Dennis George Gayda

Former Riverhead resident Dennis George Gayda, 63, son of the late George and Nettie Gayda, passed away June 3, 2016, at his home in Clemmons, N.C. after a courageous battle with cancer.

Dennis is survived by his sisters, Elizabeth Densieski and Kathy Gayda-Guardino and a niece and nephew, Renee and Robert Densieski.

A Mass will be held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Dennis will be laid to rest at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Cemetery in Riverhead, with his parents.

Donations may be made in memory of Dennis to Novant Health Foundation, Forsyth Medical Center, 3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Box 2, Winston-Salem N.C. 27103.

This is a paid notice. 

Douglas Hunter Sr., 73, of Plymouth, N.H. died May 19, 2016, at his home, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. 

Born in Staten Island, N.Y. Dec. 27, 1942, he was the son of William and Dorothy (Dobbins) Hunter.

Douglas grew up in Staten Island and graduated from Tottenville High School, class of 1960. He resided in Eastern Long Island for many years and moved to the Plymouth area in 1984.

Douglas worked as a lineman for the Long Island Lighting Company for 20 years and then as director of safety for the Transformer Service Company in Concord, N.H. for 24 years.

Douglas was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served during the Vietnam War.

While on Long Island, Douglas was very involved in the Scouting program. He also loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Douglas is survived by his wife of 54 years, Florence A. (née Teuber) Hunter of Plymouth; sons, Douglas Hunter Jr. and his wife, Gloria, of Parrish, Fla. and Donald G. Hunter and his wife, Marsha, of Plymouth; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and his cousins.

A private service will be held at the convenience of the family at the Blair Cemetery in Campton, N.H.

The Mayhew Funeral Home and Crematorium in Plymouth and Meredith, N.H> were in charge of the arrangements.

This is a paid notice. 

Joan Ann Domaleski

Joan Ann Domaleski of Cutchogue died June 6, 2016, at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport. She was 83. 

She was born in Greenport June 30, 1932, to Antone and Josephine (Bunczyk) Chituk of Depot Lane in Cutchogue. Her father was one of Southold Town’s first police officers, a turkey farmer and carpenter, and her mother was a master gardener of dahlias and African violets. She was the oldest of four and the only daughter.

Shortly after graduation from Mattituck High School, she married Henry Domaleski on May 6, 1951, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. She lived her entire life in Cutchogue, growing up on Depot Lane and later moving one mile north to Oregon Road once married.

Joan was a devoted homemaker and worked at A & H Domaleski Farms, where they raised potatoes, cauliflower and cabbage and operated U-pick strawberry and pumpkin fields.

She was very active in the community and church as an organizer and project leader for several 4-H clubs; served on 4-H advisory committees including Awards and Rewards, Clothing Revue, fundraising; and was vice-chairperson of the 4-H Development Program Advisory Committee.

At Our Lady of Ostrabrama Parish, Joan was president of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society and organized biannual bake sales, parish polka barn dances and annual raffles. She prayed her rosaries every day and dedicated a day of the week to each of her children.

Joan was also a member of Mattituck Homemakers and the Long Island Farm Bureau and managed the “Grown on Long Island” T-shirts at fairs, rain or shine.

Joan’s public achievements include the Cornell Cooperative Extension Volunteer Award, Newsday Volunteer Winner and Saint Agnes Medal of Service for Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Other passions were cooking and baking. Joan cooked Sunday dinner every week for the entire family on the scale of a big holiday meal. She would welcome any of the grandkids’ friends to the table – “just get another chair’ she would say. At Christmastime, she would start early in December, baking thousands of cookies just to make sure there was enough for all the holiday meals that she and her husband would have at their home.

Easter was another special time for her as she would hold egg hunts and have a particular colored egg for each grandchild so everyone got their fair share. Lavish birthday parties for family and family pets were held as was a “Day after Christmas” celebration for the entire Chituk and Bunczak families.

Joan and her husband, Henry, shared a love for polka dancing, which was evident by their car’s license plate, which read “We Polka.” They attended many summertime Polkabrations in New London, Conn., and became personal friends with Dick Pillar and the Polka Family bands. Because of this, she helped organize many barn dances at June Glover’s barn for Our Lady of Ostrabrama.

