Obituary of Loretta A. Dittenhoefer

Dittenhoefer, Loretta A., 103, of Melville, passed away on February 19, 2023. Beloved aunt of Joan Hyland, Elizabeth Furey, Loretta Kennedy, Lawrence Varney, Faith Ledford, Barbara Dunlap, George Dittenhoefer III, Lorraine Mondiello, Bert Pennington, John Pennington, Katherine Light, Victoria McCann, Christine Summers, Alice Mary McCann, and Anne Frances Meers. Visitation Thursday 4-8 PM at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station. Funeral Mass Friday 9:30 AM at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Melville. Interment to follow at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale.

Loretta was born on June 30, 1919, in Brooklyn to Anne Frances (Cassidy) Dittenhoefer and George Joseph Dittenhoefer. She was next to last of 9 children. Her parents and siblings have all predeceased her. She was a graduate of St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, in 1941. Upon graduation, she was employed by Sperry Gyroscope in Lake Success during World War II. She later moved on to New York Telephone where she retired as a divisional manager. Her Fiance and love of her life, Raymond S. McCann, was killed in action in the hedgerows of France near St. Lo on July 16, 1944. Loretta never married.

She dedicated her life to her mother and father, and her sister Eileen, lovingly tending to them in the last years of their lives. Loretta was a tough, no-nonsense task master who brooked no violation of what she considered right and proper. She was beloved by all and will be truly missed. Special thanks to Karen Cronin, Dennis and Christine Kearney, George and Joan Blednick, Brian and Elaine McEntee, and Marilyn Schmitt, who all made the last years of Loretta’s life comfortable and rewarding.