Hearts Broken In Riverhead At Loss Of Louise Wilkinson, 71

RIVERHEAD, NY — Hearts were broken in Riverhead Monday at the news that Louise Wilkinson, 71, had died.

Wilkinson died Monday at Peconic Bay Medical Center after an illness.

Funeral services have been announced: A viewing will be held on Tuesday, April 4 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home, located at 406 E. Main Street in Riverhead. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at Community Baptist Church, located at 5267 Sound Ave in Riverhead. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

"It is with great sadness that my brother and I have to announce the passing of our mother," Bill Wilkinson wrote on social media Monday. "Phil and I truly appreciate all of the help and support offered to us by our family and friends."

Wilkinson lost her husband Harry in February, 2022, and shared their love story, one that lasted just a few months short of 50 beautiful years, in a heartfelt interview with Patch.

Over the years, Wilkinson, born in Southold, has dedicated her days to helping others, including scores of young people, who turned to social media Monday to express their sadness. She taught students the meaning of giving back and also, worked tirelessly to help the East End's homeless population.

She was a member of the Riverhead Free Library's board of directors and was a member of the Riverhead Kiwanis Club and Riverhead Key clubs.

She and her Harry were forever side by side, at home and in their work. They owned a string of businesses — including a Mattituck gas station, during the fuel shortages and oil crisis in the 1970s, when gas was rationed to odd and even days.

After that experience, she said, the pair decided "never again to sell things that people had to have," or needed with such urgency.

Instead, they opened shops selling Mexican pottery, one in Wading River and one in Riverhead; they were familiar faces on the flea market circuit, selling their brightly colored wares.

Later, Harry began to sell trailers — and finally, the couple found great joy in delighting children with his signature 1964 Bungalow Bar ice cream truck, a familiar sight at East End festivals, car shows and other events.

Children, she said, were at the heart of everything the couple cared about. Their own two sons, and the plight of children less fortunate. They would go to Little Flower Children's Service to play with the kids there, bringing their red Irish setter Copper; the children loved the dog so much, eventually, the Wilkinsons let him live at the facility with them.

Her husband, Wilkinson said, was by her side in her mission of helping others, driving guests at the Maureen's Haven homeless program and helping her as she handed out food to the needy.

The two cherished their years together, she said: "We knew how precious life was."

A full obituary and tribute to Louise Wilkinson will follow.