Joseph F. Gesslein, 81 of Hicksville, died on Oct. 24, 1998, after a brief illness. The former Mineola resident was one of the first graduates of Corpus Christi Parochial Grammar School (1931) and also a graduate of Mineola High School (1935). Drafted in 1941, he served in the US Navy during WWII and was stationed in Norfolk, VA, where he met and married his wife, of 54 years, Matilda ("Mattie") Hubbard.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy at the end of the war, he returned to Mineola where he resumed employment with the Title Guarantee and Trust Company, at the corner of Old Country Rd. and Franklin Ave., a firm for which he worked for 44 years until retirement in July of 1982.

Mr. Gesslein is survived by his wife, Mattie, five daughters, a son, 15 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers, John of Chesapeake, VA, George and Robert of Mineola, and two sisters, Veronica of Mineola and Mary Otten of Williston Park.

A Mass was celebrated at St. Ignatius RC Church. Interment followed at Holy Rood Cemetery, where his parents, John and Katherine Gesslein, are buried. His parents moved to Mineola in 1916, a year before Mr. Gesslein's birth.

Stella M. Traks, of Mineola, died on Oct. 28, 1998. Wife of the late Casimir F. Mother of Thomas, Jim and John. Grandmother of Matthew, Benjamin and Robert. Arrangements were made by the Weigand Bros. Funeral Home, Williston Park. Funeral Mass at St. Hedwig's RC Church. Entombment Holy Rood Cemetery. Donald Joseph Phelan, of Mineola, died on Oct. 28, 1998. Husband of Ann (nee McKinley). Father of Donald E., Patricia Souder and Gregory. Father-in-law of Kirk Souder and Laura Phelan. Grandfather of Matthew Vincent. Brother of Mildred Nyitray, John and the late Richard. Arrangements were made by the Cassidy Funeral Home, Mineola. Funeral Mass at Corpus Christi RC Church. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery.