Obituary of William A. Griffenkranz

William A. Griffenkranz, 65, of Pine Bush, New York, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 8, 2018 from complications of heart disease with his beloved wife, Donna, and daughter, Erica, by his side.
Bill was born October 12, 1953 in Queens, New York to William R. and Rose Griffenkranz. He grew up in Woodside and Middle Village in Queens, and was the oldest of four children. Bill was a graduate of Grover Cleveland High School. He began his career as a butcher at age 15 at Hess’s Butcher Shop in Middle Village and worked at numerous butcher shops and grocery stores before retiring in 2003. In 1969, Bill met the love of his life, Donna, in her grandparents’ store, Larrochia’s Luncheonette. They didn’t start dating until February of 1976, but quickly became inseparable and were married on August 27, 1978. During their 40 years of marriage they had three children, William James, Christopher Paul, and Erica Leigh.
Bill was a wonderful husband and father, always putting his family first. He was an avid sports fan, passing along his love of the Yankees and Notre Dame to his children and grandchildren. He loved traveling with his wife up and down the East Coast, spending vacations in Maine, Cape Cod, North Carolina and Florida.
Bill is survived by his wife Donna; his three children, William and his wife Julia of Philadelphia, PA, Christopher and his wife Holly of Windermere, FL, and Erica and her fiancee George Forni of Middletown, NY; his grandchildren, Benjamin, Dominic, and Nicholas; his father, William; his two sisters, Rosemarie Griffenkranz and Marygrace Marsico; and several other loving aunts and uncles, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Bill is predeceased by his mother, Rose, and his brother, James.
Anyone wishing to honor Bill’s life can make a donation in his name to the following charities: www.limbsforlife.org ; www.heart.org .
A memorial to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.