Charlotte Eldred

Former Staten Islander Charlotte Eldred, 75, of Binghamton, N.Y., a retired teacher who enjoyed writing poetry, died Friday at home.

Born Charlotte Montalbano in Tottenville, she moved to Binghamton in 1958.

Mrs. Eldred was an English and creative writing teacher for many years at Maine-Endwell Junior and Senior High School, Endwell, retiring in the early 1990s.

She received a Teacher of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council in 1985.

She was a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Perth Amboy. While attending high school, she was a drum majorette for the PAL Tottenville Drum Corps. She earned an associate's degree from the former Staten Island Community College, her bachelor's degree from the former Harper College, Binghamton, and her master's degree from Teachers College of Columbia University, Manhattan.

She enjoyed writing poetry and published a book of poems titled Black Dress. She also published a book about her family's emigration from Sicily titled, The Fishing Village of Their Ancestors was Always in Their Hearts.

She was a parishioner of St. Patrick's R.C. Church, Binghamton.

Surviving are her son, Charles D.; her brother, Vincent Montalbano; her sister, Marie Montalbano Supina, and three grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Grasmere. Arrangements are being handled by the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville.

Services: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Tuesday, August 6,2013 10:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Monday, August 5,2013 2-4 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: St. Mary's Cemetery

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home