Mrs. Vera Belle Prestigiacomo, 81, of 31 Elm St., Dolgeville, died late Thursday evening, April 30, 2008, at the Heritage Health Care Center, Utica.
She was born on May 26, 1926, in McDonough, the daughter of Ward and Edith (Wright) Simpson, and was a graduate of Oxford Central School, Oxford.
Her marriage to Benedict “Benny” Prestigiacomo took place on April 22, 1949, at the home of his parents in Dolgeville. They recently celebrated 59 years of marriage.
Vera was first employed by the Daniel Green Company of Dolgeville, upon leaving there she became a local business women. She was an independent consultant for the Beeline Clothes Company. She then became co-owner and operator of the Dolgeville Bowling Center for over 12 years. Along with running the bowling center she worked with her family at Debbie’s Video Store for several years. She then went to work for the Dolgeville Housing Authority as the bookkeeper which she held for 15 years. Her love of family and children also led her to “baby-sit” several of her grandchildren along with other children in the Dolgeville area.
She was a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Church, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Dolgeville Fire Department for over 40 years, a member of the Tuesday Night Bowling League, and she also served as a den mother for the local Cub Scout pack for many years. For her service to the Boy Scouts, she was awarded the Silver Beaver Award. She personally enjoyed crafts, knitting and crocheting, along with cooking for her family.
She is survived by her husband, Benedict; her sons and their wives, Vincent and Susan Prestigiacomo and Barry and Debbie Prestigiacomo, all of Dolgeville; her daughters and their husbands, Joanne and Terry Williams, of Dolgeville, and Bonnie and Doug Schroeder, of Columbus, Ohio; her brothers, Dean Simpson and Robert Simpson, both of McDonough; her sisters, Esther Beckwith, of Crowley, Texas, and Blanche Tefft, of Oxford; her grandchildren, Heather Tuthill and her husband, Derrek, Corinne and her husband, Joe Picataggi, Trevor Williams and his companion, Donna Doerrer, Maria Prestigiacomo and her companion, Randy Randall, Theresa Prestigiacomo and her companion, Damon Daukontas, and daughter Maryia, Stephen Prestigiacomo and his fiancée, Freddie Hull, Anthony and his wife, Kimberly Prestigiacomo, Joseph Prestigiacomo and his companion, Brittany Cerasi, Christopher Schroeder and Brittany Schroeder; her great-grandchildren, Joey, William, Andrew, Isabella, Theodore and Nora; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Aubrey Simpson.
A funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Helmer Avenue, Dolgeville. Rev. Leo F. Potvin will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Calling hours are on Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the Roberts & Enea Family Funeral Home, 3 Faville Ave., Dolgeville. Memorials may be sent to The Heritage Health Center, 1657 Sunset Ave., Utica, NY 13502 or to Dolgeville Boy Scout Troop No. 18, c/o Curtis Eggleston, 94 N. Helmer Ave., Dolgeville, NY 13329 in her memory.
An online message of sympathy or a remembrance of Vera may be sent to the family at www.robertsandenea.com.