GREGA, Alexis Maria, 70, of Zephyrhills, Florida and previously Staatsburg, NY passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
Alexis was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, attended Hyde Park, NY schools and Dutchess Community College and graduated from Grasslands Hospital School of Nursing, Valhalla, NY where she was awarded for clinical excellence. She began her career as a nurse at Grasslands Hospital and then at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie until serious illness caused her to retire from nursing.
In 1966 Alexis met Richard M. Grega of Poughkeepsie and a beautiful 51 year romance began. They were married in 1968 and for many years resided in Staatsburg, NY except for two years in the early 1990's when Rich's job took them temporarily to Vestal, NY, an experience they both enjoyed. Together they enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and to Europe and in 1986 they started their RV'ing adventures around the United States. In 2011 they spent part of the winter in Florida for the first time, and the next year bought a property in Emerald Pointe RV Resort and officially became “snow birds”. By 2015 they realized that they had fallen in love with their new community, its people and lifestyle so they happily moved permanently to Florida.
Alexis endured many medical challenges throughout her adult life but always showed a happy face to the world. She was known for her kind and generous nature and her love of animals, especially cats. Although childless, she very much enjoyed being around children and introducing them to the various crafts she enjoyed. For many years she sponsored Marta, a young girl in Guatemala, providing encouragement through correspondence as well as financial support until Marta reached adulthood. Alexis became quite accomplished in flower arranging, cake decorating, ceramics, stained glass, and card making to name a few of her pursuits. She also was an early and active participant in a group of ladies across the US and abroad who established and maintained a constant exchange of emails in the days before social media. These extensive on-line conversations bonded the ladies in a very special way. Alexis' and Rich's RV lifestyle and enthusiasm for traveling the country enabled her to meet most of these “sisters” in person. Alexis belonged to several Family Motor Coach Association chapters in the northeast and in Florida. She enjoyed BINGO and occasional casino trips with Rich where she played the slots but mostly enjoyed watching Rich play Blackjack.
Alexis was preceded in death by her parents, Salvatore and Germana Forte. She is survived by her loving husband of almost 49 years Richard; their beloved Yorkie, Chewbacca “Chewie”; brothers, Gaetano “Tani” Forte and his wife Mendy, and Joseph Forte and his wife Patricia; sister-in-law, Theresa Silvernail; brother-in-law, Phil Silvernail Jr; niece, Tina Marie Koch and her husband Patrick and daughter Jessica; nephews, Salvatore J. Forte, David Forte, and Phil A. Silvernail III and his wife Dee and son Jack.
Alexis was a life-long and observant Roman Catholic and at the time of her death a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa, FL. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated there on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 3:30 pm. The family will receive friends at the church at 3:00 pm prior to Mass. Interment will be in Poughkeepsie, NY at a later date. Local Visitation in Poughkeepsie, NY will take place on Friday, June 2, 2017 10:30-11:30AM at the Wm. G. Miller & Son F.H., Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Services will be at 11:30AM in the Funeral Home. Burial to follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. Donations in memory of Alexis may be made to St.Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or to the charity of your choice. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com

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