Obituaries
from the
Greenville Press
August 2004
Transcribed by Shelley Fox
Obituaries provided by April Saccoccio
August 5, 2004
EUGENE WALLACE
Eugene F. Wallace, 67, of Catskill, died Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Ireland September 3, 1936, he was the son of the late Charles and Mary (McNulty) Wallace.
Wallace was retired from the New York City Transit Authority and was member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in East Durham.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia (McFadden) Wallace; two daughters, Mary and Susan Wallace, both of Hannacroix; and his siblings Jack, Charles, Daniel James, Hugh, Patrick, Joseph and Kevin Wallace, and Phyllis Gallagher, Cathleen Gatward and Bridgett McGinty.
Cremation took place at the Albany Rural Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
August 5, 2004
CAROL CAMERON
Carol J. Cameron, 63, of Coxsackie, died Friday, July 23, 2004, at Community Hospice of Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Catskill, December 25, 1940, she was the daughter of Mildred Mead Cameron of Coxsackie and the late Daniel Cameron.
Cameron was a clerk in the state Department of Civil Service for 35 years before retiring in 1995.
She was 1960 graduate of Coxsackie-Athens High School, a member of the United Methodist Church of Coxsackie and a member and chaplain of the Kaksakee Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
Besides her mother, survivors include her cousins, Judith and Keith Humphries, both of Dunmallen, FL, Patty Lederman of Schenectady, Virginia and Paul Moran of Scotia, Arlene Beck and Marie Friello, both of Duanesburg, and Kathy Richel.
Memorial donations may be made to the general fund of the United Methodist Church, 103 Mansion Street, Coxsackie 12051.
Arrangements were with the Sopris Funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 5, 2004
DOROTHY NELSON
Dorothy P. Nelson, 82, of Bethany Village, West Coxsackie, died Saturday, July 31, 2004, at her daughter’s home in Cairo.
Born in New York City March 27, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Cecile (Alex) Mackey.
Nelson had been a Greene County resident for 2 years, living in Greenville, Cornwallville and the West Coxsackie area.
She was a practical nurse and medical technician and was employed at Mother Cabrini Hospital in New York City.
She was a member of the First Reformed Church of West Coxsackie and enjoyed caring for birds.
Survivors include her sons, Nicholas Silvestris of Wallkill, Frank Silvestris of Purling; her daughters, Penny Rivenburg of Catskill and Jackie Clark of Cairo; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Richard Nelson, died before her.
Burial follows in the Cornwallville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia-Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
Arrangements are with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 5, 2004
DONALD ORR
Donald Clyde Orr, 68, of Cairo, died Thursday, July 29, 2004, at this home.
Born April 4, 1936 in Elmira, he was the son of the late Clyde and Bertha (Doty) Orr.
Orr was a graduate of Southside High School in Elmira. He later attended SUNY Oswego. He was a journeyman printer for Commercial Press and later became a vocational instructor at Coxsackie Correctional Facility for 17 years, retiring in 1976.
Orr was a Cairo town justice for 25 years.
He later formed the Greene County Department of Social Services Fraud Unit. Most recently he worked as a security officer at Colonie Center.
He was a member of the New York State Magistrates Association and the Cairo Republican Club.
He enjoyed landscape painting and playing golden oldies on his organ.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Rita (Martino) Orr; two sons, Timothy M. Orr and wife Cindy of Baldwin, WI, and Steven D. Orr and wife Maureen of Boston, MA; a daughter, Cynthia Orr of Hudson, NC; three sisters, Wanda and husband Don Wolcott of Florida, Betty and husband Raymond Pease of Horseheads and Dolores and husband Richard Yorke of Elmira; two grandchildren, Benjamin and Daniel Orr of Baldwin, WI; and several nieces and nephews.
Cremation took place at Park View Cemetery, Schenectady.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cairo Rescue Squad or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were with Traver and McCurry Funeral Home, Catskill.
August 5, 2004
JOHN SMIGEL III
John Smigel III, 58, of Freehold, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at his home.
Born in Catskill May 26, 1946, he was the son of the late John and Henrietta (Sobering) Smigel.
Smigel spent most of his time working on the family farms. For a time he had worked at Bud Kearney’s Ford in Ravena in the parts department. He then and still operated his Smigel Excavation Company and at the present time was employed by the state Department of Transportation in Cairo.
A big enthusiast of Indian motorcycles, his pride and joy was “Mother” a 1951 Indian Chief. He was also a snowmobiler and racer.
He was one of the founding members and president of the Northern Star Riders Snowmobile Club and was very active in the Tri-Village Fire Co. and the Rensselaerville Rescue Squad.
Survivors include his wife Anne (Annabelle) Leber Smigel; several children and stepchildren, Beth Lounsbury (Jimmy) of Westerlo, Lynett Terrell (Keith) of Medusa, Barbara Hewlett (Michael) of Massena, Travis Smigel and fiancée Sarah Davis of Medusa, Stephen Hobart (Lorraine) of Menands, Matthew Hobart of Medusa and Jonathon Hobart of Freehold; five grandchildren, Victoria and James Lounsbury, Megan and Amanda Terrell and Holden Hewlett; a sister, Henrietta Smigel; a half-sister, Nancy Downey of New Port Richey, FL; a half-brother, W.R. (Doc) Tilford of Westford; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the Grapeville Christian School, 214 County Route 25, Climax 12042.
Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.
August 12, 2004
KATHLEEN COHEN
Kathleen M. Cohen, 59, of Coxsackie died suddenly Friday, August 6, 2004 at home.
Born December 23, 1946, in Albany, she was the daughter of the late Arthur C. and Katherine E. (Barney) Pelton.
Cohen attended Our Lady Help do Christians School and later Mercy High. Through her adult years she enjoyed competing in car racing and Lebanon Valley, at that time Powder Puff Race for females, and competed in the drags.
She moved to Greene County and ran three businesses that were successful.
Cohen enjoyed music, was very artistic and enjoyed dancing, antiques, boating and CBs. She also became involved in various rallies to support U.S. troops.
Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Raymond A. Cohen; her mother-in-law, Florence H. Cohen; her brothers, Donald C. Pelton and Arthur W. Pelton Sr. of Coxsackie; her nieces and nephews, Arthur W. Pelton Jr., Sandra J. Pelton and Mark C. Pelton; and many grand nieces and nephews.
Hew father-in-law, Abraham Cohen, died before her.
Interment of her remains will take place at a later date at Our Lady of Help Christians Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer society.
Arrangements are with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 12, 2004
VINCENT MANNING
Vincent R. Manning, 22, of Schenectady, formerly of Climax, died Saturday, August 7, 2004 at his home due to a fire.
Born in Yonkers September 25, 1981, he was the son of John K. and Kirma C. (Balsinte) Manning of Climax.
Manning was a graduate of Greenville High School and was very active in Little League baseball and basketball, which he played at St. Patrick’s in Catskill. He also enjoyed video games and fishing.
He was employed as a clerk in a local supermarket prior to his death.
Besides his parents, survivors include his four brothers, John Manning of Ravena, Kenneth and Christopher Manning of Climax and Brian Manning of Beacon; three sisters, Jaime Lolkema of Hyde Park, Mia Manning of New Jersey and Ena Manning of Schenectady; his paternal grandmother, Jean Manning of Poughkeepsie; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John R. Manning and Raymond and Ruffina Balsinte, and an infant son, Vincent Manning, II.
A mass of Christian Burial is celebrated today, August 12, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Coxsackie’s by the Rev. J. Moyna, pastor.
Private cremation takes place at the Albany Rural Crematorium, Menands.
Arrangements are with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. funeral Home, Coxsackie.
August 12, 2004
EMIL AUGER
Emil J. Auger, 72, of south Cairo, died suddenly Wednesday, August 4, 2004, at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson after a brief illness.
He was born in Canada August 19, 1931, the son of the late Alcide and Marierose (Elie) Auger.
Auger had been an area resident since 1980. He formerly lived in Evansville, VT, and was a well known tree logger.
He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church of Cairo and enjoyed the outdoors and dirt track racing in Lebanon Valley.
Survivors include his wife, Estelle M. (Lussier) Auger; six children, Linda Blakslee and husband Brian of Concord, VT, Carol Selner and husband Joe and Rachel Campbell and husband Gary of round top, Doris Shastany and companion John Fabrizio of Acra, and Allen Auger and wife Barbara (Vuolo) Auger and Diane Auger and fiancé Steven Bartholomew, all of Cairo; two sisters, Alma Boudreau and Mathilde Lateau, both of Canada; 11 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A sister, Monique Paradise, predeceased him.
Private cremation took place at Albany Rural Crematorium, Menands. Burial will be announced.
Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the Sacred Heart Church of Cairo, Mountain Avenue, Cairo 12413.
Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.
August 12, 2004
BRIAN AHEARN
Brian J. Ahearn, 47, of Cairo, died Monday, August 2, 2004 at Columbia Memorial Hospital Emergency Room, Hudson.
Born in the Bronx July 16, 1957, he was the son of the late Harry and Marjorie (Mulhern) Ahearn.
Ahearn had been a Cairo resident for 18 years. He was a member of Union Local 155 of Poughkeepsie and a communicant of Sacred Heart Church of Cairo.
He was a well known drywall taper and took part in the World Trade Center construction and the renovation of the Statue of Liberty.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Gale A. (Ruscito) Ahearn; his children Matthew and Veronica Ahearn, both of Cairo; four brothers, Daniel Ahearn of Maryland, Kevin Ahearn of New Jersey, James Ahearn of Palenville and Patrick Ahearn of Germany; two sisters, Karen Zigmantinis and Donna Meyers, both of East Durham; and many nieces and nephews.
Burial was in the Cairo Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.
August 12, 2004
JOYCE VAN RIPEN TOPPING
Joyce Marie Van Ripen Topping, 61, of Leeds, formerly of Tannersville, died Thursday, August 5, 2004, at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.
Born in Queens, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Ruth Hockenberger Van Ripen.
She was a retired U. S. Postmaster with more than 20 years of service.
Survivors include her companion, Richard Opp of Leeds; two daughters, Stacia Ann Topping of Reno, NV and Adrienne Beth Topping and husband Philippe Zimmerman of Milburn, NJ; and three grandchildren, Sophie Rose, Corinne Ruth and Jacob Benjamin Zimmerman.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Hospital.
Arrangements were with Aston Basagic Funeral Home, Hunter.