Gemma M. Ferrentino

1927 - 2021

Gemma M. Ferrentino

Poughkeepsie - Gemma Mary (née Capocasale) Ferrentino,

died January 16, 2021 at age 93, 2 weeks shy of her 94th birthday, after COVID-19 complications.

Gemma was born in 1927, at home, on 89th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and grew up there. Her immigrant parents were homeowners, which was part realization of the American dream for them, no matter how modest. She was surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins. Gemma's mother instilled the importance of family and of seeking peace within a family. Her father was a foreman for a shoe manufacturing company, and he was able to maintain employment through the Great Depression ensuring that his children had necessities and the best shoes. She attended NYC's great public schools. Her role and skills in the home were in the tradition of the time.

Gemma was graduated in 1945 with the first class spending all four years at the new Fort Hamilton High School overlooking the Narrows in Bay Ridge Brooklyn. She specialized in business and secretarial skills. She also learned first aid as part of her wartime high school education.

Gemma was shepherded into a job by her father immediately upon high school graduation with the mortgage department of the South Brooklyn Saving and Loan Association branch near Mays and DeKalb Street. The post-War home building boom made it a busy place, with returning service men with GI loans keen to own homes. It was there that another father intervened. The father of her husband to-be repeatedly told the young Miss "Casale" that he had a nice son, when he appeared to make weekly mortgage payments. One day a handsome young man, Joseph, came instead and said his father was "a bit under the weather" and that he was there to bring in a payment. After some encouragement from bank colleagues, she accepted the young man's invitation to see a Broadway show. After a short courtship they were married in May of 1950. Joseph encouraged Gemma to learn to drive, travel, and pursue her dreams. They soon bought a 2-family home in Bay Ridge while he pursued a career in tool and die making and study in manufacturing superintendence at Pratt Institute. Three children were born to them in Brooklyn. In 1962, the family relocated to pre-Verrazano Bridge era Staten Island -which felt like a rural enclave compared to Brooklyn.

Gemma attended the Kree Institute of Electrology in Manhattan while balancing work as a homemaker, mother, and caretaker of her elderly parents. She went on to become a highly regarded professional Electrologist.

By 1963 manufacturing was beginning to decline, and a job opportunity brought about a move to Poughkeepsie. The house of their dreams, a 2-story center hall colonial, became their treasured forever home.

Upon arrival in Poughkeepsie, Gemma soon established her own electrologist practice which she maintained for 53 years. She continued her professional development and became an officer in the NY Electrologists organization. She was proud of her ability to take shorthand and was drafted to become the recording secretary of the organization because of her skill in accurately recording meetings. Along the way, she became the confidant of clients of diverse backgrounds, who also became friends.

Cooking was a high art that Gemma could execute with the barest of ingredients. In later years she took classes at the Culinary Institute of America to sharpen dessert making skills.

Gemma reveled in her family. She welcomed into her home all the children's friends with warm interest and wonderful meals.

Gemma was predeceased by her father Adolfo Capocasale, her mother Erminia Perri Capocasale, her brother Eugene and his beloved wife Elizabeth Simon Capocasale, a brother Renold, and toddler brother Joseph. Gemma's partner in life and beloved husband Joseph died in 2005. She is survived by three children, Carl, his wife Jeanne Caruso, Matthew, his wife Margherita Parrella, Daria, her husband Alfredo Mauro, six grandchildren, Joshua Ferrentino and his wife Lynne Davies, Justin Ferrentino and his wife Beth Danziger, Cara Ferrentino and her husband James Murrett, Mia Nicole Ferrentino and her husband Nicholas Feola, William J.P. Ferrentino and his partner Diana Barone, and Elizabeth Mauro, 5 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, as well as loving extended family and friends dear to her.

The family thanks all the dedicated home health aides, CNAs and nurses who helped Gemma with compassionate care, and to express appreciation to Sadie's Place, a Social Adult Day Care Service for loving care and support since 2017.

The funeral will be private.

Gemma took great comfort in her Catholic faith even as she embraced all of many faiths. Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements under the direction of the Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com