Obituary of Nancy K. Maiello

Louis and Nancy Maiello Nancy Maiello (nee Kraft) passed away peacefully on January 10th, 2021 at the age of 90. Louis (Lou) Maiello passed away on January 14, 2021 at Staten Island University Hospital from Covid-19 pneumonia; he was 100 years old. Nancy was born on February 4, 1930 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Frederick and Margaret Kennedy Kraft. After graduating from Stroudsburg HS in 1947, where she was a member of the Senior National Honor Society, Nancy moved to NYC and worked as an executive assistant in Rockefeller Center. Lou was born January 27, 1920 in New Haven, CT to his Italian immigrant parents, Elena and Benjamin Maiello. He was the 4th of seven children, all of whom are deceased. Lou’s family moved to NYC in 1926 where Lou attended PS 78 and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1938. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corp in the late 1930’s – mid 1940’s, where he worked in Idaho. It was during this time that Lou developed his lifelong passion for the St. Louis Cardinals. He eventually returned to NYC, worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the 1940’s and then construction. It was while working for Rockefeller Construction Companythat Lou met his wife of 64 years, Nancy, on a company sponsored fishing trip. Lou retired from the construction industry in 1990. After initially living in the Bronx they moved to Staten Island in 1960, finally settling in the Westerleigh section, where they lived until they moved into Sunrise Senior Living in 2018. Nancy was a homemaker and raised their four children. Reading and education were her passions; she encouraged the pursuit of dreams and fostered excellence in reading with all her children and grandchildren while also volunteering with the PTA. She loved cats and they were part of family life for decades. After retiring Lou took up painting and golf. He learned to paint while watching Bob Ross on the Joy of Painting on PBS. He donated many of his paintings to fundraisers and they can be found in the homes of friends, family, and supporters. Lou was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Christ the King Council, for many years. It was also during their retirement years that they were able to fulfill Nancy’s life-long desire to travel the world. Some of the places to which they traveled were China, Russia, Europe, Alaska, Palau, and the Panama Canal. Their grandchildren benefited from Lou and Nancy’s retirement; they were able to take them on local trips, nurturing their desire to travel and sense of adventure. Up until about a year ago Lou could be found on the golf course every Tuesday. Lou has been a member of the Staten Island Senior Golf League (SISGL) at the Silver Lake Golf Course for many years. At the age of 96(August 2016) he won the SISGL club championship and a week later he followed it with the first hole in one of his career, a feat which was featured in the SI Advance. Lou was the honoree at the SISGL’s 30th anniversary gala held in October 2019. A plaque honoring Lou can be found in the Veranda Café at the Silver Lake Golf Course. Another passion of Lou’s was gardening. Every year he would plant a vegetable garden and shared the bounty with his friends and neighbors; a tradition which continued even after he moved to Sunrise Senior Living. Nancy and Louis will be dearly missed by their four children Anne Marie (Mark Catman), Barbara (Frank Ruggiero), Robert (Margaret) and Rick (Laurie), as well as their cherished grandchildren, Thomas (Devin), Lisa, Grace, Leora, Michael, and Matthew and great grandchildren, Addison and Corey. Nancy is also survived by her brother Ned Kraft and his wife Brenda of North Carolina. The funeral arrangements will be private due to the current corona virus pandemic. The family wants to keep everyone’s health and safety a priority. With much gratitude, they greatly appreciate your thoughts and prayers during these difficult times. In memory of Lou and Nancy a donation to the American Red Cross would be truly appreciated.