She is survived by her husband, Henry; five children: Raymond (Elaine) Domaleski of Aquebogue, Virginia (Jerome) Surozenski of Cutchogue, Thomas (Barbara) Domaleski of Cutchogue, Theodore Domaleski of Bakersfield, Calif., and Geraldine Domaleski of Cutchogue; grandchildren: Tenille (Anthony) Rodine, Jessica (Paul) Reeve, Allison Surozenski, Thomas Domaleski Jr., Meredith, John Henry and Brendan Domaleski, Eileen, Michael and Olivia Kennedy, Tabby (Stanley) Zombick and Lisa (Juan) Reeve; and great-grandchildren: Aiden Tidwell, Ethan, Skye, Emma and Joan (her namesake) Rodine, Cara and Caiden Zombick and Blake Alvarado; cousins: Jackie (Roanne) Adams of East Islip and Angela Deroski of Cutchogue; sisters-in-law: Jane Domaleski of Cutchogue, Dolores Chituk of Riverhead and Dorothy and Henrietta Chituk of Cutchogue; nieces and nephews; and her pets: Buffy, Peanuts and Chester.

The family received friends June 9 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where prayer services were conducted by Father Peter Narkiewicz and members of the Sacred Heart Rosary Society. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church by Father Stan Wadowski and Father Peter Narkiewicz. Interment took place at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery.

All the memories we have will be forever cherished. She brought us all together at her bedside of her last days. God took her from us before we were ready to let her go but she lived a fulfilling and giving life. We will be forever grateful for having such a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We have great comfort in knowing that she is now at peace with God. There was no one like her. She will be greatly missed and will live on in our hearts forever. If you want to do something in her memory, bake some cookies and share them with your family and friends, said family members.

Memorial donations to the Cutchogue Fire Department or American Diabetes Association would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice. 

Lorraine M. Roberts

Former Aquebogue resident, Lorraine M. Roberts died June 12, 2016. She was 84.

The daughter of Ernest and Evelyn Rousseau, Laurie was born March 16, 1932, in Hartford, Conn. and attended Putnam Academy in Putnam, Conn. She later graduated from Suffolk County Community College in 1988.

Laurie was an avid walker, loved tennis and golf, and performing on stage and behind the scenes at North Fork Community Theater in Mattituck. She also volunteered at the First Congregational Church, Soup Kitchen, and St. John the Evangelist’s R.C. Church food pantry.

Predeceased in 2009 by her beloved husband, Richard C. Roberts, she is survived by her children Elizabeth Roberts of New Haven, Conn., Renee Roberts of East Moriches, Lisa Cowell of Southampton, Lauren Roberts of Portsmouth, N.H., Richard Roberts Jr. of Wading River, Mark Roberts of Manorville, Maureen Zajac of Shoreham; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, June 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead, with Father Robert Kuznik officiating. Burial will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

This is a paid notice. 

Lifelong Riverhead resident Antone Skrezec Sr. died June 13 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 91. 

The son of Michael and Kathleen Skrezec, he was born May 8, 1925, in Riverhead.

Mr. Skrezec served in the U.S. Army. For 40 years, he worked for New York Telephone Company in Riverhead.

He was a member of Riverhead Sportsmen’s Club, Riverhead Elks and Riverhead Loyal Order of the Moose.

Family members said Mr. Skrezec enjoyed golf, hunting, wildlife and gardening.

Predeceased by his wife, Anna, in 2005, Mr. Skrezec is survived by his sons Ronald, of Riverhead and Florida and Antone Jr., of Mount Sinai; his daughter, Mary Anne, of Flanders and two grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, June 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass will take place at 9:30 a.m Friday, June 17, at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

Peter V. Conlon of Laurel died June 15. He was 74.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 17, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

A complete obituary will appear at a future date.

Annie R. Bell of Flanders died June 14 at Southampton Hospital. She was 66.

The daughter of Andrew and Helena Vaughn, she was born June 2, 1950, in Suffolk, Va.

Ms. Vaughn worked as a bus driver for Baumann & Sons Bus Company. She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Riverhead.

Family members said she enjoyed bowling and cooking.

She is survived by her children Carolyn Brunskill, Thurston, Rona Simmons and Cassandra; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and many brothers and sisters.

The family will receive visitors Monday, June 20, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, where a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Cremation will be private.

Woodrow W. Hobson of Riverhead died June 14 at his home. He was 94. 

The son of Marshall and Ellen Hobson, Woodrow was born Dec. 16, 1921, in Ballsville, Va. and attended high school.

Woodrow  served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 as a World War II corporal.

He worked as a store keeper and for Brookhaven National Lab in Upton.

He is survived by his wife, Hazel; his cousin, Carnal and his sister, Lucy Primm.

The family will receive visitors Monday, June 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. Visiting hours will continue Tuesday, June 21, from 10 to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, with a funeral service following at 11 a.m., officiated by the Revs. Charles Coverdale and Cynthia Liggon.

This is a paid notice. 

Margaret “Peggy” Killian passed peacefully at her home in Mattituck on Sunday, July 3, with her husband Bill at her side. 

She was born in Brooklyn, Jan. 10, 1923, and later married William Killian. They celebrated 70 years of marriage on May 18.

Peggy was an avid real estate salesperson with Celic Realty in Mattituck. Her gift for gab went unmatched; not so much her selling of houses, said family members.

She leaves behind her husband Bill; daughter Peggy; sons Bill Jr. and Charlie and his wife Pat; granddaughters Krista, Heather and Courtney and great-granddaughter Michaela.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt will officiate.

Interment will follow at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation; P.O. Box 650309 Dallas, TX 75265-0309.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice.

George Louis DeNyse died June 25 at the Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Quiogue. The day before, on June 24, he was able to celebrate his 96th birthday with his family. He was born in Brooklyn and lived in Maspeth, Queens, before retiring from the New York City Police Department and moving permanently in 1966 to the summer house he built in Oak Hills in Baiting Hollow. 

He is survived by his spouse, Marian Drozd-DeNyse and his children, Judith Miller (Edward Goldstein) and Robert DeNyse and two grandchildren, Adam and Ashley and their mother, Patricia Kenney. He is also survived by six stepchildren, Stanley (Jeannie), Deborah (John), Mark (Theresa), Jane (Richard), Thomas (Jeanne) and Joseph (Cheryl). He was predeceased by his first wife, Violet Raynor DeNyse who passed away in 1975.

Following the Pearl Harbor attack, George enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was trained at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s famous Pier 88 to be a salvage diver. He was assigned to a floating dry dock 200 miles off the coast of New Guinea in the South Pacific. The mission of the unit was to assist in the docking and repair of battle-damaged ships from the United States and its allies so they could be returned to active service. His dry dock survived a torpedo attack from a Japanese submarine and was able to continue performing a most important role in the prosecution of the Pacific War. George was honorable discharged in 1945 with the title of chief motor machinist mate.

In 1947, George became a New York City police officer and soon after was assigned to the motorcycle division. While there, he received notoriety and several awards for his innovative ideas, one of which was at a special City Hall ceremony where he was honored by Mayor Wagner. His most noteworthy achievement was for the development of a motorcycle speedometer testing machine which reduced the lengthy and cumbersome task of regular calibration of each motorcycle to just 2 or 3 minutes. Calibration could now be done quickly and efficiently on a garage floor instead of a mile-long obstacle free track. This remarkable improvement was later adapted to also calibrate speedometers on police patrol cars. George was later promoted to supervise five special training centers and he regularly appeared in court as the department’s expert witness.

After retirement, George continued to work locally at several positions. He was plant engineer at the Treat Potato Chip factory, worked on the A-6-A fighter plane at Grumman and did oil burner repairs for both Marran Oil and Agway. He regularly volunteered for projects in the Oak Hills Association, where he was president and for Baiting Hollow Congregational Church. George was  always available to neighbors and friends – using his mechanic talents and skills to assist them in a variety of ways.

A service will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church in Wading River. Immediately afterwards, burial will be at Calverton National Cemetery.

This is a paid notice. 

Peter N. Meras of Riverhead, owner and partner of Star Confectionery in Riverhead, died July 5 at Southampton Hospital. He was 87.

Mr. Meras was born in Riverhead Aug. 21, 1928, to Marina Stravolous and Nicholas Meras.

