Dennis Kroner

Dennis Kroner, 71, passed away on September 11, 2026. Born on June 27, 1955, in Brooklyn, Dennis lived in Ridgewood, New York. He will be remembered as a beloved and cherished presence—kind-hearted, compassionate, devoted to those he loved, and steady in the hard-working way he moved through life, always with a creative spirit close at hand.

Dennis was the son of Joseph and Rose Kroner and the brother of Patricia. As a boy, he served as an altar boy at St. Matthias’ in Ridgewood. He attended St. Matthias’ Catholic Academy and later Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, where he ran track throughout high school—an early reflection of the determination and discipline that would remain a part of him throughout his life.

He began working at a young age, starting as a delivery boy for a butcher, where he eventually learned how to cut meat. He later worked at a plexiglass factory and then as a carpenter. A gifted carpenter, Dennis could shape a home with his hands and imagination. He built his own fireplace, the frame for his couch, his home bar, and even paneled his mother’s apartment. He eventually went on to serve as a public safety officer for 40 years, a long and devoted career marked by reliability and care for others. In 2019, he received a commendation medal in recognition of his years of service.

Dennis met his ex-wife, Linda, in the neighborhood during high school, and together they shared a daughter, Christine. He took deep pride in his family, and his love shone brightest in his role as grandfather to Catherine, the light of Dennis’ life. Catherine was her grandfather’s keeper—affectionately known as “the boss”—and her “Grandpa’s No-No List,” detailing what foods Dennis could and could not indulge in for his own good, remains a tender family memory.

Catherine remembers that she was obsessed with horses growing up, and had wanted to ride ever since she was a kid. Dennis convinced her parents to let him take her for riding lessons at Lynn’s Riding Center, helping her experience something she had always wanted to do.

Every Christmas week, Catherine and her mom would go down and make kruschiki and butter cookies. Whichever dog Dennis had at the time would always end up covered in flour, no matter what.

Dennis had a special love for Hess trucks and enjoyed collecting them over the years. He especially loved buying Hess trucks for his daughter, Christine, and his granddaughter, Catherine, ever since she was born in 2003. It became a special tradition they shared, one that Christine and Catherine will lovingly continue in his memory for years to come.

When Dennis was in rehab, Catherine’s mom told him that Catherine was looking into getting a job but needed her license. Dennis offered to buy her a car and pay for driving lessons. All he wanted was that, when he got home, she would be able to drive him around and take him places.

The family also fondly remembers their trips to Pennsylvania together, shopping at his favorite stores, Walmart and Kmart, and frequent visits to the Flea Market, where Dennis would purchase his spices. To say he had a spice collection would be an understatement.

Dennis would also tell Catherine stories about the people he met while working at NYU, including celebrities like Adam Sandler, the Olsen twins, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. He would always come home smiling from work. Whether it was saying good morning and hello to people or bringing candy for the kids, those things always made him smile.

Dennis would always ask Catherine what her plans were, whether she was going to the movies with her friends, going to baseball games with her Nana and Papa and now her mom, or going to comic conventions with Nana and Papa. He always liked to hear about her days at school, especially her anthropology class. When she came home talking about observing skeleton heads and bones, Dennis was always interested in hearing about it. He would also talk about WWE wrestling with her because it was something they both watched. Catherine made sure that if she missed a day, she always had the information so she could have a conversation with him about it.

A devoted music fan, Dennis loved listening to the Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, The Doors, and Bob Marley. He brought that same care and creativity into the kitchen and around the table. He loved smoking meat, especially pastrami, along with his famous lamb and smoked turkey. He cooked for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s dinner, and the family agreed that his smoked turkey was so good that it became a Thanksgiving tradition every year. He also enjoyed making Sauerbraten, the traditional German dish.

Dennis was famous for his pickled watermelon, so much so that he placed first and second two years in a row at the Bethpage County Fair. Every Wednesday was Italian night, when he would make his famous sauce, and the family shares many happy memories surrounding the dinner table. He also frequented Joe and John’s Pizza and White Castle, humorously referring to their sliders as “belly bombers.”

Dennis loved being out on the water and the simple joys it brought. He enjoyed being on the family rowboat with his son-in-law, Paul. Paul would fish while Dennis crabbed in the back. Paul fondly remembers that Dennis would always find crabs, while Paul would never catch any fish.

Dennis was also an amazing gardener, growing tomatoes, tending to his cherry tree, and raising wax beans with patient attention. A true creative, he was a gifted ceramicist, a skill he learned from his mother, Rose, and one he shared with Linda and passed down to Christine and Catherine.

Dennis loved hockey and was also a devoted Buffalo Bills fan. He was a Snoopy lover who collected many Snoopy T-shirts and sweatshirts. Dennis also loved the beach—truly a “Beach Guy”—and especially enjoyed taking his dogs down to the water. He was also known to indulge in his favorite drink, Jack Daniel’s.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rose; his nephew, John; and his beloved Rottweilers, Dixie Lee, Dixie Chris, Cheyanne, and Crystal.

Dennis is survived by his ex-wife, Linda; his daughter, Christine (Paul); his granddaughter, Catherine; his sister, Patricia; his nephew, Joseph; his niece, Teresa; his great-nephew, Nicholas; his rescue pup, April; and his grandpuppy, Aurora.

Visitation will be held at Werst & LaBella Funeral Home, 71-41 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385, on September 15, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on on September 16, 2026, at St. Matthias R.C.C., 58-15 Catalpa Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385, at 10:15 am. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery, 80-01 Metropolitan Ave, Middle Village, NY 11379, at 11:45 a.m.