Maria Blakeslee

Maria (Galea) Blakeslee of Middletown N.Y, worked for many hospitals as a nurse as well as a private duty nurse. Maria passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at  Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, in Newburgh NY. She was 81 years old.

   The daughter of Ilia Sidheri and Elena Noka, Maria was born on July 23, 1942, in Modena, Italy.

   Maria received a degree in nursing from Orange County Community College in Middletown, NY. Maria was a loving wife, mother, and sister.  She enjoyed knitting, bowling, gardening, cooking, family time, and most of all spending time with her beloved husband Archie. Maria enjoyed life she had a beautiful laugh and a friendly smile for everyone she met. She cared for all her patients with warmth and kindness like they were family. Maria received a certificate from the State of NY for being a top nurse in NY State. Maria loved her two Siamese cats, Marty and Lea, who gave her boundless joy. She was a member of the Otisville - Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church in Otisville.

    Maria is survived by her husband Archie A. Blakeslee of Middletown, her son Christopher Galea from San Deigo, California, her daughter Lorna Galea from the State of Tennessee, her sister Carla DeGaetano and her husband Louis DeGaetano, niece Carina DeGaetano Cam, nephew and godson Gregory DeGaetano, her grandchildren Guage Woolard and Holly Woolard, and her blended family Helene Rielly and her husband James Rielly, Elvira Burr and her husband Thomas Burr, Roxane Blakeslee, Georgine Blakeslee and her companion Gary Broadwell, Ignacio (Iggy) Arellano, along with several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents Ilia Sidheri and Elena Noka, daughter-in-law Rochelle and her husband John Beach, and daughter-in-law Karen Larkin.

Blended families are woven together by love and Maria made it special in the way she loved all of us. We will always carry her memory in our hearts.

   A visitation for family and friends will be held from 7-9 pm Thursday, June 6th, and Friday, June 7th from 10 am -12 pm, at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St, Middletown NY.  Funeral services will begin at 12 pm on Friday, June 7th, with Reverend Jeff Farley officiating. Interment will be in the family plot in Wallkill Cemetery, 160 Midway Rd., Middletown, NY.

   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Maria’s name may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties Inc. 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

   Arrangements have been entrusted to Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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