Patricia Fenton (1963-2019)
Patricia M. Fenton, 55, of Wappingers Falls and formerly of Beacon, died June 24, 2019, at home, surrounded by her family.
Patricia was born Sept. 12, 1963, in Beacon, the daughter of Francis and Catherine (Farley) Chiappardi. In 1994 she married Billy Fenton. Patricia worked for IBM in East Fishkill and for eight years in the transportation and food service departments of the Beacon City School District. She also loved to bake and cook for her family.
In addition to her husband, Patricia is survived by her children, Victoria Fenton, Alexa Fenton and Robert Fenton; her granddaughter, Evalisse Fenton; and her siblings, Claudia Chiappardi, Janet Olson, Gail Buccellato, Francis Chiappardi, Vincent Chiappardi and Lisa Allis.
Family and friends will gather on Friday, June 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, 2 Beekman St., in Beacon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 Willow St., in Beacon. Memorial donationsa may be made to the ALS Association (als.org).
Vita Rhodes (1949-2019)
Elvita Marie Rhodes, 69, of Beacon and a former a longtime resident of Croton, died June 19, 2019 at New York Presbyterian Hospital while awaiting a lung transplant to relieve progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
Known to her family and friends as “Vita,” she was born in Warwick on Nov. 20, 1949, the daughter of Vito and Maria (Cosentino) Sabia. In 1977, she married James Rhodes in New York City.
Vita earned an associate’s degree in apparel design in 1969 and an associate’s degree in textile design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Following a career in the knit and woven industries, she was as office manager for civil engineers in Peekskill as well as managing and growing the office of the family firm, Preservation Design.
She transitioned from machine knitting to hand knitting, drawing on her experience as a colorist/stylist to produce complex and ambitious projects for her home, friends, premature infants and helmet liners for troops in Afghanistan.
From 1996 to 2000, she worked as an archivist of historic drawings and documents for the restoration of Grand Central Terminal. She was devoted to environmental and architectural conservation and demonstrated the adage that “preservation begins at home.”
A memorial celebration will take place in Beacon on Nov. 20, which would have been her 70th birthday. To send a personal condolence, email James Rhodes at [email protected]. Memorial donations may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (pulmonaryfibrosis.org) or a local associated effort, as well as becoming a registered organ donor (donatelife.ny.gov).
James Turcy (1951-2019)
James George Turcy, 68, a longtime Beacon resident before moving to Sarasota, Florida, 34 years ago, died June 24, 2019.
Known to friends and family as “Jimmy,” he was born in Beacon on April 6, 1951, the son of Joseph and Marion (Calaluca) Turcy. After graduating from Beacon High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1969 to 1972 during the Vietnam war.
Before his move to Florida, Jimmy was a volunteer firefighter with W.H. Mase Hook and Ladder and the Castle Point VA Fire Department before his move to Florida. He loved working with his hands and was a boat mechanic in Florida.
He is survived by his brother, Joseph Turcy (Beverly) of Beacon; his niece and goddaughter, Patty Rose; his nephew, Joseph J. Turcy; and his best friend and roommate, Carl Ziegler.
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, July 13, for an 11 a.m. graveside service with military honors at St. Joachim Cemetery in Beacon.
