Helen F. Posillico

Helen Femmia (Faye) "Meme" Posillico

If you cannot attend the Catholic services for Faye, or prefer to express your condolences in ways other than giving flowers, please consider donations in Faye's memory or name to the following non-profit organizations.

Alzheimer's Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org/donate/

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org/

You will find additional pictures of Faye if you scroll down to her Tribute Wall.

Helen Femmia (Faye) "Meme" Posillico was the 5th of 9 children born to John Prianti and Angelina (DeSando) on April 29th, 1933 at 5052 Jericho Turnpike, Commack NY. She was born in the kitchen of her parents' milk and produce farm, Prianti Farms, which moved from its first location in Brooklyn. To support their large family, Faye and her brothers and sisters – Mildred Cestaro ("Millie" – who was adopted), Salvatore ("Whitey", "Big Kid", the "Ranger"), Maurice ("Moe"), Antoinette ("Tony"), Robert ("Yay-Yay"), Margaret ("Margie"), Jeanne ("Jeannie"), William ("Chubby") and Richard ("Rick"). Faye worked very hard on the farm, helping to plant crops and would frequently get up at sunrise to help her father milk the cows. She would also help with running the Prianti Farms road-side farm stand where fresh milk, vegetables, fruit and flowers were sold to passing car traffic on Jericho Turnpike which was a two lane dirt road when the farm was first in operation. Because Faye's Mom was often so busy with her farm chores and taking care of her large family, Faye volunteered to help feed, bathe and cloth and help teach her younger siblings – especially Aunt Jeannie, where Faye became her surrogate Mom for most of her daily activities. Faye was also a good student and a good pitcher for her softball team in school. As Faye matured, she began to work a second job as a secretary at Republic Aviation in Farmingdale, and she began to save money for her college education at SUNY New Paltz studying to be a teacher. Soon after starting college, she met Anthony "Big Boy" Posillico, partner in the family run Posillico Const. Co., at the wedding of her sister "Toni" to Anthony's brother Frabrizio ("Freddie") in 1949 and it was love at first sight ! After a 3 year courtship and after Big Boy's tour of duty in the Air Force ended in 1953, Faye and Big Boy were married on Oct 23, 1954. Faye's plans for being a teacher were now put on hold so that the couple could start to raise a family and be teachers to their own children in many different ways--- Costantino (Tino) J. Posillico, Joseph F. Posillico, Anthony Posillico Jr and Mario Posillico. Ultimately,

these two brother/two sister romances created very close family connections ---among the Posillico and Prianti family members-- as well as other cousins and relatives. These multiple families occupied the Bryant Street block in Westbury and built their homes next to each other, side by side, and jointly owned their cherished summer home in Bayville NY, where that family bond grew even stronger. These tight knit families grew up together as "brothers and sisters" as one big family with the same culture, faith and parental upbringing over the years. It was in this nurturing environment that Faye made a commitment to raising her children full time-and selflessly sacrificing her own plans and career opportunities for the maximum benefit of her children's proper and guided upbringing. Big Boy and Faye had 16 grandchildren-- CJ, and Sean from Tino and Trish; Eric, Jim (who is waiting with Big Boy for Meme's arrival), David, and Anne from Joe and Colette; Anthony III, Aloysius, Joseph, Thomas and Clare from Anthony Jr and Laura; Paul, Michele, Phillip, Mary and Christopher from Mario and Georgine; they also have 6 great-grandchildren, Anthony IV, Margaret, Piper, Theodore, Jack, Callum, and another on the way. Faye and Big Boy were not only devoted parents committed to raising their own boys with loving pride and unwavering support over their entire lifetimes, but they became "supplemental parents" to all their grandchildren and even great grandchildren by providing loving spiritual guidance every day of their lives.

Out of respect and love, grandchildren began to refer to them as "Meme" and "Pa" – which are Italian terms of endearment-with Meme loosely translated as "you are mine". Faye was a special Mom to all her "children" --- both her own and any "little ones" that were in her family or outside her family and needed some help or babysitting. Faye learned a lot about being a good mother from her days on the Prianti Farm, as a young girl caring for her siblings when her own mother was too busy. She also learned a lot about sacrificing for her family and her loved ones from her "Aunt Millie" a family member who was a young orphan and was adopted and lived with the family her whole life, sacrificing her own wants and needs to raise and care for all the other members of the family throughout her lifetime- through the Great Depression and many years of hardship up until the day she passed away. Millie was a devout Christian and Faye followed in her footsteps following the words and teaching of Jesus and put her faith into practice by showing her love and compassion to all those around her and all those she met--- even when she herself was living through difficult and uncertain times. She stood firm in her beliefs and made sure that she passed the knowledge of right and wrong onto her own family---- through many years of self-sacrifice and assisting others---carefully guiding her own children in the ways of their faith and supporting them all along their own journey of life and being there for them every day through good times and difficult times. She did this even when she herself was living through difficult and uncertain times, especially in her older age--- always asking

about her family and children first – making sure she could provide any help or assistance for their own needs --- she would not rest until she could be certain that all family members were safe in their travels or had arrived safely back home. She never wavered from her faith, compassion and love of family every day of her life -- right up to her last moment on earth. She would always greet everyone with a warm smile and hug and later, when leaving, she would always tell them without hesitating "be safe and be careful getting back home--- I love you". No matter what trouble or difficulty, Meme could comfort any member of her family with a simple warm hug and loving kiss. One day, her mortal life came up, as a young Mom, when she told her small children that she would always be with them to take care of them. One of the children asked "but what if you die ?". She said "as long as you never give up or never stop believing in yourself, I will always be here-- in your heart---I will always be there when you need me." So today, Meme now lives in the hearts of all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews-- and they can call on her anytime. Over the years, she also gave her family a smooth little wooden palm cross that you could hold in your hand while you prayed --- another sign that she will still be there with us and we can continue our lives with her close guidance. So everyone can now pass a little piece of Meme onto their next generation of children through their hearts and prayers.

Faye was also a devoted follower of another Mom the Blessed Mother, and prayed to her often whenever she needed help for her family. She took her inspiration to be a loving Mom from the Blessed Mother and we are all so grateful that she touched our lives so that we also can experience the hope and love that comes from heaven. On her very last day on earth, in her home and in her cozy family room – see spoke a final brief message with her last breath before she left us--- "Tell them all --- love". So we can now say to Mom, Aunt Faye and Meme, without hesitation, "be safe on your journey, be careful getting back home --- and we love you always --very, very much."

God Bless Helen Femmia Posillico.