Ann Boniello

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ann Rizzi Boniello, 98, of Great Kills, a loving mother and grandmother who was known for her strong work ethic and generosity, died Thursday in Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home, where she had resided for eight years.

Born in Brooklyn, Mrs. Boniello lived most of her life its Park Slope section. She had lived in Great Kills since 1999.

She and her late husband, Angelo, worked side by side for more than 60 years, operating several businesses in Brooklyn, including an Italian pastry shop and a homemade soft Italian ice store. In her younger years, Mrs. Boniello had been a hard-working seamstress and factory worker.

"She did it all, '' said her son, Michael. "She cooked. She sewed. She knitted sweaters. She was a jack of all trades.'' Her son said Mrs. Boniello would do, "anything and everything for anybody. She was a fabulous person.''

A longtime parishioner of the Holy Name of Jesus R.C. Church, Brooklyn, she was also a parishioner of St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills.

Mrs. Boniello enjoyed visiting Atlantic City.

Her husband of 60 years, Angelo, died in 2000. Surviving are her son, Michael; a daughter, Roseann Boniello; a sister, Frances DiVigilio; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday, from the Casey-McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, with a 10 a.m. mass in Holy Name of Jesus Church, Brooklyn. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn