Madeline T DeSandis

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Madeline T. DeSandis, 80, a longtime Great Kills resident who was devoted to her family, died Tuesday at home.

Born Madeline Bellia in Brooklyn, she graduated from Bay Ridge High School in her native borough. She settled in Great Kills in 1964.

Mrs. DeSandis worked as a surgical administrator for Island Eye Surgery Specialists, Eltingville, for 25 years, until retiring in 2003.

She was a member of the Tuesday Morning Ladies Bowling League at the former Sunset Lanes, New Springville.

Mrs. DeSandis cherished time spent with her grandchildren.

She was a talented artist and drew still lives and portraits of her children. She also enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, visits to Atlantic City, crocheting, attending Neil Diamond concerts and summers at the Jersey shore.

She was an enthusiastic New York Mets fan and loved attending and watching games.

Mrs. DeSandis' son, Thomas, died in 1963.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Nicholas; her son, Robert; her daughter, Jill DeSandis, and two grandchildren.

The funeral will be Friday from the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in St. Clare's R.C. Church, both in Great Kills. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.