Obituary for Teresa Abbene
We are saddened by the passing of our beautiful mother, Teresa Abbene, who left this world on January 8th at 11:11 pm in St. Luke’s hospital in Newburgh, NY where she transitioned peacefully to heaven. It is without a doubt that she was embraced by her loving husband, William Abbene, her loving mother and father, Adele and Costantino Larocchia, as well as all her loving family and friends who left this world before her.
Teresa succumbed to the effects of dementia at the end, but not after a resilient rebound from a stroke in 2017 and several other close calls including two bouts with Covid19. Remarkably, our mother’s personality was never impacted by any of it. She was always bubbly, sweet and forever kind to anyone who was in her presence. It didn’t matter where she met them, she was always ready to engage in a conversation and would especially want to talk about her family who she loved dearly.
Teresa was born in Middle Village, NY on July 15th, 1926 to her loving parents, Adele and Costantino Larocchia, proud Italian immigrants who loved this country so much and passed that love on to Teresa and her siblings. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, NY. Teresa was salutatorian there. She loved reading, crocheting (which we have many of those creations to remember her by), a beloved Yankee fan, devoted to her Catholic faith and mostly devoted to her family. She was a secretary for many years, but primarily a stay at home mom and returned to work at York College in Jamaica after her children were grown. She was the oldest child and loved her siblings, Charles, (who predeceased her), Angela Rose Guida and John Larocchia. She was married on July 4th, 1953 to her husband, William Abbene, a World War 2 veteran, who predeceased her on April 28th, 1994.
Together William and Teresa raised 4 children, Donna Marie Griffenkranz, Carla Adele Aram, William Joseph Abbene, and Rosemary Frances Goussios. She loved her sons-in-law, William Griffenkranz of Pine Bush, NY, (pre-deceased), Robert Aram of Blairstown, NJ, and Theodore Goussios of Hollis, NH as well as her daughter-in-law, Michelle Abbene, of Glendale, NY.
Teresa was also blessed with 9 grandchildren, William Griifenkranz, (Julia Pariot), Christopher Griffenkranz,(Holly Mancuso), Erica Griffenkranz, (George Forni),Matthew Aram, Amanda Aram, Alexander Goussios, Anna Goussios, William Michael Abbene and Mikey Abbene. In addition to her loving grandchildren, she was a great grandmother to 3 grandsons, Dominic Griffenkranz, Benjamin Griffenkranz, and Nicholas Griffenkranz.
Teresa had a private viewing and it was followed by a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Glendale, Queens where Teresa was a faithful congregant. The funeral was followed by a ceremony in Calverton Veterans’ Cemetery in Ridge, NY where she was buried beside her husband, William. Knowing they rest beside each other in peace gives us great comfort. Teresa’s favorite flower was the daisy and we’re sure when she entered heaven she was surrounded by a field of daisies!
Her favorite saint was St. Therese of Lisieux.
Donations in Teresa’s name can be made to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Our mom’s memorial account number is
Teresa Abbene
22834264
You can mail your donation or call this number
1-800-822-6344
or 1) Dementia.org
https://www.stroke.org/
2) Alzheimer’s Association
https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer/
Teresa succumbed to the effects of dementia at the end, but not after a resilient rebound from a stroke in 2017 and several other close calls including two bouts with Covid19. Remarkably, our mother’s personality was never impacted by any of it. She was always bubbly, sweet and forever kind to anyone who was in her presence. It didn’t matter where she met them, she was always ready to engage in a conversation and would especially want to talk about her family who she loved dearly.
Teresa was born in Middle Village, NY on July 15th, 1926 to her loving parents, Adele and Costantino Larocchia, proud Italian immigrants who loved this country so much and passed that love on to Teresa and her siblings. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, NY. Teresa was salutatorian there. She loved reading, crocheting (which we have many of those creations to remember her by), a beloved Yankee fan, devoted to her Catholic faith and mostly devoted to her family. She was a secretary for many years, but primarily a stay at home mom and returned to work at York College in Jamaica after her children were grown. She was the oldest child and loved her siblings, Charles, (who predeceased her), Angela Rose Guida and John Larocchia. She was married on July 4th, 1953 to her husband, William Abbene, a World War 2 veteran, who predeceased her on April 28th, 1994.
Together William and Teresa raised 4 children, Donna Marie Griffenkranz, Carla Adele Aram, William Joseph Abbene, and Rosemary Frances Goussios. She loved her sons-in-law, William Griffenkranz of Pine Bush, NY, (pre-deceased), Robert Aram of Blairstown, NJ, and Theodore Goussios of Hollis, NH as well as her daughter-in-law, Michelle Abbene, of Glendale, NY.
Teresa was also blessed with 9 grandchildren, William Griifenkranz, (Julia Pariot), Christopher Griffenkranz,(Holly Mancuso), Erica Griffenkranz, (George Forni),Matthew Aram, Amanda Aram, Alexander Goussios, Anna Goussios, William Michael Abbene and Mikey Abbene. In addition to her loving grandchildren, she was a great grandmother to 3 grandsons, Dominic Griffenkranz, Benjamin Griffenkranz, and Nicholas Griffenkranz.
Teresa had a private viewing and it was followed by a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Glendale, Queens where Teresa was a faithful congregant. The funeral was followed by a ceremony in Calverton Veterans’ Cemetery in Ridge, NY where she was buried beside her husband, William. Knowing they rest beside each other in peace gives us great comfort. Teresa’s favorite flower was the daisy and we’re sure when she entered heaven she was surrounded by a field of daisies!
Her favorite saint was St. Therese of Lisieux.
Donations in Teresa’s name can be made to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
Our mom’s memorial account number is
Teresa Abbene
22834264
You can mail your donation or call this number
1-800-822-6344
or 1) Dementia.org
https://www.stroke.org/
2) Alzheimer’s Association
https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer/