Ann Marie Belfi

Ann Marie Belfi, age 84, a longtime resident of Mahopac, NY passed away peacefully at her home with her loving family by her side. She was born in Yonkers, NY on November 10, 1941, the daughter of Stephen and Mary (Regan) Soviss.

Ann Marie was an executive secretary at the Cardinal McCloskey Home for Children's Services in White Plains, NY. During her time with Cardinal McCloskey, on many outings for the foster children, Ann lent her amazing culinary skills to feed the children who adored her and loved her delicious cooking! Ann loved to travel in her younger days, and she was known to set out on many weekend adventures with kids in tow and a bag of homemade sandwiches and a bit of gas money to places like Mystic, CT and anywhere that had the view and smell of the ocean that she loved so much. She often referred to her "Gypsy Spirit" for travel and passed this DNA to her two sons. Ann enjoyed the many years that she lived in Puerto Rico with her beloved husband Victor with its Caribbean climate, warm breezes and fresh caught seafood that she prepared for the many family and friends that filled their home.

In her heyday, Ann was known to cook for many family and other events, especially Thanksgiving Day (at Nanny's house!) and Christmas Eve dinners when her family would all come together at the dinner table. Nothing brought her greater joy than watching people enjoy her wonderfully delicious cuisine. The wonderful aromas of homemade spaghetti sauce or sausage and peppers were always around her kitchen. A very avid reader, Ann enjoyed any book written by Anne Perry and Patricia Cornwell's "Kay Scarpetta" series. In later years, she enjoyed watching TV, especially the shows "Law and Order", "Blue Bloods" and the Turner Classics in black and white. She enjoyed Downton Abbey and the elegance set for its time. And if anything with Denzel Washington was on, we all knew what channel her TV would be on.

Ann's life revolved around family and this was the most important thing to her. She was always in touch with her brothers, her sons, involved with watching her extended family grow and prosper with frequent visits and many phone calls to all. She enjoyed trips to places such as Hawaii, California, Tennessee and several cruises to the Caribbean. Even a cruise up the East Coast to ports including Nova Scotia and other Canadian cities (that Gypsy Spirit). Many of these trips included other family members along for the ride and all thoroughly enjoyed whatever journeys Ann planned for the clan.

She is survived by her sons, Robert (Steven) of Katonah, NY and Gregory of Great Mills, MD; her brothers, Fred (Joanne) Flath of Carmel, NY and Robert (Aileen) Flath of Jamestown, RI; her nieces and her feline companion, Pumpkin. She is also survived by her former husband, Robert Veit of Conway, SC.

Visiting will be held on Friday, January 23 from 3-5 pm where at 5 pm a prayer service will take place. Private cremation services will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Ann Marie to the Putnam Humane Society, P.O. Box 297, Carmel, NY 10512.