Obituary of Louise Sportello

LAGRANGE - Louise Coleen Sportello, 63, a resident of the Town of LaGrange for 27 years and formerly of Lake Peekskill, died peacefully on Monday, August 4, 2014 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie after an extended illness. She was born on July 8, 1951 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the eldest of three daughters to Alfred Lloyd McConnell and Virginia Louise (Demaray) McConnell. On March 24, 1973 she married the love of her life, Joseph Sportello Jr., in Hayward, California in her parents' living room. The following year they returned to his native New York and have resided here ever since. A graduate of Mercy College in Yorktown, Louise was employed as a Case Manager for the Dutchess County Department of Social Services for 22 years prior to her retirement. She was also a member of the Good Sam (camping) Club. Her passions included traveling throughout the United States, trailer camping with family and friends, visiting lighthouses, touring historic homes and gardens, collecting butterfly pins, knitting, crocheting, and reading. She will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, "Momma" and loyal friend. Louise is survived at home by her devoted husband Joe. She also leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Colleen Fedorko, her husband Kevin and their daughter Alexis, all of Hopewell Junction; her father Alfred McConnell of Nevada; her sister Cindy Fernandes of California and her daughter; her sister Kathy Grattan and her husband Bruce of California and their two sons; her mother-in-law Isobel Sportello of New Hampshire; her brother-in-law Larry Sportello and his wife Kathy of New Hampshire and their two daughters and grandchildren; her sister-in-law Annmarie Sportello of Putnam Valley and her daughter and son; and her many aunts, uncles and cousins in Michigan and throughout the United States. On her ascension into Heaven she will be reunited with her mother Virginia L. McConnell; her father-in-law Joseph Sportello Sr.; her brother-in-law Peter R. Sportello Sr.; and her step-mother Frances L. McConnell. The family would like to personally thank all of the nurses, doctors, health care workers and family and friends who helped care for and support Louise, especially those of the Vassar Brothers Medical Center South 5 Oncology Care Unit and the Premier Medical Group Internal Medicine Division. Friends may call on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 from 4-8pm at Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home 371 Hooker Ave, Poughkeepsie. During the calling hours Rev. John Simon will officiate. In keeping with her wishes, cremation will have been previously performed. In lieu of flowers, Louise's family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made in support of Pancreatic Research to The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714. www.lustgarten.org