Calvin Trent Ranson of New Canaan, Conn. died in Smithtown, Aug. 29, 2015 after a long illness. He was 73. 

He was born in Bremo Bluff, Va. April 25, 1942, to William and Marion (Taylor) Ranson.

Calvin was a longtime resident of the New Canaan area and former owner of the New Canaan Car Wash.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah; two children, Sara and Emily; his former wife, Laurel; two stepchildren, Lisa Edson and Evans Edson and his favorite dog, Nestle.

A celebration of his life will be held in New Canaan at a later date. If you wish to be notified, please drop a note to Deborah Ranson, P.O. Box 93, Cutchogue, New York 11935.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes in Mattituck, New York is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice. 

Longtime Flanders resident Gail B. Costanzo, formerly a longtime Glen head resident, died Aug. 29 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. She was 79. 

She was born Dec. 4, 1935, in Queens to Ester (Leyre) andAnton Bjornstad.

Ms. Constanzo worked as a secretary for Doubleday publishing company. She was a member of Cresthaven Ski Club and the American Legion.

She is survived by her husband, Anthony of Flanders and her sisters, Patricia, of Naples, Fla. and Julie Quirke of College Point, NY.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead, where a funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. Cremation was private.

Surrounded by his wife, his daughters, his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Donald Edgar spent some of his final days floating in his pool overlooking the Long Island Sound. These brief floats allowed him to have a few relaxed moments when he could talk with his loved ones and enjoy his home during his final days. Don died Sept. 2, 2015, after a brief bout with cancer.

Donald was the patriarch of a large, loving extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife of 49 years, Pamela Valentine Edgar, and is survived by his wife of 12 years, Delphine Krauss Edgar. In addition, he is survived by his daughter Cynthia Garruba; daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Jim Winkler; and daughter and son-in-law Jody and Robert Cook, as well as his stepchildren, Mary Alice and John Kelly and Mitch and Monique Krauss. Also surviving is his sister Florence Edgar Conti, and he was predeceased by his sister Claire Edgar Vrooman. His devoted grandchildren include Andrew Winkler, Paul Winkler and his wife, Jessica, Christopher Cook and his wife, Kyle, Pam Winkler Tew and her husband, Jonathan, Jenny Cook, Cathryn Cook, Nancy Rose Garruba and step-grandchildren Jeffrey Van Etten, Christina Jane Krauss and Liam Kelly. Great-grandchildren Coleman and Julianna Cook, Ruby Winkler, and Nora Winkler Tew will miss him dearly. Uncle Don was strongly admired by his many nieces and nephews, and he held a special place in his heart for Cheryl, Chris and Cory and their families.

Donald was the son of Scottish immigrants James and Clara Edgar and was born in Brooklyn, graduating from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens. He served in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant and spent the majority of his career at Kollsman Instrument Corporation, lastly as director of space manufacturing, and received a NASA Apollo Achievement Award for his work on the project that landed the first man on the moon. Don completed a course of study in production planning and management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and later retired as president of Beta Transformer Technologies. In retirement, he founded The Tea Room at Stony Brook.

An original Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Don later became a lifelong avid Mets and Giants fan. He was a founder and past-president of Northville Beach Civic Association, and was recently photographed as one of the remaining past presidents of that organization. He was an active member of Setauket Presbyterian Church for 54 years we he served as a youth group advisor, elder, and deacon.
For many years Donald divided his time between his home on Northville Beach and his Naples, Florida home. In Naples, he was a member of the Quail Village Country Club where he won many tournaments, as recently as this past spring. Golf was one of his many passions, beginning with his teenage years as a caddy.

Another great passion was beautifying his own and his family’s homes. Don’s most recent deck project was completed 3 weeks ago at his grandson’s house and even more recently, after entering hospice care, he finished up a few railings on the beach stairs with another grandson.
He was a member of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Southwest Florida, and he wore his quilt proudly.

A memorial service for Former Riverhead resident Florence E. (Shwonik) Burgess will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at St. Isidore’s R.C. Cemetery.

Ms. Burgess died April 24, 2014, at the age of 85.

Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice, New York; Hospice of Cincinnati, Ohio; or Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Florida.

Longtime former Riverhead resident Elizabeth M. Schnebel died Sept. 2 at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood. She was 96.

A funeral service will take place Friday, Sept. 4, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral mass will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow.

