Veronica Anne Siller of Shelter Island passed away peacefully on the morning of June 21 with her husband of 47 years, Gerry Siller, by her side. She was 67.
Roni was born November 22, 1955, to Vincent and Vera MacDonald in Bethpage. Growing up in Massapequa, she attended Massapequa High School, where she met Gerry. They became high school sweethearts and were married in 1976.
A graduate of Marywood College, she earned a master’s degree in Education at Dowling College. Roni taught Home and Career Education at the Shelter Island School until her retirement in 2012.
As a teacher, she’s remembered for bringing humor and lightheartedness to the classroom and forming close bonds with many of her students. After she retired from the school, she was an office assistant at the Shelter Island Senior Activity Center.
Roni and Gerry had four daughters who they raised on Shelter Island. A devoted wife and mother, her life centered around her family. She supported all the activities the girls were part of — Girl Scouts, softball, tennis, basketball, lacrosse, horseback riding, to name a few.
It was rare not to see Roni in the stands cheering on.
Living to cherish her memory are her husband; daughters, Kristen (Thomas) Dickman, Meghan (Brandon) Smith, Molly (Richard III) Jernick, and Katie; and siblings Bruce MacDonald, John MacDonald, and Nancy Hunter.
Additionally, she is survived by seven grandchildren, Riley and Grace Wilder, Wyatt, Austin and Ellie Jernick, and James and Emily Smith, all of whom loved her dearly.
The family will receive friends on Monday, June 26, from 3 to 6 PM at Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church on Shelter Island.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 27, at 10:30 AM, also at Our Lady of the Isle, officiated by Father Peter DeSanctis.
Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
The Siller family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Shelter For All (Roni Siller Fund) to support affordable housing. You can donate by Venmo @shelterforall or by check to Shelter For All, PO Box 1355, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965. Please indicate the donation is for the Roni Siller fund in the memo line.
The Shelter Island Funeral Home is serving the family.
