Mathilde Jean Retta
February 8, 1934—August 18, 2023
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Mathilde Jean Retta, 89, of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY entered into eternal rest on August 18, 2023. The third of five children, she was born on February 8, 1934 in Nyack, NY to Helen and Herman Schnackenberg and attended Nyack High School. She married Valentine Scaccio, Jr., living in Orangeburgh and Pearl River, NY before moving to Cornwall-on-Hudson in 1966. Tillie worked for many years at Alfoxie Restaurant in Blauvelt, NY and Silvestro’s in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Inspired by her daughters, she continued her education at SUNY New Paltz. She then started her career at Minolta in Ramsey, NJ, retiring after 15 years. She married Roy Retta of Cornwall-on-Hudson in 1997.
Tillie had a life-long passion for travel. She and Roy visited countless destinations throughout North America, Europe, the Near East, and Australia, many of them on cruises. She loved taking pictures and telling stories of her adventures, including a cross-county road trip to California. She had an appreciation for culture and attended numerous plays, musicals, concerts and museums. More than anything, she was the center of a large extended family. For as long as anyone can remember, she hosted epic holiday gatherings, picnics, and parties for every occasion, doing almost all of the cooking herself. On Christmas and Thanksgiving, there could be dozens of loved ones celebrating at the house. She was loving and welcoming to everyone’s friends and never forgot a birthday or anniversary. She always made way too much food, and made sure no one left the house without some.
Tillie was a long-time member of King of Kings Lutheran Church in New Windsor, NY, where she made many friends and celebrated family milestones. She also spent many years volunteering with Meals on Wheels. She had a soft spot for animals and donated to several animal welfare organizations as well as other charities.
Tillie is survived by her loving daughters: Diane Stillwood of Newburgh, NY and Cheryl Scaccio (Yuri Goy) of Venice, CA; her grandchildren: Christine (Ron) Kowalski, Valerie (Frank) Luciano, Nicole Sudial, Ron (Colleen) Ofeldt, Dylan Stillwood, and Stefan Goy; her great-grandsons: Shane, Frank, Justin, Christopher, Michael, Kenneth, Jack, and Malcolm; her step-daughter: Debra Quinn; her step-daughter-in-law: Sharen Retta; her sister: Helen (Richard) Lieval; and her brother: Al Schackenberg. She had an especially close relationship with her sister Anna’s children: Anne (Chris) Yambor, Nancy Perrone, and John (Kathy) Salamone. She had 24 nieces and nephews, and was a great, great-great, and great-great-great aunt and godmother to many, many others. She is pre-deceased by her husband: Roy, her first husband: Valentine, her daughter: Linda Ofeldt, her step-son: Jeffery Retta, her step-son-in-law: Patrick Quinn, her sister: Anna Campbell, and her brother: Herman Schackenberg.
Visitation and mass of funeral service will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16 at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 563 Union Ave, New Windsor, NY.
Committal Ceremony and internment will follow at 1:15 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, New Windsor, NY.
Flowers or contributions to the ASPCA, The Humane Society, or an animal welfare charity of your choice will be gratefully accepted.
Arrangements are entrusted to Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc.; to send condolences, please go to www.Quigleybros.com