Elaine Sancomb DeGasperis

Elaine DeGasperis, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, formerly of Kingston, NY, passed away on Sept.23, 2003 at her Wilmington DE home, surrounded by her family, after a long courageous battle against breast cancer. She was 80. Mrs. DeGasperis was born in Chateaugay, NY, on August 26, 1923, the daughter of the late Fred and Sadie Bessette Sancomb. A longtime resident of Harding Avenue, Kingston, She married Edmund DeGasperis on October 28, 1945. She was a 1945 graduate of the Kingston Hospital school of Nursing and served as a cadet nurse during WWII. She was employed by the Kingston Hospital for many years and belonged to the Kingston Hospital Auxiliary and the Kingston Hospital Alumni. She also worked at IBM as a Registered Nurse for 10 years. A parishioner of St. Joseph's Church, Kingston, Mrs. DeGasperis served on the Board of the Hudson Valley Senior Residence, and was the president of the Penny-Ante Club in Kingston for three years. She served as a volunteer for Hudson Valley Blood Services and the American Red Cross. Recently, she volunteered at the Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, DE, testing hearing on newborns. She is predeceased by her brothers, Francis and Robert Sancomb, and her sisters, Shirley Scheidel and Jean Siiano. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her loving husband of nearly 58 years, Edmund DeGasperis, her two daughters, Sondra DeGasperis of Memphis, TN and Lorraine DeGasperis-Schuck and her husband Joseph of Wilmington DE, and her son, John DeGasperis and his wife Beverly of Willow, NY; eight grandchildren, Christopher and Daniel Rourke, Catherine Elaine, Thomas Joseph, Megan, and Anna Schuck, and Jennifer and John DeGasperis, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all those who cared for Elaine during her illness, especially Kristi Cuff, her devoted and loving caregiver who blessed Elaine's last months with impeccable care, dignity, and love. Donations in her memory may be made to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Reposing at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Fri. 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral procession will form on Saturday at 9:15 AM at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. William Williams and Msgr. James V. Keating at St. Joseph's Church at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery. A memorial service will be conducted on Tuesday, October 30th at 7:00 PM at St. Matthews Parish, Woodcrest.