Esther L. Palermo

Esther Palermo (98) of Oakdale, NY, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2025, after a brief period of declining health.  She was the devoted daughter of the late Oreste and Carmella (Brillante) Palermo, both of Naples, Italy, and the beloved sister of the late Clara Rizzo, Lydia Melato and Olga Palermo, as well as two brothers, Renate and Fernando.

Born in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, she graduated from New Utrecht High School, then went on to work at Best & Company department store before moving on to her career on Wall Street as a bookkeeper for Irving Trust Bank.  Here, she made lifelong friends with whom she traveled extensively on road trips across the United States, with Las Vegas, New Mexico and California being favorite stops.

Throughout her life, Esther was known for her fierce independence and sense of adventure, whether it was riding her bicycle across the Brooklyn Bridge at the age of twelve, playing marbles with the boys in her party dress or sneaking into the Paramount Theater to see Frank Sinatra. To the end, she was a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker and did things “her way.”

Even more than her independence, Esther - ‘Dee Dee’, as she was affectionately known - valued and loved her family.  As recently as in her 90’s, she was front and center at holidays, graduations and other gatherings – always cherishing the time spent sitting around the table enjoying good food and just chatting about old times. 

Esther is survived by her nieces Barbara Cerrone and Leslie Andresen, her nephew Richard Melato, her great-niece Emily Andresen, and her great-nephews Christopher Cerrone (Carrie Sun) and Paul Andresen, as well as great-great-nephew Matteo. She was predeceased by her niece Denise Melato in 2024.  Dee Dee will always be remembered for the indelible mark she left on them with her wit, wisdom, faith and love. 

The family will receive visitors Monday, June 16th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home, 245 Montauk Highway, West Sayville. A funeral Mass will be celebrated following visitation at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Nepomucene RC Church, 1140 Locust Avenue, Bohemia. Interment will follow at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale.  In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to make a contribution to the charity of their choice in Esther’s honor.