Eugene Ralph D'Onofrio

Eugene Ralph D’Onofrio, a longtime resident of Montrose NY, passed away on July 29, 2023. He was 70. Gene was born on January 27, 1953 in Suffern, NY to the late Eugene B. and Anna (Felice) D’Onofrio. A North Rockland High School graduate of 1971, Gene also received his AAS in Nursing from Rockland Community College in 1976 and his BS in Nursing from Pace University in 1981. He worked for thirty years as a dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse before his retirement. Gene is beloved for many things, perhaps most especially for his role as a caregiver. He tirelessly and selflessly cared for his rehabilitation patients, his three children, his parents, and extended family through the years. After his retirement, Gene also found a new passion for hospital chaplaincy, where he accompanied patients with his pastoral presence and provided spiritual support to the most vulnerable, which he did with a depth of care for a decade. Gene prided himself on his relationships, as he maintained friendships with his close friends and cousins for many years; he kept in touch with them with regular phone calls and visits, something that his family remembers with great fondness and gratitude.

Along with his personal relationships, Gene was closely associated with his home parish of St. Patrick’s in Verplanck, where he served as a parishioner, song leader, CCD teacher, and Eucharistic Minister for decades. Gene’s dedication and love for his Catholic faith, highlighted by the commitment to charity and service, remains an integral part of his memory for his children and loved ones. Gene was also a long-time member of the choral group the Hudsoneers, which served as a deep and meaningful community for him for many years, as his best friend, the late, Pat Armida, was the director and helped balance Gene’s emotional depth with some necessary lightness. Gene was a fun character for all who were lucky enough to know him. His love for his faith was perhaps only slightly above his love for all things Disney, Star Wars, Leave it to Beaver, The Three Stooges, and The Andy Griffith Show. Gene could be found any given weekend morning watching TV Land, hours before his own kids were awake, happily sitting next to his beloved dog, Mr. Feeny, and watching his favorite shows with some instant coffee and egg beaters. Gene’s love for his hobbies was uncomplicated, pure, and authentic, and his joy for them was felt by anyone who had the pleasure of talking with him.

Gene is survived by his wife of 40 years, Marcia, his son Stephen (Raphaella) of Peekskill, his daughter, Elizabeth (Roger) Surprenant, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and his daughter, Christina (Lyndsey) of Brooklyn; his brother, Michael (Diane) of Valley Cottage, his sister-in-law, Lynn of Stony Point, and his nephew Michael Adam; along with numerous cousins, beloved friends, and six grand-cats. Gene was predeceased by his parents, Eugene B. and Anna (Felice) D’Onofrio, and his brother, Rocky D’Onofrio, along with close friends who will undoubtedly be overjoyed to see Gene again.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, August 4th from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Edward F Carter Funeral Home, 170 Kings Ferry Rd., Montrose, NY 10548. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday, August 5th at 10:30am at St. Christopher’s/Patrick’s Church, 240 11th Street, Verplanck, NY. Interment to follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Verplanck, NY.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to St. Christopher/St. Patrick Churches, 3094 Albany Post Rd., Buchanan, NY 10511. Thank you to all who have loved Gene and continue to love his family through this time of loss.