Margaret D’Onofrio, co-owner of TD’s Rye Smoke Shop for close to half a century and as such the unofficial and much-loved matriarch of downtown Rye, died peacefully surrounded by her family on August 12, 2019. She was 91.
Born November 23, 1927 in Port Chester, of which she was a lifelong resident, Peggy, as she was called, was the daughter of Anthony and Mary Gleba Kantowsky. She married Anthony “Tony” D’Onofrio on May 4, 1952 at Our Lady of Mercy Church. In between raising a family, Peggy helped her husband out at the Smoke Shop. After he died in 1995, Peggy and her son Tony ran the business until her retirement in 2016.
Mrs. D’Onofrio is survived by her two sons, Tony and his wife Cheryl of Port Chester and Dean and his wife Lauren of Summit, N.J.; and her granddaughters, Kayce and Diana D’Onofrio. She was predeceased by her brothers, Joseph and Frank Kantowsky, and her sisters, Frances, Florence, and Kathryn Kantowsky.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held August 16 at Resurrection Church. A reception at Rye Grill & Bar followed. Donations in memory of Peggy D’Onofrio may be made to Rye Girls Softball, Rye Recreation, 281 Midland Avenue, Rye, NY 10580.
