Obituaries

Sofia (Fina) Maisonet was born Sofia Garcia in Naguabo,Puerto Rico on April 30^th, 1939.

She met the love of her life Albert (Papa Boly) Maisonet, her late husband, through a family member that set them up on a date.  Fina is survived by her four children, Tammy, Nelly, Victor and Albert, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.  Her children and family can attest to the fact that she had “the patience of a saint” and never lost her temper with them or even raised her voice.  Our mom was always supportive and encouraging, always wise and kind, and very proud of her children. She loved to cook for her family and crochet blankets for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always sacrificed her needs for the good of her family. Fina will be remembered as a selfless mother who always had a smile, even when times were tough. She had a quiet strength, never complained and always looked to a better future.

Fina has a strong Catholic faith and did her rosary every day. When she was diagnosed with bladder cancer several months ago until her passing into heaven she did not cry, get mad or go into depression. Instead she loved and lived every moment she was given, neither hard times nor cancer would rob her of who she was.  Always graceful, until God called her home.

“ I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

                                                                                           2 Timothy 4:7

Dr. Mathilda A. Catarina  (“Dee”) of River Edge New Jersey passed away on November 19, 2021. Born in Red Hook, Brooklyn on January 23, 1939 to Julia and Amado Braceros. Dee was predeceased by her parents as well as her siblings Olga, Sonny and Lovey.

Dee professionally was a Doctor of Psychology, and a long-time professor at Brooklyn College where she founded the Special Baccalaureate Degree program for adults returning to school. As Director, she imbued the philosophy of multi-culturalism, tolerance & acceptance and published on the topic well before it became a focus in mainstream academia.  

After retiring from Brooklyn College, she took a position as a professor at William Paterson University, and also served as a Pathways Director providing counseling services to patients and as a FEMA advisor counseling veterans with PTSD issues.

Mathilda was an academic prodigy having been accepted to Hunter High School at the age of 13 and inducted as a member into MENSA.  Later, while raising her three children as a single parent, Mathilda taught public grade schools in Red Hook and Crown Heights, Brooklyn leading the early efforts & integration of the NYC Head Start program and achieved her bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College and her master’s & PHD from Fordham University by attending evening classes.

Affectionately known as “MaDee” by her grandchildren Samantha, John, Jac, Maxwell and Charlotte she is also survived by her loving husband Ric and her three children Lori, Gary and Joseph; along with a myriad of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and professional associates.

Dee loved owning their antique store in NYC, spending time with family in their Upstate NY home, helping people and was famous for always welcoming everyone, family & friends, new & old to Thanksgiving dinner, her favorite holiday of the year.   

Dr. Dee, Breaker of Glass Ceilings, and Wonder Woman are just a few of her monikers but Mom and MaDee are the names she wore most proudly.

Michele Gonzalez was born on December 13, 1955, in Brooklyn NY to Charles Andrew O’Neal and Dorothy Christine (Spencer).

She lived her life to the fullest, touching hearts wherever she went.
Her greatest expressions of love were invitations to her home in Florida, calling you on the phone and if she didn’t get you at that point, when she did, her words of love were “I’m gonna beat you”.  She never tired of letting anyone know how proud she was of their accomplishments.   She gave everyone their flowers.
She genuinely enjoyed seeing everyone  do well and was super supportive of everyone’s endeavors
and was proud of even the smallest of accomplishments.

Her favorite pastime was her passion for listening to ALL genres of music but loved Salsa and Salsa dancing came second nature to her. She loved traveling to spend time with each of her daughters and grandchildren but was most recently excited and anxiously awaiting and preparing for the arrival of her newest grandchild.  So proud that “HER BABY” was expecting her first BABY.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Charles O’Neal, Mother, Dorothy O’Neal, Brother, James O’Neal, Grandparents, James and Matilda Spencer and Sarah Brown.

She is survived by her Sisters, Victoria O’Neal and Dawn O’Neal-Washington, daughters, Antoinette Guillopo, Michele Harrington, Alexandria Guillopo and Dominique Guillopo, (6) Grandkids, Najee Reina, Jade Harden, Amaya Harrington, Alaia Harrington, Albert (Trey) Harrington and Ausome Harrington and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank you from our Hearts for all of the condolences shared through your presence as well as flowers, cards, emails, phone calls, texts and Social Media.

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of  

Rosalina Manino, on August 30, 2021. 

Visiting Hours will be held on Monday, September 06, 2021,

between the hours of 3:00 - 7:00pm,

at Cobble Hill Chapels Funeral Home,

located at 171 Court Street,

Brooklyn ◆ New York 11201. 

On Tuesday, September 07, 2021,

Funeral Services will begin 9:30am with Friends and Family welcome to gather

at  Cobble Hill Chapels

for a Final Farewell before the funeral procession commences at 10:15am 

to The Evergreen Cemetery,

1629 Bushwick Avenue ◆ Brooklyn, New York 11208 

⚜︎ In Lieu of Flowers ⚜︎

 the family of Rosalina Manino would appreciate donations made to 

www.autism-society.org

National Down Syndrome Society-   https://give.ndss.org/give/60261/#!/donation/checkout

Please be mindful due to the current State mandate that a mask must be worn at all times in the funeral home and social distancing requirements must be followed during the services.

Due to the current Pandemic a strict 50 person in room policy is in effect.

Please adhere to this policy and allow others to pay their respects as well.

Due to the current pandemic circumstances please note:
There will be NO bakery products, food, and fruit baskets until further notice.