Lilur Mae Bates of Riverhead died Sept. 4 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. She was 96. 

She was born Oct. 14, 1918, in Jackson, N.C. to Emma (Halliman) and Ben Sykes.

Ms. Bates worked as a nurse’s assistant.

Predeceased by her sisters Carrie Boone, Josie Clark and Esther Allen and her brothers, Gilroy, Bennie and George Sykes, Ms. Bates is survived by her daughters, Emma Funn and Aramentis Brown of Riverhead; her sisters Margie Hargrove of Maryland and Naomie Tillman of Georgia; and many grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Sept. 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Galilee Church of God in Christ in Riverhead, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Roy and Mother Pennon. Interment will take place at Riverhead Cemetery.

Marion Dunn of Riverhead died Sept. 8. She was 96. 

The family will receive visitors Friday, Sept. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass will take place at 11:15 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

A complete obituary will follow.

Former Riverhead resident Halsey T. Young of Eastport died Sept. 6 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Northport. He was 87. 

He was born Aug. 10, 1928, in Riverhead to Louise (Tuthill) and John Young.

Mr. Young served in the U.S. Air Force for 17 1/2 years, achieving the rank of tech sergeant.

He is survived by his son, Louis, of Calverton.

A memorial service will take place at noon, Saturday, Sept. 12, at Hampton Bays Assembly of God. Cremation was private. Burial will take place at a later date.

Kenneth E. Ramsauer of Mattituck died Sept. 10 at his home. He was 87. 

Mr. Ramsauer was born in Lindenhurst, Sept. 14, 1927, to Henry A. and Ethel May (Smith) Ramsauer. Raised in Riverhead, he was a graduate of Riverhead High School and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

On Oct. 15, 1949, he married Marilyn Jones at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church and together they made their home in Mattituck.

Mr. Ramsauer was a butcher and former owner of Wayside Market in Southold. He had been a member of the Mattituck Lions Club and family members said he enjoyed sailing in his free time.

Predeceased by his wife, Marilyn, in 2009 and his son, Kenneth W. in 1983, he is survived by a daughter, Edith R. Gabrielsen of Jamesport; a brother, Henry Ramsauer of Riverhead; a sister, Shirley Hamilton of Tennessee and six grandchildren.

The family received friends Sept. 14 and 15 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home. Interment took place at Cutchogue Cemetery.

Richard John Minnick of Calverton died Sept. 14 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 64. 

He was born March 23, 1951, in Mineola to Novella (Callegari) and George Minnick. He graduated from Riverhead High School in 1969.

On July 24, 1981, he married Cynthia (née Swiatocha) in Riverhead.

Mr. Minnick was a carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Union Carpenters Local 290 for 42 years. He was a member of Riverhead Moose and Elks lodges.

Family members said Mr. Minnick enjoyed NASCAR, Harley Davidson motorcycles and the New York Mets. He loved spending time at this cabin in Upstate New York and spending time with his grandchildren.

Predeceased by his parents and brothers Kenneth, Joseph and Robert, Mr. Minnick is survived by his wife; his children, Charlene Bloss, Brian, Breyan and Michael; his brother Gary; his sister, Adele Abrahamson and nine grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Sept. 17, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday Sept. 18, at the funeral home. Cremation will be private.

Evelyn T. Mikulak of Jamesport died Sept. 12 at Peconic Bay Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility in Riverhead. She was 92.

She was born Aug. 4, 1923, in Mattituck to Joseph and Michalena (Janulewicz) Zuhoski.

Ms. Mikulak graduated from Mattituck High School in 1940 and was a homemaker. Family members said she enjoyed cooking, reading and gardening.

Predeceased by her husband, Steven, in 1991, Ms. Mikulak is survived by her daughters, Sandra Karlin of Calverton, Linda O’Kula of Jamesport and Evelyn Worm of Riverhead; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The family received visitors Sept. 14 at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass was held Sept. 15 at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment took place at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church.

Robert Halsey Pettit of Southold died at home Sept. 18, 2015. He was 87. 

Mr. Pettit was born in Brooklyn, May 20, 1928, to Jessie (Young) and Dwight M. Pettit. A graduate of Mercersburg Academy and Lehigh University, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1953 in Key West, Fla.

He then enjoyed a career of 30 years as a mechanical engineer with Sperry Rand (now Unisys). Among his many accomplishments were several patents.

