Agnes “Sis” Stark of Calverton, died at Peconic Bay Medical Center on April 27, 2022. She was 88 years old.
She was born on May 10, 1933 in Astoria, Queens, the daughter of Catherine and Dr. James DeRose. She graduated from St. Angela Hall Academy in Brooklyn and then received an undergraduate degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York. Agnes put her business degree to work on the Today Show in NYC after graduation.
She spent her summers in Laurel and there met Bruce Stark, her future husband. Shortly after marrying Bruce, she became a Marine Corps wife and moved to Quantico, Virginia, where Bruce was stationed as an officer.
After they moved back to Long Island, they founded Stark Mobile Homes on Riverleigh Avenue. Sensing a good business opportunity, shortly thereafter they founded Glenwood Village with Doug and Diane Stark. Sis left the fledging family business to raise her two children, Brian and Sharon.
She was a member of the Riverhead Board of Education in the 1970s. She also co-founded, with her friend Mary Lundberg, the Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP) and was a current member of the organization’s board of directors. In the 1980s, she went back to school and earned a master’s degree in social work. For a number of years, she was employed by the North Fork Family Service League where she counseled many people.
Agnes had many diverse interests. She enjoyed playing bridge, working out, and managing property. She was an active parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and said her faith was the most important part of her life. She loved the NY (football) Giants, the Mets, and the Providence College Friars. Most who knew her will recall she also loved a good political discussion.
She loved Earl, her son-in-law, and Mary, her daughter-in-law, like her own kids. She also loved her two grandchildren, Kendall and Devin, and was always in the know as to their progress.
Predeceased by her husband in 1991, she is survived by her son, Brian (Mary) Stark of Jamesport, her daughter Sharon (Earl) Truland of Aquebogue, and her grandchildren, Devin Stark of Laurel and Kendall Stark of Washington, D.C. She is also survived by her brothers, James (Toni) DeRose of Fort Meyers, Florida, Joe (Rosemary) DeRose of Longwood, Florida and Robert DeRose of Laurel.
The family will receive visitors on Monday, May 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home, 406 E. Main Street, Riverhead.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Riverhead CAP, and Peconic Bay Medical Center Foundation.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, 14300 Main Road, Mattituck. Interment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Riverhead.