He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952.

Survivors include his wife, Helene; brother, Anthony; stepdaughter, Katherine Manley; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mitilda Delehanty, and stepson, Thomas Grathwohl.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4  and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 8, at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in Southampton, Fathers Alexander Karloutsous and Constantine Lazarakis officiating. Interment will follow at Riverhead Cemetery.

Mark W. McBurnie Sr. entered peacefully into eternal rest Friday, July 8, at his home in Jamesport surrounded by friends and family. On Thursday, July 7, Mark was able to celebrate his 73rd birthday. 

Mark was born in Riverhead and worked on his family farm until he married and moved to the Speonk area. He then worked on his father-in-law’s duck farm until 1976 when he was hired as a laborer for the Southampton Town highway department.

Mark eventually gained his career with the Town of Southampton earning a title of highway foreman within the Westhampton-East Manor district area. As a highway foreman, he achieved much respect and admiration from the community for his driven force at maintaining his district in the utmost condition. After 30 years with the Town of Southampton, he retired at the end of 2006.

Mark was also a longtime member of the Eastport Fire Department.

Mark enjoyed clamming, watching NASCAR races and camping at the “Flywheeler’s Tractor” events in Florida.

Mark was a loving father to his three children, Mark McBurnie Jr. (Elizabeth), Marla Lennon and Monica Galasso. He was a cherished Pop to his seven grandchildren, Mark III, Britney, Jeffrey, Kim, Nicole, Andrew and Shania and his great-granddaughter, Adrianna. He was also a beloved companion for 18 years to Marie Deuel.

His neighbors on Melissa Lane will miss Mark because they could always count on him to plow the road clear with his little red Jeep after every snowfall. Mark is now “plowing” into a new journey as he has “moved on.” He will be dearly missed by many of his friends and family members.

Family will be receiving guests Thursday, July 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eastport Fire Department, P.O. Box 158, Eastport, NY 11941-0158 or East End Hospice, 481 Westhampton-Riverhead Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

This is a paid notice. 

George J. McTague, 84, of Raleigh, N.C., formerly of Rye Brook, NY, passed away at his home after living with liver cancer for over 10 years.

George was born in Albany, N.Y. in the summer of 1932 to George and Elsie McTague. He had one sister, Mary (affectionately known as Tiny). After graduating from high school in Albany, George joined the U.S. Air Force in which he served stateside during the Korean War. It was during his time in the Air Force that he learned many of the skills that he would later use in his 32-year career with AT&T. His work with AT&T brought him from the Albany area to White Plains. He retired from AT&T in 1987.

While working at AT&T, George met Nancy Kellett and they were married in December of 1973. They rarely left each other’s side for over 42 years. George and Nancy lived most of their marriage in Rye Brook with their daughter Sharon. George and his family spent many weekends and later, summers, in their vacation home in Mattituck, New York.

In 1997, George and Nancy moved to New Bern, N.C. where they had great friends and made great memories. Each year they would return to their home and friends in Mattituck for the spring, summer and early fall. George enjoyed making repairs and improvements to the Mattituck house. He was very handy and always seemed to have the right tool for the job somewhere in one of his sheds or his garage. Nothing stayed broken for long when George was around. He appreciated things being in their right place and working properly.

George was a lifelong member of the Elks and was a member of lodges in Watertown, Albany and White Plains, N.Y. and most recently for the last 19 years at Lodge Number 764 in New Bern, N.C. George enjoyed the time and comradery with his brethren and sistren at the Elks and greatly missed his Tuesday night card game when he moved to Raleigh last fall. George lived by the core tenets of the Elks – Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity.

George had a refreshingly sarcastic sense of humor and a dry wit. He was not loud in his opinions, but shared them when appropriate and within the right audience. He was a friend to all who had the pleasure of meeting him. He will be missed but not forgotten.

George is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; his daughter Sharon Hansen (husband Josh); son James Kellett (wife Jeannie) and three of his children from an earlier marriage; son Tommy McTague (wife Lorraine); daughter Susan Martin (husband Mike), and estranged daughter Linda. He was predeceased by his sister and son Michael. He has three grandchildren, Jimmy’s sons Kyle and Mitchell Kellett and Sharon’s daughter, Kate – his little girly girl.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, July 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Interment will follow at the Cutchogue Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, George’s family asks that you consider making a donation in his memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 or online at giving.mskcc.org.