The Pettits lived in Mississippi from 1971 to 1974 and had been residents of Huntington from 1955 to 1988 at which time they moved to Southold.

In the community, he was active in Southold Historical Society and was “Man of the Year” in 2013 and was a volunteer general contractor for the restoration of Brecknock Hall in Greenport. He had also been a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greenport where he served as a warden and member of the Vestry.

Surviving is his wife Anne “Nancy” Pettit (née Putnam), whom he married Aug. 19, 1950, in Chatham, N.J; four children: Robert H. Pettit, Jr. (Patricia), Cynthia P. Van Voris (Richard), James C. Pettit (Margaret) and David H. Pettit (Andrea); eleven grandchildren, Nicholas and Edward Schoch, Daniel, Alexander and Amelia Pettit; Steven, Gregory and Michael Pettit and Anne, Connor and Trevor Pettit and a nephew, Dwight M. Pettit, III (Jeanne).

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greenport, with the Rev. John E. Walker officiating. Interment will follow at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold.

Memorial donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978 would be appreciated.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice. 

Eleanor V. O’Connell of Jamesport died Sept. 18 at Stony Brook University Medical Center. She was 80. 

The family will receive visitors Monday, Sept. 21, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will be private.

A complete obituary will follow.

Vertie Lue Farley Nash was born Aug. 12, 1934, in Tattnall County, Ga., to Arnie Ruth Williamston Farley and Andrew Farley, both of whom have predeceased her. She was one of six children born to this union. Her siblings were William Henry Farley, Dorothy Mae Beal, Shelma Jean Morgan, Ada McNeal and Lou Agnes McNeal, all of whom have predeceased her.

Vertie graduated with honors from the Tattnall County school system at age 18 with dreams of becoming a nurse. After graduation, she moved to Riverhead, where she obtained gainful employment as a waitress. Around this time, she met the love of her life, James Abner Nash, who predeceased her. They married on Aug. 27, 1961.

This union brought forth seven children, James Larry Nash of California, Derrick Anthony Nash of Bellport, Valerie Alisa Nash of Flanders, Donna Renee Goodale of Flanders, and three children who predeceased her (Brenda Sue Farley, Harold Farley and Vanessa Ann Nash).

She joined Riverhead Church of Christ, where she was baptized.

Vertie went back to school to obtain her nursing degree. Two weeks shy of graduation, due to medical issues, she was unable to complete the program. She worked tirelessly at the Riverhead Nursing Home for 22 years and then as a private duty home health aide, until she retired.

Lovingly known to all as Nana, gardening was her passion. She was the “master arborist.” Ask her anything about gardening and she could tell you what was wrong with your plant.

Vertie loved bible study. She had very strong opinions and would debate you chapter and verse. She loved her coffee and soup, but most of all she loved her family, especially her grandchildren.

She would say to all of you: “Don’t cry for me, I’m free. Because of the way in which I lived my life, there is no separation between church and home. I stand on the word of God.” Her one wish was that all who came in contact with her would know how good her God was.

Vertie made her transition Sept. 14, 2015. She leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Valerie Alisa Nash and Donna Renee Goodale; her sons, James Larry Nash and Derrick Anthony Nash; her stepson, Tony James; her grandchildren, Tiffany Nash, Shawn Foreman, Derrick Nash II, Tyshan James, Saivon Williams, Jesse R. Goodale IV, Jahlia Nash, Jared W. Goodale; her great-grandchild, Arion Lugo James; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and very, very special friends whom she considered her daughters and sons.

Family and friends gathered at Riverhead Church of Christ for services Sept. 21, 2015, under the direction of Brother Richard Jackson III. Interment was at Riverhead Cemetery following the services. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home.

Respectfully submitted by the family of Vertie Lue Nash.

This is a paid notice.

Frank J. McNulty of Laurel, died Sept. 21 at his home. He was 91. 

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Sept. 24,  from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Church Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations to Mattituck Laurel Library, P.O. Box 1437,  Mattituck, NY 11952 would be appreciated.

A complete obituary will follow.

Saverio F. “Sam” Piazzola of Aquebogue died Sept. 25, 2015, at his home. He was 89.

