Gloria C. Kruckel of Ronkonkoma, the former owner of Edelweiss Deli in Water Mill for more than 15 years, died at her home on December 24, one day shy of her 85th birthday.
An inductee into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in May 2003, Ms. Kruckel was instrumental in the startup of Catholic Women’s Sports Programs in Suffolk County and American Red Cross water safety courses for various ages. She coached at Mercy High School and Southampton High School for several years, but most recently worked as an independent real estate agent for a local Prudential Douglas Elliman office.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Kruckel of Southampton and Kenneth Kruckel of Lake Ronkonkoma; four daughters, Barbara Kruckel of Water Mill, Geraldine Albano of Westchester, Patricia Senese of Florida and Susanne Howard of New Jersey; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Her husband, Robert M. Kruckel, predeceased her.
Visitation was held on December 28 and 29, with a funeral service on December 29 at Moloney’s Lake Funeral Home in Lake Ronkonkoma. Interment was at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated by the family.
on Jan 6, 2010