Deferiet, NY: Barbara Ventiquattro passed away on Monday, February 27, 2017 at St Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica after a brief illness.
Barbara was born on February 27, 1933 to the late Ernest and Rose Cook in Antwerp, NY. Her family later settled in Carthage, NY where Barbara graduated from Carthage High School in 1951. On December 24, 1954 Barbara was united in marriage with Thomas Ventiquattro, a union lasting nearly 43 years until his passing in 1997.
Together Barb and Tom raised their four boys in Deferiet, NY. Barbara worked for Ames Department Store in Watertown before taking a job at the Deferiet Post Office in 1965. She was promoted to Post Master of the Deferiet Office and retired from that position in 1995. She and her husband also ran a successful gas station business in Deferiet (24 Gas) for twenty years.
Barbara took great pride in her work and family. Her favorite hobbies were knitting, playing the slots with her sister and friends but most of all she enjoyed holding her grand babies and great grand babies. In addition to her husband, Barbara was predeceased by five brothers, Walter, Raymond, Clair, Richard and Leroy Cook and three sisters, Janice Cook, Hattie Stephenson and Dora Pierce.
She is survived by two sisters, Bessie Cook Trembley of Carthage and Ruth Cook Ventiquattro of Sherrill. She is also survived by her four sons and their families, Thomas and Patricia Ventiquattro and children Barbara and Thomas from Burke, NY, Domenick and Lynne Ventiquattro and their children and spouses Laura (Ventiquattro) Puleo and husband Phil Puleo, and Americo and wife Jessica Ventiquattro all from the Boonville area, Kirk and Carmelita Ventiquattro of Deferiet and their children Anthony and Mario, both of Florida and Paul and Denise Ventiquattro and their sons Jordan, Thomas and Nicholas all of Miller Place, NY.
She is also survived by her four great grandchildren and little buddies, Domenica and Armante Ventiquattro and Domenick and DeAngelo Puleo.
Calling hours at the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home, 518 State St. Carthage, will be from 11:00am - 1:00pm on Saturday, March 4, 2017 with a memorial service to follow at 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601 or to Developmental Disabilities Institute, 99 Hollywood Dr., Smithtown, NY 11787, DDINY.org.
To leave a condolence, go to www.bezanillafh.com.