James M. DeSiena

Uncle Jimmy was very special. He was my god father, he really tried to support me and include me during some difficult times. I’ll never forget when he brought me to my first hockey game, took me to spend Thanksgiving together during a time I really needed to be close with family. We spent all morning talking, having coffee, and watching Pirates of the Caribbean. He loved talking to me about the times he spent with my dad. Those talks were very special to me because he helped me remember all the good times with my father. He always made sure he was at important events, birthdays, he wanted to be there because family was very important to him. He was loved and will truly be missed.

My brother, Jim DeSiena, first appeared in my life on March 15,1955 when I was 10 years old & remained my “baby brother” for the next 70 years. He was a devoted father to his daughters, Jess & Gabie,as well as a loving grandfather to John, Zack & Zoe. Jim celebrated the many accomplishments of each of his daughters of whom he was very proud. I know his three grandchildren brought him much joy by how he talked about them. He was filled with happiness when he was able to move nearby so he could spend more time with them.
Jim was a deep thinker & felt deeply about those he loved. While he had difficulty expressing that love at times, his silence somehow seemed to communicate that love.
Jim was also a highly skilled woodworker who generously shared his time & talents with family, friends, and , at times, newly-made friends. He had a love for the feel & smell of wood and a great deal of respect, for lack of a better word, for that natural material. Jim was a master craftsman who took great pride in his creations from raw wood. He amazed me how skillful & creative he was. He once met my request for a cover for an electric meter that was placed next to the front door of my country home. He created a birdhouse with a door, on which Jess painted a bed bird, that slipped over the meter so snuggly, it required no hardware. It was a thing of beauty that solved the problem artfully. I believe his tools were his most precious possessions after his family & friends.
Years ago I was so happy to travel to Italy with Jim & our brother, Joe, to find the little town of Coreno Ausonio where our father was born. We met so many wonderful relatives of both our father’s parents who we didn’t know existed. I have so many happy memories from the multiple fantastic experiences we shared during our Italian trip. Jim stayed in touch with some of these relatives enabling Jess to meet them while on an excursion to Rome as a student.
Jim enjoyed a good cigar & a glass of fine scotch right up to the end of his life. A visiting minister would regularly take Jim outside his care facility where they would both enjoy a smoke together & some good conversation. He was given a daily allotment of scotch as prescribed by his doctor.
Jim, an avid Islanders hockey fan, never missed a televised hockey game no matter who was playing. His hockey knowledge of stats was quite impressive.
He holds a special place in the hearts of his niece & 4 nephews who affectionately assigned him numerous nicknames which he always accepted with grace.
Jim had a generous heart and was truly a “one of a kind “ person, while an overused phrase, is a very fitting one that describes him perfectly. Jim always marched to his own drummer, often unknown to the rest of us. I will miss him very much; he will always be my “baby brother.“ I love you Jim

Dear Jess & Gabby
We are thinking of you during this very difficult time and sending hugs & love
Your father was one of the good guys and with always be with us
Love Aunt Mari & Barry