Floral Arrangements can be purchased from our highly recommended local floral designers,

FLORAL FANTASY, who work under the most stringent sanitary conditions which include temperature checks, mask wearing, distancing and protective clothing. You can call 718-238-6978 and place your order.

We must protect the families we serve, our own families and staff who operate the funeral home.

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Mary Rauso. 

Visiting Hours will be held on

Saturday, August 28th 2021 at Cobble Hill Chapels,

between the hours of  7:00 - 9:00pm ( Evening Hours Only ) 

and Sunday, August 29th between the hours of 2:00-5:00 & 7:00- 9:00pm 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on

Monday, August 30th, 2021, 

at 9:30am, located at

Sacred Heart-St Stephen Church 

125 Summit Street - Brooklyn, New York - 11231 

* Mass will also be broadcast online at https://boxcast.tv/view/mass-of-christian-burial-for-mary-rauso-257851

Interment to follow at CALVERTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

located in Calverton, New York ( Long Island) 

Peter-Lawrence Pope 

Brooklyn, New York- Peter-Lawrence “Peter” Pope, a graduate student and care partner for the elderly, died on June 26 at the home he shared with his partner in the Cobble Hill area of Brooklyn, New York. He was 42 years old.

Born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1979, Peter grew up in Richardson, Texas, graduating from Richardson High School in 1996. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies on academic scholarship at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he took on many leadership roles including within Jewett House, the Queer Coalition of Vassar College (QCVC), and the Class of 2000.  He remained active as an alumnus, working on reunion planning, class correspondence, and as a class officer.

Peter began his career in New York City, where he worked as a television producer at the Oxygen Channel and later, a legal assistant. In recent years however he had found his calling working with the elderly as a Care Partner at Renewal Memory Partners – work he found extremely rewarding. He also found deep fulfillment in hearing the stories of elderly members of the LGBTQ+ community – specifically regarding their personal experiences of the Stonewall Riots of 1969 – and had aspired to one day create a compilation of these stories for a documentary. He had recently begun studies towards his master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Washington, and had hopes of continuing a career serving others in non-profit management.

Peter was an avid writer with a devastating wit, as well as a thoughtful observer of and commentator on television, pop culture and current events. He was also a talented singer and performer – it was not uncommon to spot him performing his favorite showtunes at piano bars Don’t Tell Mama and the (now shuttered) Rose’s Turn in the West Village of Manhattan. Peter was well-known for his unique karaoke version of Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” – he also knew the words to every song on the “Sound of Music” soundtrack.

Peter’s many friends will remember his quick and quirky wit and his spunky creativity, as well as his willingness to debate any topic – always from a place of relentless logic, tempered with a unique ability to empathize with anyone affected. For the past three years he has lived in Brooklyn with his devoted partner of five years, Steve Asher, with whom he enjoyed living a life together, and playing with their dog Lily.

Peter is preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Willene Stokes, Roy Pope and Helen Wesson. He leaves to mourn his passing his life partner Steve, of Brooklyn, New York; his mother, Naomi Wesson of Houston, Texas; father, Juan Wesson (Genee) of Dallas, Texas; father, Larry Pope (Kimberly); siblings, Daja Pope (Riccardo Davis), Joshua Wesson, Andrew Wesson, Courtney Johnson, GeKai Halton, GeKhara Hurt, Portia and Morgan James; nieces, Jace Wesson, Jada Davis, Kazleigh Wesson, Gisele Hurt, McKinney and Karrington Vines; nephews, Londell and Joshua Wesson, Jr., and Timothy and Ethan White; grandmother, Willie Thomas; uncles, Nathaniel Stokes (Cynthia), Joseph Stokes (Elizabeth), and a host of god-siblings including Corey Strickland, Christian Smith, Margaret Walker, Anica Duke, and Shawntele Pringle-Foy; a host of cousins, relatives, and loving friends who will miss him dearly, and his beloved dog, Lily.  

A first memorial was held on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Fresh Oil Point Church, Balch Springs, Texas.

A second memorial celebration of Peter’s life will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021

at the Cobble Hill Chapels,

171 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

from 2:00 – 4:00pm ET.

Finally, a memorial service and dedication ceremony will be held on the

Vassar College campus,

at 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY on

Sunday, August 15, from 2 – 4pm ET.

Family and friends are invited to visit the memorial website in his honor at https://www.mykeeper.com/events/PeterLawrencePope/, where updates on arrangements will be shared.

The family encourages memorial contributions to SAGE (Services & Advocacy for LGBT Elders) USA, where Peter served as a volunteer.

Donations in Peter’s memory may be made here.

Please join us for a Memorial Service honoring Peter's Life

on Saturday, August 14, 2021,

between the hours of 2:00-4:00pm,

at Cobble Hill Chapels,

located at 171 Court Street,

Brooklyn, New York 11201. 

In Lieu of Flowers,

please consider making a donation to SAGE USA

providing advocacy and services to LGBT Elders

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Abidemi Kunle Amoo, on July 26, 2021 

Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, August 06, 2021,

between the hours of 4:00 - 8:00pm 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 07, 2021 

10:00am at St. Pauls Church 

234 Congress Street 

Brooklyn, New York  11201 

* Entrance located on Court Street

Entombment to follow at The Greenwood Cemetery, 

located at 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, New York . 

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Roberto Arce Irizarry, on August 01, 2021 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on

Thursday, August 05, 2021, 10:00am,

at St. Pauls Church

( Court & Dean Street, Brooklyn, New York) 

Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery,

Located at 361 Sharrott Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10309

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Luis Gonzalez, on July 26, 2021

Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2021, at Cobble Hill Chapels 

between the hours of 4:00 - 8:00pm