June 7, 1928 - April 2, 2018
Beloved Wife and Mother
Tess Koeth, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 2, 2018. A native Staten Islander, Tess was proud to have visited all 50 United States.
The youngest of seven children of Angelina and Antonio Cafaro, Tess was born at home on Fingerboard Road in Fort Wadsworth. She attended PS 13 and McKee High School. Tess worked at the Downtown Athletic Club from 1947 to1954 as a bookkeeper.
Through her sister Ann, Tess met the love her life, Bob Koeth. His brother Joe (“Tiny”) was married to Ann, and so it happened that two sisters were married to two brothers, resulting in a tight bond between nine cousins.
Tess and Bob married on February 7, 1954. Immediately after their marriage, they moved to Spokane, WA, where Bob was serving in the United States Air Force. There they made life-long friends, with whom they remained close, attending Air Force reunions together for over 50 years.
While her children attended St. Sylvester's School, Tess was active in the Mother’s Guild. Starting as a cookie chairlady, Tess was a Girl Scout Leader, earning the Thanks Badge for her service. Tess was a Cub Den Pack Leader, so that she was involved in her sons' Boy Scout activities. Later in life, Tess took a part-time job with “Handcrafted By,” where she assisted in making fashion accessories.
As she and Bob retired, Tess became active in the Women’s Auxiliary of the Patrick J. Dalessio Post of the American Legion. Tess could also be seen regularly at St. Sylvester’s Hospitality Sundays. Tess enjoyed meeting and socializing with other parishioners.
Keeping with her spirit of community, as well as her interest in others, Tess worked for many years at PS 48 as a poll worker for the NYC Board of Elections. She eagerly looked forward to seeing neighbors and friends from the neighborhood as they voted.
Tess was proud of and loved by her children. She is survived by Donna Fisher, wife of Kevin Fisher, James Koeth and his wife Mary, Lynn Bocamazo and her husband Mark, and Edward Koeth. Tess was predeceased by her son Robert V. Koeth. Jr. engaged to Patricia Mansfield.
Tess was beloved by her grandchildren Bobby and Jess, Lisa, Brendan and Andrea, Meagan, and Tim Koeth, Kelly Donnelly and Michael, Michael and Christine Bocamazo, Bridget Fisher, and great-grandson Henry Koeth.
Tess’s greatest joy was when her children and grandchildren were together. She accomplished this by having them all together every summer at her nephew’s house on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks.
Visitation will be at Casey Funeral Home, 350 Slosson Avenue on Wednesday from 4-7 pm, and Thursday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10 am at St. Sylvester’s Church in Concord.
As Tess thought flowers are for the living, contributions to St. Sylvester’s Church, Concord, Staten Island would be most appreciated.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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