Blog Archives

Frank Sereno

12/26/2022

    Frank Sereno, 88, of Skaneateles passed away Monday, December 26th, 2022. Born in Pozzallo, Sicily to Giovanni and Annetta Sereno. Frank came to America in 1943. He attended North High. Frank lived in North Syracuse before moving to Skaneateles in 1994.
    He retired from Syracuse China and worked there over forty years. His joy in life was spending time with his grandchildren and watching them play sports. He was an avid SU Orange and Yankees fan.
    Frank was predeceased by his brother, Salvatore of Syracuse and sister Salvatrice of Italy, his brother-in-law Ignazio of Italy and sisters-in-law Providenza of Syracuse and Nunziatina of Italy.
    Surviving is his wife Maria (Giudice), of sixty-six years, daughter Anna (William) Murphy and son, John (Maria) Sereno, grandchildren: William Jr. (Jessica) Murphy, Christopher (Yoyo) Murphy, Danielle (George)During, Adriana (Christopher) Savage, Francesca Sereno (Ryan), and John Sereno Jr. Also surviving are nine Great-Grandchildren, Emma, William III, Noah, Eleanor, Connor, Taylor, Clare, Grace, and Olivia.
    The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff in the” D” wing of St. Camillus and special thank you to nurse Sarah.
    There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 10 am Friday, December 30th in St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, 81 Jordan Street, Skaneateles. Private burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
    In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to the Empower Parkinson Inc. at PO Box 353, Tully, NY 13159.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Arlene Mills

12/17/2022

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Arlene Mills, 76, of Auburn passed away on Saturday at Crouse Hospital. Survived by her daughter Margaret Mills and grandsons Aidan and Santino. Memorial service will be held on Friday, December 23rd at 10am at St. Mary’s Church, Skaneateles.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Christopher L. Susa

12/16/2022

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It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to Christopher Susa. He passed away on December 16, 2022. Christopher or Susa, as he liked to be called, was born in Peekskill, NY on September 23, 1961. Susa lived at the Skaneateles IRA since 2008. Susa brought joy to many of the staff and his friends at the residence. Susa loved going out to parks, zoos, and down to the lake to watch the boats and even took rides on the boats.
Susa enjoyed time with his friends at Skaneateles watching movies and spending time on the patio during the spring and summer months. Susa enjoyed bobbing his head and having staff sing along while listening to a variety of music and especially music from the 50’s and 60’s. Susa was a man of little words but many facial expressions that would get his needs and wants across. Susa will be greatly missed by everyone who had come into his life and was able to spend any amount of time with him.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday, January 4th at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles, from 9:30 to 11am with a service to follow. Burial in Lake View Cemetery.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Anna Marie Gerst

12/15/2022

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    Anna Marie Gerst, 85, of Skaneateles, passed away at home on December 15, 2022, with her family surrounding her.
    Anna Marie was born on April 13, 1937 to Joseph and Frances Shon in Youngstown, OH. After graduating from Rayen High School in 1955, she went on to attend Youngstown University and taught fifth grade at Saint Columba Elementary.
    In 1958, during their junior year at college, Anna Marie met the love of her life, Carl William Gerst, Jr. They married on April 18, 1959, and later that summer, moved to Central New York. With two children and a third on the way, they moved from an apartment in North Syracuse to their first house in Skaneateles during 1967.
    Anna Marie and her husband, Carl, have always given to causes close to their heart, eschewing recognition. She was a member of St. Mary’s of the Lake Church in Skaneateles, and St. Alphonsus Church in Auburn. Anna Marie and Carl formed a close friendship with Father Lou Vasile, who married two of their children, baptized several grandchildren, and visited with Anna Marie weekly up through time of her passing.
    Anna Marie was an avid sports fan, and loved to watch all of her kids and grandkids play sports. She was a fixture at Allyn Arena in the 70s and 80s, watching her three boys play hockey. Whether live or on TV, there were not many sports she did not like to watch with her husband. When Patrick Mahomes came onto the scene, she became an instant Kansas City Chiefs fan (as well as a fan of his wife and family). Carl and Anna Marie missed very few Yankees games, especially this summer, with Aaron Judge chasing 61 home runs. The family knew they would be scolded for calls during any SU basketball, Football, or Lacrosse game (especially last year when her second nephew, Mikey Berkman, was playing). Watching any sporting event with her, you were treated to better color commentary than any network announcer.
    Anna Marie was predeceased by her beloved mother and father, Frances and Joseph, and brother, Samuel Shon. Anna    Marie is survived by her husband of 63 years, Carl. Her children, Mary (Ken) Hardy, Maureen (Scott) Stalica, Carl (Ingrid) Gerst III, Greg Gerst; Gary (Lynda) Gerst, Amy (Todd) Ruetsch; and Christine Gerst. Anna Marie cherished her twenty grandchildren: Sean, Samantha, and Rileigh Hardy; Gina, Alex, Danny and Sara Stalica; Aidan Loftus, Samuel, and Carl William Gerst IV; Matthew and Natalie Gerst; Nathan, Thomas, and Addy Gerst; Hannah, Jack, Connor, Hank, and Tyler Ruetsch. Anna Marie is also survived by her sisters Mary Bartlemay and Francie (Jerome) Keating.
    Anna Marie loved life to the fullest, especially time spent with her family. Anna Marie doted on her “boyfriend”, Carl, and on Christine, their youngest daughter. As a special needs adult, Christine (the “Angel” of the family) has always lived at the family home with a dedicated caregiving team throughout her adulthood. This team includes Terry Patrick, Atsje Zuidema, Kim Bobbett, Holly Falso, Cindy Lynn, Trish Hoadley, and Paige Boratko. The following quote embodies how Anna Marie felt towards her own family, and this amazing, loving team of women: “In Family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together and the music that brings harmony.” by Eva Burrows. The family wants to thank the loving end-of-life care from Dee Sweet, her team, and Hospice of Central New York.
    The funeral will be held at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church in Skaneateles, NY, at 10 am on Tuesday, December 20th; there will be a Celebration of Life Reception after mass at The Lodge (4355 State Street, Skaneateles Falls, 13153), and all are welcome.
    In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Anna Marie’s memory to the Hospice of Central New York and of the Finger Lakes by clicking here: Hospice Donation.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Carl J. Steigerwald, II

