Santina A. Vaughan

“LIVING TO AN OLD AGE IS A PRIVILEGE”

Santina Adrianna Antionette (Cuti) Vaughan passed away on October 15, 2024 at 93 years of age. By her side at the time of her passing was her youngest son Mark and her daughter-in-law Casey.

Santina, or Ina, as she was known, was born in Brooklyn at her family home on Essex Street on May 1, 1931 to Pietro and Anna (Ricca) Cuti, the same day that President Hoover unveiled the Empire State Building in the next borough over, Manhattan.

In 1955, Ina  graduated from St John's University School of Law, and in 1959 Ina married the love of her life, James Vaughan.  Together Ina & Jimmy, along with Ina’s parents, moved to Massapequa, Long Island.. Shortly thereafter her brother, Dr. Anthony Cuti, and his wife Anne, joined them in Massapequa, buying a home around the corner, where Ina was thrilled to watch her niece Claudia and nephew Richard grow up alongside her children Peter, Andrew, Von, and Mark.

Ina retired from her career as an attorney with the Mental Hygiene Legal Service where she worked as a patient advocate.  She was a fierce protector of the patients’ rights and enjoyed being able to help others. However, she was often heard telling those around her that one of her greatest gifts was that she and Jimmy were able to celebrate 50 years of marriage together, and that they had traveled the world before he passed away in 2011. There was not a day that went by that she did not miss him.

If you knew Ina for more than five seconds, then you knew that despite all of her accomplishments, her greatest joy and what she considered her most important role was that of grandma. She would, and did go to the ends of the earth for her family. There was not a school event, holiday, craft fair, or dinner that Ina would miss.  Spending time with family was her hobby and her most enjoyable activity.

In 2019, Ina made the decision that she could no longer live on her own, so she moved to Bethpage to live with her son Mark, her daughter-in-law Casey, and her grandchildren. Her determination and will carried her through her diagnosis of Dementia, and when she could no longer remain with her family,  she was lucky enough to find a warm, loving home at Village Green in Levittown, where she was given the care, love, and support she needed up until the very end.

Ina is predeceased by her husband Jimmy, her brother Anthony, and son Von L. Allen. She leaves behind her three sons Peter (and his wife Cathy), Andrew (and his wife Velvet), and Mark (and his wife Casey); her beloved niece Claudia, and nephew Richard (and his wife Sue, and their children Katherine and Alexander); and her heartbroken grandchildren Gavin, Grace, Hailey, Lucas, Muriel, and Phoebe.

Visitation Friday, October 25th 4-8 PM

Religious Service Friday evening at 7pm at the funeral home.

Funeral Saturday, October 26th 10 AM

At the funeral home.

Interment to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park