Obituary of Maurice Francis Vail

LITTLE FALLS – Maurice Francis Vail, age 96, of Bay Village, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Ohio. Moe Vail, born February 16, 1926, in Little Falls, New York, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17. He joined the Pacific Campaign of World War II (Soloman Islands, Guadalcanal, Okinawa). He was a member of the I Company, 3rd Battalion, 29th and 6th Marine Divisions. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, in 1946. Moe pitched college baseball, at Rider College. He played tennis until his 90’s. Moe worked in the steel sales industry for various companies. He was married to Mary (Hoffman) Vail. She predeceased him on February 20, 2017. Moe is survived by Mary Jo Hengst (daughter, as well as her husband, Dave); M.Thomas Vail (son); three grandchildren, Joseph and Matthew (his wife, Edyn) Hengst and Sadie Vail; his sister, Joan Vogt; and brother-in-law, William Gressler. In addition to his parents, Maurice and Hazel Chadwick Vail, he was predeceased by his brothers, Richard and Rev. Thomas J. Vail; his sisters, Kathleen Gressler and Sister Kathleen Thomas Vail, CSJ (Jean Ann Vail); and a brother-in-law, Edwin Vogt. His funeral, graced with the presence of full military honors, will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at the Church of Sts. Anthony and Joseph, South Main Street, in Herkimer, New York, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in the family plot, at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Herkimer. Family and friends are invited to the church around 9:45 a.m. to attend the services. The family will briefly greet friends at the conclusion of Mass. His funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Enea Family Funeral Home, Little Falls, NY, Funeral Directors Harry J. Enea, Jr., Kevin E. Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia (315-823-2424).