Paul DeFiore, a longtime Rockaway resident, died May 18. He was 79.

DeFiore was born in Brooklyn on April 11, 1929. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Era. He was a parishioner of St. Gertrude Church.

He is survived by his companion, Theodora Wilkes; son, Stephen Fortunato; daughters, Theresa Marinello and Marci DeFiore; sister, Marcella Negron; 9 grandchildren; and 13 stepgrandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Denis S. O'Connor Funeral Home. Services were held at St. Gertrude Church. Interment was at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, New York.