BENITO R. LICALSI

TOWN OF ULSTERBenito R. Licalsi, 89, formerly of Hurley died Tuesday April 5, 2021, at HealthAlliance Hospital Broadway Campus. Born Sept. 20, 1931 in Aidone, Sicily; he was the son of the late Eduardo and Gaetana (Mazzola) Licalsi. Benito served 18 months in the Italian Armed Forces helping to rebuild France before coming to America. He was a 40+ year member of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1, Ct. He continued work as a master mason for several years after retirement building and creating stonework for which he was so proud and making many friends along the way. He enjoyed traveling having gone to Italy several times in addition to Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, and Walt Disney World. Along with his wife Maria, he was an active participant at Casa Milanese faithfully attending every two weeks to eat, dance, and enjoy the many friends they made there. He enjoyed creating his lasagna masterpiece every Christmas for the entire family and ending each holiday meal with some marathon poker. When he was no longer able to drive, he and his walker/scooter became staples on the streets of Hurley (alleged sightings in Kingston as well!). He is survived by his children: daughter, Tina Chocianowski of Kingston, N.Y.; son, Edward Licalsi (Laura) of Saugerties, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Herman Niekamp of Kingston, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Frances and Timothy Kovacs, Kingston, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren: Jessica (Evan) and Sam (Allison), Matt (Darian) and Evan, Kadie (Jordan) and Grace, Connor, Ben (Jake); and by great-grandchildren, Lucas, Aria, Payton, and Kinsley. He is also survived by siblings, Beatrice Cono, Francesco Licalsi, and Salvino Licalsi. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his wife Maria (Dimarco) Licalsi. Also predeceased by siblings Annibale Licalsi, Giuseppe Licalsi, Giovanna Milazzo, Lucia Calcagno, Filippo Licalsi, Ercole Licalsi, Constantino Licalsi, Zefferino Licalsi, Bruno Licalsi and Annino Licalsi. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home, Inc., 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston, www.jvleahyfh.com Friends will be received at the funeral home on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at Saint Joseph’s Church at 11:30 a.m. Face coverings are required and social distancing may limit the capacity of the funeral home and church. Burial will follow in Hurley Cemetery.