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Erna L. Parks, a longtime resident of Southampton, died Friday, August 9, at the Hampton Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton. She was 97.
Born at home in North Haven, she was the daughter of Herman and Elsie Ballreich. She spent many years working in Southampton Village at Margaret’s Rendezvous, the Southampton Beach Club and, starting in her 50s, a total of 30 years at Hildreth’s Department Store. She was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church of Southampton and visited with homebound members in need, often taking home-baked items along. She loved to plant flowers in her yard and at church, survivors said.
Ms. Parks traveled to visit her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other family members a few times a year.
She is survived by a son, Richard Parks and wife Anne of Massachusetts; a daughter, Beverly Parks Lepine and husband Yvon of Sag Harbor; four grandchildren, Heather Rogers, Kelly Bagni, Stephanie Lepine Visone and husband Pat, all of Massachusetts, and Derek Lepine of Sag Harbor; and six great-grandchildren, Liam, Amelia and Sarah Rogers, Sophia Bagni, and Andrew and Madeline Visone. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Loretta Parks of Hampton Bays; and a nephew, Fred Saar, formerly of Southampton, and wife Elsie, and their two daughters, and a niece, Amy McGarity and husband Frank, and their two children, all of upstate New York. She also has many nieces and nephews in California.
She was predeceased by her husband of more than 50 years, Richard “Dixie” Parks, in 1990; and a son, Kenneth Parks, in 1997.
Visitation was on August 15 and a funeral service took place on August 16 at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. Interment was at Oakland Cemetery in Sag Harbor.
Memorial donations may be made to the United Methodist Church of Southampton, www.southamptonumc.org, or the Dominican Sisters Family Health Service, 103 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946.
on Aug 27, 2013