12/11/2022

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    Carl J. Steigerwald II, age 83, passed peacefully on December 11th at his home in Newtown Square, PA with his dedicated daughter Monica at his side.
    Carl was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mary Lou. Born in Syracuse, he graduated CBA in 1957 where he medalled in track and field; setting statewide records along the way. Carl proudly wore his CBA class ring his entire life. Next was SU, Class of 1961. Carl was an avid, life-long fan of the Orange and never missed a basketball game or the opportunity to wear Orange Men Gear.
    Retired from Janney Montgomery Scott, he filled his days with his grandchildren, the Phillies, the Eagles and golf! Carl played every storied golf course in the country from Harbour Town to Pebble Brook. In 1997, he was in Augusta and watched as Tiger won his first Masters. A devoted father, Carl is survived by his children Jay, Monica and Will (Billy); his sister, Mary Lou Hogan; brother and sister in-laws Edward and Cathy O’Donnell and a throng of nephews. Also survived by his beloved grandchildren Jessica and Jake. “Pop” found his greatest joy in their talent. It was their love and laughter that filled his heart to overflowing.
    Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, December 27th at 10am at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Skaneateles. All are welcome to a reception/luncheon immediately following the service. Private burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Skaneateles.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Ann Patricia Rehm Bennett

12/7/2022

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                                                Ann Patricia Rehm Bennett (Baby Ann, Annie, Aunt Ann,) was born on November 11, 1942 in Yonkers, NY. She passed away at the age of 80.
    She has lived in San Francisco, CA where she had her own business as an event planner, Naples and Vero FL and most recently, Skaneateles, NY.
    She was born to Jack Rehm and Ann McCarthy Rehm who predeceased her. She had three siblings Jack Rehm (who passed away on December 27, 2022), Virginia Rehm Tehan (passed away on July 3, 2013) and Linda Rehm Nyselius (Ron) survives.
    She is also survived by seven nieces, and two nephews: Karyn Marshall (Bastiansen Tehan), Jeryl Alibrandi (Tehan) (James) (two children), and William (Whit) (two children), Karen McAvoy (Brust) (Brett) (two children), Liz Rehm Wooster (Richard), (three children), Ann Melissa Rehm Pulver (Scott), (three children), Cindy Rehm and J.D Rehm (Kathy) and their five children, and several great and great-great nieces and nephews. Her niece, Elizabeth (on Huntley’s side) also survives her).
    Ann was married to Huntley Bennett who predeceased her. He had two daughters, Anne (Tom) who predeceased her and Nancy Phillips (Fern) (Bennett) (Scott/Scooter). They each have two girls.   Ann was very close to all of them and the “children” and “grandchildren” became her very own
    She leaves behind the 2nd love of her life, Bob Ward. They both enjoyed playing tennis. Even when Ann was sick, she couldn’t wait to play tennis again.
                                                                                  Ann traveled the world. Her first encounter to Italy was with her best friend, Roseann McGordy. While she and Hunt were married, they went on a So. American cruise for 3 months.
                                                    Ann’s crowning achievement in event planning was creating a five-star experience for top corporate executives at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
                                                                          She loved life and was rewarded with many friends. She had a way of making you feel good and through her sense of humor (known as the McCarthy sense of humor), we would always share a good laugh.
There will be no services.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com

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Robert Emil Leiss

12/3/2022

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     Robert Emil Leiss, 81, of Skaneateles, passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
                                                                                                                                                      Robert was a loving father, grandfather, husband and friend. He was a talented golfer who excelled at all hobbies he pursued. He ran the New York and Boston marathons, obtained a pilot’s license, and could tackle any home improvement project. His favorite things included his family, a round of golf, a good book and a perfect Manhattan.
    Born in Jamaica, New York, Robert was then raised in Honesdale, Pennsylvania with his 4 brothers on a family farm. Robert studied Chemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University then returned to New York to live and work.
    He met his wife Mary while working in computer sales for IBM in New York City and they’ve been happily married for 45 years. After 2 years of marriage, they held a 4th of July Leiss Family Reunion at their first house. The tradition continued and grew over the course of 43 years.
    Robert is survived by his wife, Mary Sennett, and his 5 children, Jessica, Philip (Charlene), Katie (Tim Neider), Robert (Jenny Cheng), and Anna (Sam Bydlon). He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 3 of his brothers, William, Gary, and Philip.
    People who knew him will always remember his kindness, patience and easy smile.
    Services will be private. Donations may be made in Robert’s name to a charity of your choice.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Welcome

Frank Sereno

Arlene Mills

Christopher L. Susa

Anna Marie Gerst

Carl J. Steigerwald, II

Ann Patricia Rehm Bennett

Robert Emil Leiss

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