Obituary of Peter T. Greening

It is with great sadness that the family of Peter T. Greening announce his passing on January 10, 2024, at the Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, New York.

Peter was a loving brother, nephew, uncle, great uncle, cousin, and friend.

The son of Warren D. and Nancy (Stroyan) Greening, Peter was born on July 17, 1956, in Port Jervis, New York.

Left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Nancy G. Javorsky (David), Constance F. Cartoski (Joseph) and Matthew W. Greening (d. Chantal); aunt, Faith Martinez; nieces and nephews, Mark Cartoski (Abby), Kevin Cartoski (Kayla), Alexander Chemerys, and Graham Greening (Samantha); great niece and nephews, Cameron Chemerys, AJ Chemerys, Claire Cartoski, James Cartoski; and many cousins and friends.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Warren D. Greening, and Nancy S. Greening.

His career took him from Boise Cascade in Springfield, Virginia, to Facilities Management for Buildings and Grounds at Fort Belvoir, to Safeway Stores, to Virginia Imports, a wine distributor for Northern Virginia. As produce manager in Safeway for 31 years, he was sought out for his advice on how to select the freshest fruits, especially cantaloupe, and vegetables.

He loved all children, and showered them with cookies, candy, gifts, kindness and attention. He cherished his relationships with his nephews, as well as his great-nephews and great-niece. He attended as many birthdays and graduations that he could, and was selective about choosing cards with the ‘right’ verses to send, always adding a little something extra for each recipient.  He made graduation gifts of savings accounts he set up when his nephews were born.

Peter loved animals: from our first family dog ‘Laddie’ to his own Gordon Setter ‘Inu’ and Corgi ‘Milford,’ cats, birds, turtles, and fish. He was connected to wildlife, and could hand-feed squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. Peter and his sister Connie would compete with each other over their summer jobs; he worked at Julio Santos’ farm.  He would often tell the story of herding the cows across Routes 209/6, morning and night, from one field to the other, and how all the cows would wait for the one lame cow to cross the road first before the rest would follow.

Peter had the ability to remember information, images and events in the most precise detail; his knowledge of cars and trucks, especially antique vehicles, was extensive. He was proud of his fully equipped new Ford truck (with an Eagle license plate), which he bought in his early 60’s, the first new top-of-the line truck he could afford. He was proficient in mathematics, and meticulous with numbers.  He collected coins and stamps, flag pins, anything and everything about Eagles, and he shared his love of Snoopy with his sister Connie.  He saved everything that had sentimental value to him.

Peter had a natural talent, and excelled, in any sport he attempted, which began early from playing Little League and watching his father as coach. Whether it was basketball, baseball, Red Cross swimming, he excelled. During his pre and early teens while living in Okinawa, he played baseball and football, and was on a competitive swimming team. Back in Virginia, he was a member of the Freshman Football and Basketball Teams at Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, and the Junior Varsity football and basketball teams and the Varsity basketball team at Woodbridge Senior High School.

As a child, he played kickball, Chinese checkers, Dominos, and marbles. You could often see him wearing his cowboy belt and hat, much like his mother did when she was young.  He was allowed to cross the street, thrilled to play Tiddlywinks with our neighbor’s Aunt on the porch.  As an adult, Chess became his favorite game. Peter was protective of his family and friends, once standing up at the age of ten to an Army Colonel over a perceived threat.

He especially liked climbing to the Knob, except for the cold day in late fall when Inu fell into the swirling waters of the Sawkill, and had to be rescued from drowning by Peter and Nancy.  His joy of fishing began in the Sawkill and Vandermark brooks in Milford, later extending to Shohola, the Delaware River, on lakes and reservoirs in Virginia, and from his friend’s boat on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers.

Peter’s love of antique cars and sense of humor he got from his grandfather Harry Stroyan, and he spent as much time as he could with him, at his grandparents’ home on the porch, at the Gravely with Axel (the dog), or at his grandfather’s SOCONY, later Mobil, gas station at the edge of town. This humor served him well into his final years at the Delaware Valley Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where he made friends of nurses and patients alike. His pastimes were working puzzles, passing out candy, and telling jokes. He often notified nurses of other patients in need of assistance, or helped them himself if he physically could.

Peter had a generous spirit, and shared his time, his talents, and his finances with anyone who would ask or those he thought needed his help. He never complained about anyone or anything. He gave people and animals his love, and they loved him in return.

Cremation will be private at convenience to the family.

The burial will be held at a later date at Milford Cemetery, Milford, Pennsylvania.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Peter to the Pike County Humane Society, 189 Lee Rd, Shohola, PA 18458 · (570) 296-7654.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford Street, Milford, Pennsylvania 18337 (www.stroyanfuneralhome.com).