This is a paid notice. 

Jane J. Krupski

Longtime Cutchogue resident Jane J. Krupski died July 11 at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport. She was 97.

The daughter of Adam and Mary (Marziaz) Ruszkowski, she was born Feb. 17, 1919, in New York City. She graduated from Riverhead High School in 1937. On June 17, 1944, she married Stanley Krupski at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. For more than 70 years she had lived in Cutchogue.

Ms. Krupski was a homemaker who loved gardening, baking and the New York Yankees.

Predeceased by her husband in 1999, her son Stanley in 2015 and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth in 2013, Ms. Krupski is survived by her son Stephen, of Florida; her daughter, Teresa (Stanley) Siejka of Southold; her daughter-in-law Maureen; her grandchildren, Greg Krupski, Michael Krupski, Lisa Krupski, David Siejka and Adam Siejka; and five great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her siblings, Raymond, Edward and Frank Rusczkowsky.

The family will receive visitors today, Thursday, July 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, July 15, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations may be made to Cutchogue Fire Department Rescue Squad.

Samia Thomas Sr., 73, of Flanders died July 10 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. 

The son of Cornlinus (Bryant) and Joseph Thomas, he was born Nov. 17, 1942, in Homerville, Ga.

Mr. Thomas served in the U.S. Army in 1967. He worked as a computer technician at Brookhaven National Lab and was a member of the Masons.

Predeceased by his daughter Phyllis Minter, Ms. Thomas is survived by his wife; Alease (née Reid) Thomas; his daughters Brenda and Patricia Minter; his sons, Richard Minter, Samia Thomas Jr., Dwayne Thomas and Christopher Thomas; his brothers Jimmy Thomas, Richard Thomas, Robert Thomas and Matthew Thomas; his sisters Estella Bell, Rachael Thomas, Lisa Thomas and Bernadette Thomas; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was also predeceased by his sister Rosalie Thomas and brothers, Joseph Thomas, Earl Thomas and Luke Thomas.

The family will receive visitors Monday, July 18 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, officiated by the Revs. Charles Coverdale and Cynthia Liggon. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

The past month has rife with sadness for Star Confectionery owner Tony Meras and his family.

Tony’s brother and former business partner, Peter, died July 5 at age 87. Eight days earlier, his wife, Kitty, passed away at age 84. His sister, Mitilda “Tilly” Delehanty, died June 17.

“It was terrible,” Tony said in an interview this week at his popular restaurant on East Main Street in Riverhead.

Despite their pain, Tony’s son, Anthony, who has run Star Confectionery with his father for the past 25 years, said he sees a silver lining in his family’s grief.

“It’s been a devastating time, but what a great town Riverhead is,” Anthony said. “I just can’t thank the people of Riverhead enough. They are phenomenal. Just coming in and showing support, calling the house, checking on my father, making food for us. It just makes you feel at home. You don’t feel alone.”

Tony said he and Peter began working at Star Confectionery when they were still children. Their father, Nickolas, purchased the business in 1920. Today, most locals still refer to the restaurant as “Papa Nick’s.”

“We grew up in here helping my father,” Tony said. “He gave us our freedom to play sports and stuff, but he wanted us back here to help him. This was in the late 1930s and early 1940s. If you went for sports, you could play the sports, but if you didn’t, you came down here and worked. And at 5 p.m., we went home and did our homework.”

Kaitlyn Ferris, who has worked at Star Confectionery since she was 15, also has fond memories of Kitty and the Meras family in general.

“I always say I would never have known how to use the register if it wasn’t for her,” said Ms. Ferris, a professional photographer who works part time at the restaurant. “This was my first job. They’re like family to me. Tony is my biggest fan. Everyone that comes in here with a camera, he lets them know that I do photography.”

Brian Stark, who owns Glenwood Village in Riverhead, said he’s a regular customer at Star Confectionery because of its friendly atmosphere.

“The Meras are a great family — they always welcome you in,” he said. “They are like family.”

