 9 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church, officiated by Father Larry Duncklee. Interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Bertha McKay, a native of Riverhead, died April 15 in Union City, Ga. She was 98.

The daughter of Stefan and and Helen Paskiewicz, she was born Nov. 8, 1915. She married Frank J. McKay June 29, 1940. They lived in Riverhead until 1978 and then retired in Englewood, Fla. Bertha moved to Georgia in 2005.

Bertha was a member of St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church and Polish Hall Ladies Auxiliary in Riverhead. After moving to Englewood, she became a member of St. Raphael R.C. Church.

Predeceased by her husband in 2001, Bertha is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Peter) Bilski of Elgin, S.C., Helen (Robert) Askin of Fallston, Md., and Barbara (Donald) Scheu of Fayetteville, Ga; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Longtime Riverhead resident Gretchen S. Zaloga died April 16.  She was 96.

Ms. Zaloga was born in Sag Harbor,  Oct. 21, 1917.  When she was about five years old her parents moved the family to Riverhead. She attended Riverhead High School, where she was active in sports and drama. Family members said she “simply loved to learn.” She graduated in 1935.

Ms. Zaloga was a member and past president of the Riverhead Woman’s Club and she was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church in Riverhead.  Family members said she loved to garden, to read her favorite books and to travel with her husband, Bruno Zaloga Jr.

According to family members, family was most important to Ms. Zaloga.  She encouraged her children, Jeanne Lewin, Gretchen Mead and Tom Zaloga to do good things and increase their learning. She also loved telling them stories of her ancestrial families: the Steuarts, Sleights and Schmersals.

She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her three children; her four grandchildren;  eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. Friends and family will gather for a graveside ceremony, Monday, April 21, at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Cemetery in Riverhead.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Church in Riverhead in Ms. Zaloga’s memory.

Fred P. Fedoryk of Riverhead died April 18 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 81.

Riverhead resident, Victoria Percopo, formerly of Yonkers died April 20 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. She was 82.

Ms. Percopo was born June 15, 1931, in Yonkers to Stanley and Stella Anton. While living there, she worked as a folder for Silver Lining Laundry.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Paul Maron and her second husband, Carmine Percopo and is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (Joseph) Berezny; her grandchildren, Kimberly and Joshua; her siblings, Pauline Grabowski, Beverly LaRocca, Carolyn DiLemme and Gary, Denis, Gerald and Richard Schwuchow. She is also predeceased by her siblings, Rose Cunliffe and Robert Anton.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, April 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday, April 24, from 9 to 11 a.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place Thursday, April 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will follow at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Memorial donations may be made to Riverhead Care Center recreation department.

This is a paid notice.