Louis Cretella

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Louis Cretella, 56, of Oakwood, a former self-employed food purveyor, died yesterday in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.


Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Cretella moved to New Springville in 1986 before settling in Oakwood in 1992.


For the past 30 years, Mr. Cretella worked as a self-employed food purveyor.


He was a graduate of Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School, Brooklyn, where he played baseball. He also belonged to a PAL team in his youth.


Mr. Cretella was a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp.


He was a fan of the Yankees and enjoyed cooking meals for his family. He was known for his seafood and pasta, and veal and peppers.


Mr. Cretella loved to socialize and had a great sense of humor. He also loved spending time with his family and was fond of his two dogs and his bird.


"He was so proud of his children that when you mentioned their names, his smile would light up a room," said his sister, Roseann Cretella.


Along with his sister, Roseann, also surviving are his wife of 25 years, the former Deborah Caristo; one son, Frank; two daughters, Jacqueline and Candace Cretella, and another sister, Frances Certo.


The funeral will be tomorrow from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Queen of Peace Church. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.

Services: Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Church Saturday, March 17,2012 10:30AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Friday, March 16,2012 2-4 & 7-9PM

Memorials: In Lieu of flowers and mass cards ,contributions to The Cretella Children's Education Fund would be appreciated.

Cemetery: Moravian Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Church