Helen Arlene Rutkowski

Longtime Greenport resident Helen Arlene Rutkowski died Jan. 22 at the age of 84. 

She was born Jan. 6, 1930, in Buffalo to Henry and Helen (Lynch) Klemm and graduated from Katherine Gibbs School of Secretarial, Executive and Academic Studies in 1948. She later worked as an executive secretary and administrator for Smith Insurance Agency in Glen Cove and Lockwood, Kessler & Bartlett and Harris Engineering & Defense, both in Syosset.

She was an active member of St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport and Anonymous Angels in Syosset.

Family members said Ms. Rutkowski was an avid licensed boater and was the first female commodore of Gull Pond Yacht Club in Greenport. She loved traveling the United States and had visited 48 of the 50 states. Family also described her as an “exquisite chef” and spoke of her love for all handcrafts, especially sewing and knitting.

Predeceased by her first husband, Robert O’ Grady, in 1965 and her second husband, Leonard Rutkowski, in 1977, she is survived by her significant other, Larry Marchano, of Greenport; her sons, Gary (Mary) O’Grady of Lake Ronkonkoma and Glenn (Linda) O’Grady of West Chester, Pa.; three grandchildren, Kenny Wright, Mark Wright and Sean Robert O’Grady; and a great-grandchild, DiAngelo Wright.

The family received visitors Jan. 26 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service took place Jan. 27 at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, Father Andrew Blake officiating. Interment was at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Agnes R.C. Church, 523 Front St., Greenport, NY 11944.

This is a paid notice.