Obituary of Carmen Greene

Carmen Luhring Greene died peacefully at the Fairfield, Connecticut home of her daughter Linda and son-in- law Frank Auriemma on Friday, November 30, 2018, with Linda at her bedside.

Carmen, one of eight children, was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on October 1, 1917 to Andres and Gregoria Luhring. She graduated from the Bishop Willinger School of Nursing in Puerto Rico where she received her degree as a registered nurse, subsequently training as a surgical nurse. After working for a time as a registered nurse in Puerto Rico, Carmen moved to Amsterdam, New York, to live with her older sister Helen. While employed as a nurse at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital, she met Bob Greene, recently returned from naval service in the Second World War. They married soon after and, after several more years and starting a family in Amsterdam, moved to Syracuse, eventually settling in Cicero.

Carmen loved Latin dances (winning numerous dance contests in her younger days), playing bingo and crazy 8's (particularly with her grandchildren), watching westerns (particularly with John Wayne) and World War Two movies, and greatly enjoyed visiting casinos, with her last visit occurring on her 101st birthday. She liked to remind her kids and grandkids that she had once won USO beauty pageant. Carmen especially loved cooking for her kids' friends (while Bob poured libations) in their Hamilton Road kitchen. Many people in North Syracuse still believe that she invented the chicken wing as a snack in the mid-1960's. She was a long-time communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church in North Syracuse, where she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She performed volunteer work for many years for Respite Care in North Syracuse and volunteered for the Columbiettes, the ladies auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Greene and son-in-law Frank Auriemma, son Patrick and daughter-in-law Ellen Sax of Malta, New York, , son Terrence and Jeannie Graceffo of Manlius, grandsons Matthew and Kyle, granddaughter Marisa, brother Radames, sister Raquel, and many, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband Bob and daughter Michelle Mary.

There will be a funeral Mass at Holy Family Church in Fairfield on Monday, December 10 at 1:00 pm. Interment will take place at a later date. Friends of Carmen, particularly those who spent time in her kitchen, are welcome to join the family immediately after the graveside service at the Raindancer Restaurant on Route 30 in Amsterdam. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis TN 38148, Memorial ID 11455276.