Obituary of Bernice Paggi

Bernice Paggi, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, February 14, 2012. A lifelong resident of the area, Bernice was born in Beacon on July 6, 1927 to Martin and Loretta Neary. Bernice married Joseph E. Paggi on November 6, 1948. Bernice was the cherished mother of ten children: Susan Singer of Pittsburgh, PA; Joseph (Charleen) Paggi, Jr. of Wappingers Falls; Barbara (Thomas) Martin of Poughkeepsie; Mark (Brenda Ward) Paggi of Westerville, OH; John (Helga) Paggi of Bayville, NJ; Matthew (Barbara) Paggi of Montgomery Center, VT; MaryAnn (James Hayden) Plant of California, MD; Peter Paggi of Wappingers Falls; Christopher (Andrea) Paggi of Williston Park; and Kathleen (Richard) Villiotte of Topsfield, MA. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bernice was devoted to her family. In her spare time, she dedicated many hours volunteering at St. Francis Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center. She also loved to read and walk her beloved Cape Cod beaches. Those that knew her will carry and be comforted by her memory of the love in her heart and the twinkle in her Irish eyes. Family will receive friends on Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, February 17 at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 775 Main Street in Poughkeepsie. Interment will follow in St. Joachim's Cemetery, Washington Avenue in Beacon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bernice's name to Holy Trinity School, 775 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 or to Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Development Office, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509. For directions to the funeral home or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.