Mr. Piazzola was born March 28, 1926, in Queens to Michael and Antoinette (Satalino) Piazzola and served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Formerly of Commack, Mr. Piazzola had been a business manager for Northport Ford and was a communicant of Christ the King Parish in Commack. Family members said in his free time he was an artist who enjoyed painting.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (née Spataro), and three children, Michael, of Lake Grove, Toni Robertson of Mattituck and Luke, of Smithtown; a sister, Maryanne Spalma of Manorville; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

The family received visitors Sept. 27 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where Deacon Jeff Sykes held prayer services. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 28 at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment with U.S. Navy honors was at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations to East End Hospice would be appreciated.

Robert L. Hyatt Jr. of Calverton died Sept. 23, 2015. He was 72. 

He was born Oct. 1, 1942, in Greenport to Ruth and Robert L. Hyatt and was a graduate of Southold schools and Eastern Military Academy.

Bob served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1965 and later enjoyed a career in sales.

Surviving is his wife Diane (née Gumprecht), whom he married April 11, 1987, in Calverton; six children, Debra, Lesley, Robin, James, Donna and Michele; ten grandchildren, Chris, Nicole, Candice, Samantha, Tyler, Alex, Loren, Luke, Eva and Gia and four great-grandchildren, Jayden, Ethan, Henry and Vivian; a niece: Jody and nephew, David. He was predeceased by his sister, Geraldine Corazzini.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold. The Rev. George Gaffga will officiate and military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Navy.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice. 

Gregg B. Pettersen Sr. of Riverhead died Sept. 24 at Veterans Administration Hospital in Northport. He was 64. 

He was  born May 26, 1951, in Brooklyn to Mary (Belski) and Thor Pettersen and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1969.

Mr. Pettersen served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975 and worked as a machinist for KG Brown in Mattituck.

Family members said he enjoyed fishing, crafts, darts and golf.

Predeceased by his mother, Mary, in 2001, Mr. Pettersen is survived by his father, Thor, of Vermont; his children, Frank Jarzombek of Flanders, Gregg Jr. of Vermont and Kristina of Flanders; his sisters, Kären Pettersen of Vermont and Laura Woodhull of Cutchogue; and one grandchild.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 10 to 11 a.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Calverton National Cemetery.

Laura M. Kennedy of Cutchogue died Sept. 22, 2015, at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead after an illness of five years. She was 67. 

She was born May 23, 1948, in Brooklyn to Daniel and Norma (Mirabito) Conners and was a graduate of New York Institute of Technology.

On July 26, 1970, she married Thomas Kennedy and together they made their home in Cutchogue for the past nine years.

Ms. Kennedy was active with Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue, a horse rescue fund based in Southampton.

Surviving is her husband; a son, Geoffrey Kennedy; a brother, Daniel Conners; and a sister, Kelly Brunsen.

The family received visitors Sept. 26 and 27 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where Deacon Jeff Sykes held prayer services. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 28 at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment was at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery.

This is a paid notice. 

Judith Peyser was born Judith Nowith to Nathan and Ida Nowith Aug. 31, 1932. Nathan and Ida were immigrants from Russia and Poland.

Judith was the youngest of two daughters. She had many fond memories of her parents, one of which was her father waiting for her in the rain, more than once, at the school bus stop so she wouldn’t have to walk home without being under an umbrella. She remained with her parents until her wedding day, May 17, 1953, when she married Ralph Peyser.

After a short while, Judith and Ralph told their friends they were moving to Long Island. But Long Island, to them, was a small neighborhood in Flushing, Queens, called Auburndale. Then in May 1959, with their second child on the way, they moved again all the way to Whitestone, Queens.

In 1968, in order to help with the family’s financial situation, Judith went to work. Initially, she worked for McFadden Bartell, a magazine publishing company in Whitestone. Judith met and became friends with a co-worker who was able to help her get a job for Ralph with Consolidated Edison. She subsequently got herself a job there, where she worked until retirement.

Judith resided in that same complex in Whitestone until May 2015. At that time — even she agreed — it was a good idea with her mobility failing to move in with her loving son, Steven, in Jamesport. In less than a week she felt quite at home in her new apartment in Steve’s house knowing it was built with every conceivable handicap provision.

Judith had an insatiable appetite for reading and would spend most nights reading until she fell asleep, often with a book or magazine still in her hands. She had a love for cats and had several in her lifetime.

She will be missed by all who knew her but mostly by her beloved son, Steven. Sadly, she passed on Sept. 24 at the age of 83.

Graveside services were held Sept. 28 at Cutchogue Cemetery, where Rabbi David Altman, spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Shalom, officiated.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home assisted the family.

This is a paid notice.