Ruth A Demarest

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Native Staten Islander Ruth A. Demarest, 84, of Castleton Corners, an insurance underwriter remembered for her sense of humor and bright demeanor, died at home Saturday following a long illness.

Ms. Demarest grew up in Stapleton, then moved to Dongan Hills before settling in Castleton Corners about 19 years ago.

She graduated from McKee Technical High School, and worked for about 25 years as an underwriter for Home Insurance Company in Manhattan, retiring in her early 60s.

Ms. Demarest was a member of the Insurance Women’s Club of Staten Island.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed taking trips to Atlantic City.

“She always would make you laugh. She loved to laugh,” said her sister, Eileen Kearney. “She was a happy person. She just wanted to make everybody happy.”

She was a parishioner of St. Teresa’s R.C. Church, Castleton Corners.

Surviving are five brothers, Clifford, Robert, Walter, Frederick and Dennis, and five sisters, Eileen Kearney, Catherine Arthurs, Alice Sawler, Helen Palazzola and Maureen Ragaglia.

The funeral will be tomorrow from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Teresa’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Brighton.