Stanley Nalepa

Stanley A Nalepa, of Centereach, NY, passed peacefully on September 14, at 99 years and 8 months. Stan the Man was a devoted family man, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marie and brothers John, Henry, Emil, Louis, and Bill. He is survived by sisters Mary Cassidy and Sophie Harrigan, daughters Timothea (Robert O’Brien), Theresa (Rene Andreu), and Andrea (Patrick Baker). His memory lives on in his five grandchildren: Lindsay (Andrey Lugo), Kyla O’Brien (Eric Schulz), Joshua Baker (Jaci), Jason Baker (Bethany) and Marie Baker, and five great-grandchildren: Gia and Bella Lugo, Everleigh, Warren and Logan Baker. Grandpa Stan was loved by many as their bonus grandfather and friend.

After growing up in Queens Village, joining the army during World War II, and then working on the farm with his brothers in Upstate NY, Stanley and Marie settled in Centereach to raise their family. He was known by many names: Stan the Man, the ice cream man, the dynamite man, Uncle Stosh, but it was Dad and Grumpa that he embraced and loved the most. He was the best handyman and would tinker in his garage finding a way to reuse and fix something, loved using his chain saw, was an animal lover and was known to bring home strays he found (even a pony). He was an avid gardener and his green thumb was famous around town for growing all kinds of vegetables, flowers and plants, and you would often find him carrying a salt shaker in the garden to taste the tomatoes and cucumbers that he freshly picked. Later, he would grow a pumpkin patch for his grandkids, loading the truck full in the backyard each October. His love of playing cards has spanned generations, from playing with his brothers, to his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was still playing Pitch up to his last few days and winning, of course! In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in his memory to Long Island State Veterans Home, to help others receive the same thoughtful care that he did.

He will always be our sunshine.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 18 from 1-5pm at Moloney’s Bohemia Funeral Home, 1320 Lakeland Ave. Afterwards, all are invited to a Celebration of Life with dinner at the VFW Hall 400 Lakeland Ave, Sayville, 5-9pm, where we spent many birthday celebrations with him.

Burial on Monday, September 19, with 11:30am prayer service at Moloney’s, 12:30pm vehicle procession, followed by 1:30pm at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY.

Link to the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook: https://alumniandfriends.stonybrook.edu/site/Donation2?df_id=1560&1560.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T