Obituary - Charlotte M Leoniak

Leoniak Charlotte M., age 78 of Middle Island, NY passed on October 18, 2018. Charlotte was Former President of League of Women’s Voters for Suffolk Country, NY. She was the beloved wife of Stephen A. Leoniak. Cherished mother of Gail Leoniak. She is survived by many other family members and friends. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Louis de Montfort R. C. Church.Interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the professional care of Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place and Vigliante family. Online guest book at www.branchfh.com

Obituary - Frank P Sapienza DDS

SAPIENZA - DDS. Frank P., age 86, of Saint James, NY, formerly of Brooklyn, NY passed peacefully on October 21, 2018 surrounded by family. An accomplished concert pianist, who loved Chopin, & once performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. A pioneer in Dentistry, the profession he loved. They Shall Not Be Forgotten. Proud Veteran United States Air Force. Mentor to Frank, Thomas, Stephen, Patrick and Robert. A true renaissance man who always strived for excellence. Beloved husband of the late Domenica. Loving father of Nicholas (Jenny), Maria (Stephen) Scotto-Lavino, Thomas (Grace), Christine Sapienza, Frank John (Jeanmarie) and the late Anthony Joseph. Adored Grandpa of Frank Nicholas, Elena (Doug), Nicole (George), John (Sacha), Nicholas, Elizabeth (Anthony), Salvatore (Tania), Domenica (Ronald), Frank Thomas (Taylor), Joseph, Angela (Kenneth), Christine, Maria (Todd), Michael (Nora), Frank Anthony, Jonathan and the late Marianne Domenica. Cherished Big Grandpa of Hunter, Izzy, Lilly, Tessa, Anthony, Michael, Stephen, Charlotte, Thomas, Frank Joseph, Tyler, Julie, Jack, Cole, Luke and Owen. Survived by his sisters, Catherine Grillo and Erina (Robert) LoDolce. He is survived by many other family members and friends. Religious Service was celebrated at Sts. Philips & James R.C. Church, St. James, NY. Entombment followed at St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the professional care of Branch Funeral Home of Smithtown and Vigliante family. Online guest book at www.branchfh.com

Obituary - Joan A Ward

Ward, Joan A. - On October 17, 2018, heaven gained another angel as Joan A. Ward passed away at the age of 85 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.  She fought bravely for several years and was stronger than any of us really knew.  She passed peacefully at home surrounded by family. 

Joan was a beloved wife to the late Joseph G. Ward and cherished mother to Gary (Cathy) Ward, Laurie (Thomas) Scally, and Nancy (Ronald) Muscarella.  She was an adoring Mimi/Grammy to Megan Horsely, Christopher Ward, Brendan Ward, Andrew Ward, Erin Scally, Kevin Scally, Kelsey Muscarella, Joseph Muscarella, Lauren Muscarella, and the late Katie Scally.  Joan was also a loving Great-grandmother to Everly and Logan Horsely, Lucas Ward, and Maxwell Ward. She was a beloved sister to Raye Ferguson and the late Genevieve Wilson.

Joan was born in Englewood New Jersey August 13, 1933 to George and Lauretta Pimont.  Sadly, she lost her mother only a year later, but was raised by her Aunt Berthe Tripier, who she called “mommy” and her Uncle Georges Tripier.  Her childhood was filled with love as her cousins quickly became sisters in their hearts.

After she married Joe in 1957, they immediately made their home and started a family in Woodside, NY.  They enjoyed summers in Lake Panamoka and eventually built a new home in St. James surrounded by extended family where they lived happily together for 31 years until Joe’s death in 2002.  

Joan lived a life full of laughter and vibrance and was loved by all who knew her.  While she will be missed deeply, she will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts.

Mrs. Ward’s funeral arrangements were professionally supervised while his Family was lovingly cared for during their bereavement by the Maher Family & Staff of the St. James Funeral Home. Friends may sign the online guest book at www.stjamesfuneralhome.com

Obituary - Eleanore Browne

Our beloved Eleanore Browne, 87, died surrounded by her family on Oct. 16th at home in Port St. Lucie. She is survived by her loving husband, Eugene, with whom she celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this summer. She was the mother, friend and confidant to her six children, Valerie, Pamela, Karen, Deborah, Eugene and Kevin, and the matriarch of a family that has grown to over twenty grand - and great-grandchildren.

Eleanore lost her father, Carlos Clive, at a young age and was raised in New York City by her mother Daisy Clive. She graduated from Fordham School of Nursing and went on to touch the lives of countless individuals throughout her career at Fordham Hospital and Deepdale Hospital.

Eleanore and Eugene raised their children on Long Island where they instilled in them the same core values that they practiced every day: respect, love and kindness. Family vacations included packing up the station wagon to go skiing and trips to the beach.

In retirement, they moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where they quickly became part of the community, joining bowling leagues, book clubs and of course, a New Yorker at heart, attending spring training to cheer on the New York Mets.

Even with an extended family that spans across the country, Eleanore was steadfast in keeping everyone close. Whether sharing news about the latest addition to the family or keeping tabs on how everyone’s NFL team was doing, you could count on her to bring tidings from near and far.

Her laughter, grace and guidance will be missed dearly. Mrs. Browne’s funeral arrangements were professionally supervised while his Family was lovingly cared for during their bereavement by the Maher Family & Staff of the St. James Funeral Home. Friends may sign the online guest book at www.stjamesfuneralhome.com

Obituary - Florence Miller Schiffman

SCHIFFMAN, FLORENCE MILLER, 90, passed away on Monday, October 22, 2018. Before moving to Rhode Island in 2001, she was a pillar of the Smithtown, NY community with her beloved husband, the late Dr. Zachary Schiffman. Florence was born in Brooklyn, NY to Paul and Etta (Weinberger) Miller. 

She received a Bachelor of Arts, Phi Beta Kappa, from Hunter College and a Certificate of Design from Pratt Institute. Florence started her interior design career in the early 1950s in New York City and in Dallas, TX. She opened her own design firm on Long Island in the 1960s. 

Florence next devoted herself to a career in social work by earning a master’s degree at SUNY Stony Brook University. She liked to say that she transitioned from designing the exterior of people’s lives to designing their interiors. She worked as a social worker at the DeSisto School, Lake Grove School, and Queens College, and she led a diversity training program on Long Island. She also had her own private practice. 

Florence lived a life rich with volunteer experiences, including chairing the American Cancer Society Ball, volunteering at Temple Beth Sholom in Smithtown, counseling troubled teens, and mentoring students in Providence public schools, for which she was named Volunteer of the Year. She was a life-long lover of bridge, art, and travel. 

Florence is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Mara Schiffman and Keith Laskin, Jamie Waldman and Keith Waldman, Tina Odessa and David Odessa, and Ted Lee; and grandchildren, Zachary and Jeremy Laskin, Zoe, Emma, and Benjamin Waldman, and Zachary Odessa. Florence was predeceased by her daughter, Beth Schiffman Lee, and her sister, Rhoda Shapiro. 

Graveside services were held on Wednesday, October 24 on Long Island. Contributions in Florence’s memory may be made to Tockwotton on the Waterfront, East Providence; Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, Providence; or the Southern Poverty Law Center.