After Tony and Peter took over the family business, the brothers ran the shop together until the early 1990s, when Peter retired.

Peter’s widow, Helene, described her husband as “a very joyful person.”

“He loved everybody,” she said. “He loved his customers. He missed it very much — talking to them and meeting people.”

After Peter retired, he and his wife split their time their between Riverhead and Florida.

“He was a big-time bowler,” Helene said. “He loved bowling and golf right up until he couldn’t play anymore, about four years ago.”

Peter, who served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean War, died of pneumonia at Southampton Care Center.

Kitty, who passed away at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, worked at Star Confectionery until she began to lose her eyesight, Anthony said. It frustrated her when people said hello and she couldn’t see who they were, he added.

“For a long time, she ran the show here,” Anthony said. “She made this place fun.”

On the last day of her life, Tony and Anthony spent a lot of time with Kitty.

“I said to her, ‘I’ll take your laundry home and I’ll do it,’ ” Anthony recalled. “She said, ‘Make sure that after 45 minutes you get the laundry from the washing machine. I don’t want my clothing coming back wrinkled.’ We we were laughing.

“I gave her a kiss and said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ ” he continued. “That was the last time I saw her alive. I’m grateful that I had those three hours.”

tgannon@timesreview.com

Photos: (Top) Peter Meras behind the counter at Star Confectionery in an undated photo. His brother Tony said he still has that Coke machine; (Right) Kitty Meras with WABC radio personality ‘Cousin Brucie’ Morrow, left, and son Anthony at Star Confectionery. (Left) Peter Meras served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. (Credit: Meras family, courtesy)

Eileen Rita Fletcher of Jamesport died July 13 at her home. She was 90. 

The daughter of Julia (Lanning) and Frederick Magrath, she was born Feb. 10, 1926, and was a homemaker.

Ms. Fletcher is survived by her children Sheila (George) Ganetis, Donna (James) Young and Dorothy (David) Nastri; her grandchildren, Tim, Stephen, Sara, Brian, Gregory, Michael and Laura and great-grandchildren, Genetta, Addison and Amelia.

The family will receive visitors Friday, July 15, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will take place at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, July 16, at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to East End Hospice.

This is a paid notice. 

Benedict S. Andruski of Southold died July 14, 2016, at Eastern Long Island Hospital. The lifelong North Fork resident was 71 years old.

“Geke” was born in Greenport May 4, 1945, to Benedict and Helen (Harris) Andruski. He attended Mattituck Schools and was a graduate of Southold High School.

Following his graduation, he served in the United States Navy for nearly four years.

In 1974, he married the former Melissa Stanton at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue and together they made their home in Southold.

“Geke” had worked through the years at Grumman and Agway, as a bartender at Fisherman’s Rest and for the Cutchogue Park District where he was credited in rehabilitating the building and grounds of the Pequash Park.

He maintained his own landscaping business for many years in addition to being a ferry boat captain for Plum Island and Baymen. More recently, he was a “houseman” for the Cutchogue Fire Department.

“Geke” had been a member of the Griswold Terry Glover Post 803 in Southold and a volunteer with the Southold Fire Department.

In his free time, he enjoyed tending to his gardens and tinkering around home.

He is survived by his wife Melissa; two children Nathan Andruski and Janessa Andruski both of Southold; two sisters Althea Sidor of Mattituck and Laurie Kujawski of Gloucester, Va. and two grandchildren Isadora Andruski and Tyler Burner.

The family will receive visitors Monday, July 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where Southold Fire Department services will take place at 7 p.m. Religious services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home with Father Mariusz Gorazd officiating.

Memorial donations to the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1469, Southold, NY 11971 would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

Douglas E. Pearsall of Southold, formerly of Bay Shore, died on July 17, 2016, at the age of 78. He was an ex-chief of Bay Shore Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance.

He is survived by his wife Benigna “Benita” Pearsall; daughters, Lorraine Marie Walker and Barbara Ann Pearsall and grandchildren, Brittany Marie Walker and Corinne Nicole Walker. He was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Arthur Pearsall.

Friends may call Monday, July 25, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Overton Funeral Home in Islip, where funeral services will be held at 8 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Karen Hybertsen. Cremation will be private.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is assisting the family.

This is a paid notice.