Photos: Eloise Staudinger Memorial Dedication

Eloise Staudinger, founder of who passed away in 2010, was honored with a cast iron bench dedicated in her memory in front of the store on Main Street recently.

Staudinger was described at the ceremony as tenacious in her efforts to beautify Main Street, and was nicknamed "The Flame."

"Forty years ago my Mom had a vision, she planted a seed and she thought she wanted flowers on Main Street," said her daughter, Lori Fiala. Fiala said that her mother went on to create a beautification committee in the .

Two trees were also planted on Oak Street as well as some flowers.

Organization of the bench was done by Karen Ferb, Paula Murphy and Tom Ferb as the Greater Patchogue Foundation. Tom Ferb said that this should be the first bench of this kind, and that it was funded by donations. The bench was installed by Patchogue Village and was a tax write off. The total cost of the bench and installation was between $1,400-$1,500.

Browse the photos for highlights from the ceremony.