Obituary of Rocco Croce

Rocco Croce of Wappingers Falls, entered into rest Thursday, January 4, 2018 at MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie. He was 87. He was the only child of the late Giuseppe and Amelia Giuliani Croce. He was born on September 18, 1930 in Sicily, Italy. In 1947, Rocco immigrated to the USA where he met and married the love of his life, Mary Arrotti. On June 5, 1955 in St. Cecelia's Church in Manhattan, he and Mary wed. In 1962, the couple bought a house in Yonkers where they lived for 35 years and raised their three children. Mrs. Croce survives at home in Wappingers Falls. Mr. Croce owned and operated various eateries throughout New York City and Westchester, including The Odell Deli in Yonkers and The Burger Deli in White Plains. After retirement, Rocco and Mary moved to Fishkill to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Bored with retirement, he took on part-time employment in various departments at Walmart in Fishkill. He ended his decade long career there as a greeter, a job he loved because he was truly a people person. In his spare time, he loved to play poker with other seniors at the Community Center in Fishkill, where he was a longtime member. Rocco, like his mother, was an avid vegetable gardener and was especially proud of his tomatoes. Most of all, he loved his family and was the epitome of the doting grandfather to his 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Mary, survivors include his children, Emily Molenaer and her husband, Jean-Jacques of Wappingers Falls, Joseph G. Croce and his wife, Colleen of Hopewell Junction, and Grace Stein and her husband, Kent of Stormville; grandchildren, Vanessa Johnson and her husband, Kevin, Christian Molenaer and his wife, Ashley, Joshua Molenaer, Mariah Molenaer and her fiancé, John Sarica, Joseph Croce, Jonathan Croce, Jenna Croce, Jason Croce, Jordan Croce, Kristina Hunt and her husband, Ryan, Matthew Stein and Faith Stein; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Luke, Olivia and Miles; two nieces, two nephews, and many cousins. Family will receive their friends on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street in Fishkill. Military honors will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rocco's name to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090, www.alz.org, or a charity of your choice. For directions or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.