Gisela M. Conforti

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Gisela Martha Conforti, 80, of Old Bethpage, New York on April 7, 2025. She was a loving mother to Deborah, and her late son Peter, her children, from their father Michael Marcel, and a devoted grandmother to Elizabeth and Rebecca.

Gisela immigrated from Lübeck, Germany, to the United States in 1952 with her mother, Hedwig (“Hedy”). They first settled in Utah before moving to Queens, NY where she lived until she was 26. After, Gisela, her mother, step-father and children, moved out to an up-and-coming town called Farmingville, in Suffolk County in 1971 where she resided for 22 years. Her final home was in Old Bethpage (’93-present).

Her career with Lufthansa airlines would be a very long and eventful part of her life. She later became manager at the rate desk, and acquired many colleagues and life-long friends. Their elite ALRONA group, (Association Lufthansa Retirees of North America) still gathers for junkets each year, and she would enjoy attending as she was able.

A well-cultured world traveler, Gisela shared many of her exotic journeys with her children as they grew up as well as friends and her beloved husband, Joseph. Such fond memories they shared, would leave a lifelong impression on all of them.

She later would earn a degree in Sociology from SUNY of Old Westbury, where she met her late husband Joseph, father to son Michael, and grandfather to Tashir, Miles, Brianna and Aria.

Their twenty-year union was very deep and loving as they shared their lives together. She was a very well-read intellectualist and her professor husband Joe, would often laugh and say she was “too smart” for him.

In the 90’s, Gisela would join Joe, a PhD professor of Sociology, as he spent a semester teaching abroad in South Korea, learning the diversity and culture of the people there. After, they hosted an exchange student in their home, Eunsong, who remained a dear friend throughout the years.

Her charitable nature of giving was a very big part of her generosity. She also had great interest in nature and animals. Every Spring, she and her friend Kathy and daughter, would enjoy watching the local Ospreys start a new family, from the live footage on the internet, after migrating back to Oyster Bay after a long winter in the Amazon.

Sadly, after the new year, her cancer had come back after being in remission for eight years, and twenty before that. Her daughter Deborah and grand-daughter, Rebecca, stayed with her at her home to care for her for the months leading up to her final days. In that time, they forged strong bonds that would change all of their lives and make up for time lost. In the end, the Lord would give her peace and call her home as she would unite once more with the loves she lost before.

Her life was shaped by love, family, and resilience. She will not be forgotten, as the memory of her will remain in our hearts forever.

A visitation for Gisela will be held Tuesday, April 15, 2025 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 655 Old Country Road, Plainview, NY 118034908. A committal service will occur Wednesday, April 16, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Locust Valley Cemetery, 117 Ryefield Rd, Locust Valley, NY 11560.