Obituary for Loretta Barnaskey (Zulli)
Loretta Barnaskey, Scarsdale, NY passed away peacefully on the evening of June 2nd, 2019. She is the daughter of Orsino Zulli and Rose Vinci-Zulli. Her late husband John M Barnaskey passed away in July of 1989; she did not re-marry, and has now reunited with her husband. She is survived by her daughter Marcia Villiere and son-in-law George Villiere and his two children; grandson Robert Pawlings and his wife Joanna-Levine Pawlings, along with their twin sons Mikah and Jonah.
Other surviving members of her immediate family include her youngest brother Lou Zulli and his wife Liza, Lou’s first wife Virginia Milano and their children: Stephen, Lara, Peter, and Dawn; her nephew Baron Bianco and his wife Cora; his sister Ginger Walser and her daughter Amber Lee; both of her nieces: Karen Landry, her husband James and their four children (South Carolina); Cindy Ochs and her husband William, and their two children (Maryland).
She is also survived by a niece and nephew: Ed Staebler and his sister Susan Coyle, along with their immediate families (New York); her niece Sherry Herman and her husband Ed, along with their two sons (Nevada).
Loretta was a true American patriot, she lived her life for God and country and many of the details of her life are iconic. She was born in Eastchester in June of 1923 and graduated from Eastchester High School in 1941. During WWII, Loretta’s then fiancé, John M Barnaskey fought for the US Army in the 104th Field Artillery Battalion, fighting in the South Pacific. While her future husband was overseas, Loretta worked at the GM plant in Tarrytown for three years, working to assemble the cockpit of the Navy’s Avenger fighter plane. It was this experience where she received the title of Rosie the Riveter. She prided herself on this achievement, and is recognized as an official Rosie the Riveter by their museum in Richmond, California.
In December of 1945, John returned from WWII and they were married in 1946. Their daughter Marcia was born on May 13th, 1949.
In 1953, Loretta joined the American Legion Auxiliary and remained a member until the day she died. She was a member for over 60 years, and held posts as President, County President and many other positions. She was also a member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church for over 50 years, where she was a member of the choir and also started a children’s Nursery school, along with helping to run the church and countless church bazaars.
She was also the founding president of the North End Hook and Ladder Company #2 Auxiliary for several years in the mid-1950’s. She worked as a parking enforcement officer for the town of Eastchester for approximately 20 years, referring to herself proudly as Eastchester’s “First Nasty Ol’ Meter-Maid”. She absolutely loved working for the police force.
In retirement, Loretta helped to found a veterans clothing store at the FDR VA Hospital in Montrose, NY which opened in 1994. A computer printout from the store’s inception in 1994 to 2013 states that the total hours she worked in that 19-yr period was 14,751 hours.
Loretta was a stalwart supporter of whatever organization she was involved with, loved her family as much as anyone can possibly love their family, and she led by example. Calling hours will be held at WESTCHESTER FUNERAL HOME, INC., EASTCHESTER, NY on Monday, June 17th from 3 to 6 pm with funeral services at St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Eastchester on Tuesday, June 18th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Montrose Veterans Administration Hospital Clothing Center, P.O Box 100, Montrose, NY 10548 (914) 737- 4400.
Online condolences can be submitted at www.westchesterfuneralhome.com
Other surviving members of her immediate family include her youngest brother Lou Zulli and his wife Liza, Lou’s first wife Virginia Milano and their children: Stephen, Lara, Peter, and Dawn; her nephew Baron Bianco and his wife Cora; his sister Ginger Walser and her daughter Amber Lee; both of her nieces: Karen Landry, her husband James and their four children (South Carolina); Cindy Ochs and her husband William, and their two children (Maryland).
She is also survived by a niece and nephew: Ed Staebler and his sister Susan Coyle, along with their immediate families (New York); her niece Sherry Herman and her husband Ed, along with their two sons (Nevada).
Loretta was a true American patriot, she lived her life for God and country and many of the details of her life are iconic. She was born in Eastchester in June of 1923 and graduated from Eastchester High School in 1941. During WWII, Loretta’s then fiancé, John M Barnaskey fought for the US Army in the 104th Field Artillery Battalion, fighting in the South Pacific. While her future husband was overseas, Loretta worked at the GM plant in Tarrytown for three years, working to assemble the cockpit of the Navy’s Avenger fighter plane. It was this experience where she received the title of Rosie the Riveter. She prided herself on this achievement, and is recognized as an official Rosie the Riveter by their museum in Richmond, California.
In December of 1945, John returned from WWII and they were married in 1946. Their daughter Marcia was born on May 13th, 1949.
In 1953, Loretta joined the American Legion Auxiliary and remained a member until the day she died. She was a member for over 60 years, and held posts as President, County President and many other positions. She was also a member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church for over 50 years, where she was a member of the choir and also started a children’s Nursery school, along with helping to run the church and countless church bazaars.
She was also the founding president of the North End Hook and Ladder Company #2 Auxiliary for several years in the mid-1950’s. She worked as a parking enforcement officer for the town of Eastchester for approximately 20 years, referring to herself proudly as Eastchester’s “First Nasty Ol’ Meter-Maid”. She absolutely loved working for the police force.
In retirement, Loretta helped to found a veterans clothing store at the FDR VA Hospital in Montrose, NY which opened in 1994. A computer printout from the store’s inception in 1994 to 2013 states that the total hours she worked in that 19-yr period was 14,751 hours.
Loretta was a stalwart supporter of whatever organization she was involved with, loved her family as much as anyone can possibly love their family, and she led by example. Calling hours will be held at WESTCHESTER FUNERAL HOME, INC., EASTCHESTER, NY on Monday, June 17th from 3 to 6 pm with funeral services at St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Eastchester on Tuesday, June 18th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Montrose Veterans Administration Hospital Clothing Center, P.O Box 100, Montrose, NY 10548 (914) 737- 4400.
Online condolences can be submitted at www.westchesterfuneralhome.com