Obituaries

Frances Marian Trentacosta Verrecchio

Frances Marian Trentacosta Verrecchio of Greenport and Manorville, N.Y., born Friday, March 28, 1919, died peacefully on Sunday, March 20, 2011, at the age of 91. She was born in Bronx, N.Y., and resided in the NYC boroughs of Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn until 1973, central Florida until 1991 and, finally, in Long Island.

Frances, the youngest of six children and the last to pass, was a studious child and an avid reader, a practice she continued throughout her adult life. Frances began her career with the Internal Revenue Service in 1939 as a member of a typing pool, rapidly rising to become the administrative assistant to a District Director. It was here that she met her lifelong companion and dear, devoted, surviving husband, Joseph F. Verrecchio. They married in 1948.

From 1949 to 1966 Frances was a stay-at-home mom to her two surviving daughters, Rosemary and Nancy. During that time she founded two home-based, part-time businesses: clerical services and craft-works; lead an active social life with family and friends; and participated in the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion. She loved to cook and she excelled at it. Though her repertoire was eclectic, hands down she made the best meatballs in the entire universe.

Frances returned to full-time employment in 1966, performing administrative functions briefly for Royal Globe Insurance in NYC; then, until 1971, as civilian personnel at the Naval Air Reserve Base at Floyd Bennett Field, working directly with enlisted military sea- and airmen and women; and until 1973 for the Brooklyn Army Terminal, dispatching military shipments worldwide. Many a home-cooked meal was shared by the military personnel stationed on base. One such dinner included, along with several U.S. counterparts, two Royal Air Force Squadron Leaders: one who piloted the first transatlantic flight made in a Harrier jet, to position it at Floyd Bennett Field for the other pilot, who flew it in the 1969 Transatlantic Air Race. Impressive as this guest list was, dinner with the Waves was always the most fun.

Within several months of taking residence in Florida, Frances was employed as a bookkeeper for a commercial shipping company and, then, with her husband, Joe, engaged for several years in licensed real estate sales. Following their return to the Northeast, Frances and Joe participated in many outside interests: Senior Citizens Club of Manorville, Manorville Fire Department Auxiliary, American Legion, Loyal Order of Moose and social card games with friends.

Frances was a “grande dame” and the personification of a “lady” in the truest old-world sense of the word. Of all things in life, she most treasured her family and friends. Her profound love for children and her passionate belief that no child ought to suffer will be honored by donations made in her name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America (866-880-1382/wish.org) or to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (800-873-6983/stjude.org).

A private viewing was held for the immediate family at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, N.Y. The service and interment at Calverton National Cemetery will be private as well.

This is a paid notice.