Greenville Press Obits April 2005

Obituaries from the 
Greenville Press

April 2005

Transcribed by Al Story
Obituaries provided by April Saccoccio


April 7, 2005

Patricia Keehner

Patricia C. Keehner, 64, of Cairo, died Wednesday, March 30 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.  

Born in Queens September 9, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Roger and Edith (Kurtz) Smith.

Keehner had been an area resident for two years. She enjoyed puzzles and crosswords, and collecting lighthouses.

Survivors include a son, Robert K. Keehner of Ferndale; two daughters, Darlene McGovern of Mastic and Darlene Keehner of Marlboro; stepdaughters Joann VonHolan of Babylon and Chris Busterna of St. Augustine, FL; a brother, Roger Smith of Holbrook; two sisters, Eileen Handler of Cairo and Edith Bogart of Clifton Park; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A daughter, Denise Marie Keehner, predeceased her.

Private cremation took place at the Albany Rural Crematorium, Menands.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville  12211.

Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.


April 7,  2005

Donald Powell Sr.

Donald W. Powell Sr., 83, died Thursday, March 31 at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany after a courageous fight with cancer.

He served in the Navy, First Marine Division SeaBees, “paving the way to Japan,” based in Guadalcanal from 1942 to 1945. While serving, he traveled through Cuba, Panama, Balboa, New Caledonia, Australia, New Guinea and Coodenough Island. He was proud to have a grandson currently serving in the Marines.

Powell was a longtime resident of Greenville. Many will remember Powell Oil Burner Service, his many years of umpiring for the Community Youth League and sponsorship of a local bowling team.

He retired from the state Department of Transportation in 1983.

Survivors include his brother, Cliff Powell Sr. of Leeds, four children, Marjorie Powell of Niskayuna, Donny Powell of South Westerlo, Dian Spinner of Hannacroix and Scott Poewell of Cornwallville; and four grandchildren, JC and Jodie Powell, and Dan and Renee Spinner.

Calling hours are Saturday, April 16 from 10 to 11 a.m., with a service beginning at 11 at Cunningham Funeral home, 4898 Route 81, Greenville, Burial with full military honors follows in the Greenville Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Post 291, Maple Avenue, Greenville  12083.


April 7, 2005

Dennis Lyons

Dennis K. Lyons, 73, of Freehold, died Saturday, April 2 at his home after a long illness.

Born in Brooklyn June 19, 1931, he was the son of the late Dennis and Lillian (McGrath) Lyons.

Lyons had been an area resident for the past six years. He had served in the army and was a communicant of the Sacred Heart Church and Our Lady of Knock Shrine.

He enjoyed watching the History Channel on television and reading.

Survivors include his wife, Mary E (Mahon) Lyons of Albany; his sons, Daniel of New York City, Gerard of Florida, Paul of Freehold and Vincent of Georgia; stepdaughters Kathleen of Florida, Veronica of Brooklyn, Joan-Marie of Maine and Michele of freehold; brothers James Lyons of Queens and Robert of Florida; sisters Carol and Eileen; and 12 step grandchildren.

Interment was in the Saratoga National Cemetery.

Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.


April 7, 2005

Irene Haas

Irene (Holdridge) Hass, 82, of Pickerington, OH, died Friday, April 1 at Winchester Place Nursing Home.

Born in South Cairo December 1, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ethel (Perry) Holdridge.

She retired as secretary to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union #232 in Fort Edward in December of 1987 after 34 years of service.

Haas was formerly a member of the Fort Edward Chapter #372 Order of the Eastern Star and Battle Hill Chapter #260. She was a past district deputy grand matron of the Warren-Washington District OES, serving in 1977.

She had lived in Pickerington for five years.

Survivors include her daughters, Rhonda Clark and husband Ted of Winston-Salem, NC, and Cindy Frobel and husband Paul of Pickerington; a brother Floyd Holdridge and wife Helen of Catskill; a sister, Hilda Rogers and husband Tom of Cairo; three grandchildren, Meghan, Andrew and Heidi Frobel of Pickerington; a niece, and two nephews.

Her husband, Lester, predeceased her on February 25, 1998.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Association of a charity of choice.


April 7, 2005

Oscar Boomer

Oscar H. Boomer, 81, of Ravena, died Saturday, March 26 at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany.

He was born and lived in Ravena all his life. He owned and operated Boomer’s Garage since 1946.

Boomer was a member of the Congregational Christian Church in Ravena, the National Rifle Association and the Northeast Stock Car Old Timers Club, and life member of the Coeymans Hollow Fire Co.

Survivors include his children, Carolyn “Carly” (Alvah) Crewell, Cynthia A. McMullen, Walter O. Boomer and Daniel A. (Robin) Boomer; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

His wife, June Dixon Boomer, brothers Asa and Ray Boomer, and an infant sister predeceased him.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chestnut Lawn Cemetery, 110 Main Street, Ravena  12143

Arrangements were with Babcock Funeral Home, Ravena.


April 7, 2005

Donald Pelton

Donald C. Pelton, 68, of Climax, died Tuesday, March 29 at his home.

Born November 8, 1936 in Albany, he was the son of Arthur C. and Catherine (Barney) Pelton.

Pelton attended St. John’s Academy in Rensselaer.

He was a machine operator for many years at Shaffer Brewery in Albany and was retired at the time of his death.

When he lived in Albany he attended Our Lady Help of Christians Church. He was active with Boy Scout Troop #70 for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.

For several years Pelton played trumpet in his brother Arthur’s band.

Survivors include his brother, Arthur Pelton Sr. of Sand Lake; his brother-in-law, Ray Cohen; nephew Arthur Pelton jr.; niece Sgt. Sandra J. Pelton; His son; and several grandchildren.

A sister, Kathleen Pelton Cohen, predeceased him.

Funeral arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie.


April 7, 2005

Robert Dean Sr.

Robert A. Dean Sr., 63, of East Durham, died Monday, April 4 at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany.

He was born in St. Albans, Queens, on November 26, 1941, the son of the late Bernard and Mary (Riley) Dean.

Dean served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He had a bachelor’s degree in the criminal justice field and served  on the  New York City Police force for 25 years until his retirement.

He was a member and past commander of the Durham Valley American Legion Post #1416, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a past member of the Emerald Society. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Knock Shrine.

Survivors include his wife, Marie (Tagliavia) Dean; a son, Robert A. Dean Jr., and a daughter, Denise Dean, both of Albany; two brothers, Charles Dean of Freeport, Long Island, and Patrick Dean of Finksburg, MD; and several nieces and nephews.

Six brothers, William, Bernard, John, Thomas, David and Raymond, predeceased him.

Funeral services are Saturday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. from Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 Route 81, Greenville, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Knock Shrine, East Durham.

Calling hours are today, April 7, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Interment will be in the Winston Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Albany  12211, or the Town of Durham Ambulance Squad.


April 14, 2005

Steve Ondrek

Steve Ondrek, 81, of Coxsackie, died Monday, April 11 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn, Albany.

He was born in Alcove July 23, 1923, the son of the late Harry and Helena (Pericek) Ondrek.

Ondrek was a self-employed automotive mechanic at Ondrek’s Garage until his retirement and had worked at Hass Garage in Coxsackie prior to starting his own business.

He loved helping people and fixing things. He also loved his outdoor animal friends, feeding and taking care of them.

Survivors include his wife, Isabelle (Degrace) Ondrek; stepchildren Marguerite Nichol, Georgette Galvin, Richard Colombe and Louis Colombe; five step-grandchildren; five step-great-great-grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Elsie (Smith) Ondrek, brothers Joseph and John Ondrek, and a sister, Helen Ondrek.

Funeral services are Friday, April 15 at 11 a.m. from Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 Route 81, Greenville.

Interment is in the Manorkill Cemetery.

Calling is today, April 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ravena Rescue Squad or the Coxsackie Rescue Squad.


April 14, 2005

Frances Kummer

Frances Louise (Millett) Kummer of Coxsackie, died Wednesday, April 6 at Albany Memorial Hospital after a short illness.

She was born October 6, 1933.

Kummer, known as “Sis,” was a lifelong Coxsackie resident. She worked out of her home for many years as a homemaker and babysitter.

An avid walker, she could be seen all over Coxsackie and the outskirts, setting a brisk pace.

Survivors include her children, Joyce A. Kummer of Cortland, Linda L. Witbeck of Ravena and Ernst L. Kummer of Standish, CA; two sisters, Armeta Cozza of Hudson and Lenora Gabriel of Stottville; three grandchildren, Danielle Kummer and Justin and Travis Witbeck and Brooklyn Schmidt.

Her husband, John H. Kummer predeceased her.

Burial was in the Catskill Town Cemetery.

Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie.  


April 14, 2005

Edith Cameron

Edith V. Cameron, 78, of Coxsackie, died Tuesday, April 5 at Mr. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, VT, where she had resided since 1993.

She was born in Tilton, NH, March 5, 1927, the daughter of the late George and Edith Fullerton.

She married Manley D. Blaisdell of South Royalton, VT, who predeceased her. She met and married Daniel A. Cameron, who also predeceased her, and was a resident of Coxsackie for 35 years.

Survivors include her children, Richard Allen Blaisdell and wife Faith of Chester, VT, Donna Jean Little of Watervliet, Suzanne Oathout and husband Ronald of Cobleskill and John William Blaisdell of Jacksonville, FL; stepchild Manley C. “Mickey” Blaisdell and wife Linda of Chester, VT; a sister, Alice King of Windsor, VT; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Her siblings, George Fullerton, Wendell Wood, Samuel Fullerton, Lawrence Fullerton, Maida “Skippy” Brown and Nettie Keay, predeceased her.

Private cremation took place at the Albany Rural Crematorium, Menands.

Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s Funeral Home, Coxsackie.


April 14, 2005

Rose Santoro

Rose Santoro, 89, of Cairo, died Saturday, April 2 at the Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, FL, after a brief illness.

She was born in Brooklyn April 25, 1919, the daughter of the late Michael and Lucy Saraniero.

Santoro had been an area resident for more than 28 years. She attended Sacred Heart Church and the First Baptist Church in Catskill.

She enjoyed crocheting and attending meetings at the Acra Nutrition Centre

Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Peter (Lucille) Gioia of Cairo; a brother; Michael Saraniero of Brooklyn; a sister, Lucy Roentini of Brooklyn; and six grandchildren, Thomas Stephens, Karen Beck, Mark Stephens, Barbara Jobson, and Peter and Robert Gioia.

Her husband Albert J. Santoro, daughter Angela Stephens and granddaughter Roseann Stephens died before her.

Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.


April 14, 2005  

Mary Smith  

Mary B. Smith, 83, of Freehold, died Saturday, April 9 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.

She was born in Climax October 26, 1921, the daughter of the late Manley and Grace R. (Ryder) Burgess.

She was a lifelong resident of Greene County and was a homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, Earl Smith; two sisters, Althea Kummer and Katherine Morse; and several nieces and nephews.

Her brother, Charles Burgess, died before her.

Interment was in the Greenville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grapeville Baptist Church or the Greensville Rescue Squad.

Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.


April 14, 2005

Kathleen Musial

Kathleen J. Musial, 49, of Red Creek, formerly of Coxsackie, died at her home on Friday, April 8.

Born in Troy, she was the daughter of George L. and Frances R. Brooke Locke of Red Creek.

Musial was a graduate of Coxsackie-Athens High School and graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Potsdam. She loved children and was president of the Red Creek PTA and served on the Red Creek School Improvement Team.

She was a member of the Lighthouse Community Fellowship in Red Creek, had been active in Girl Scouting and was a former member of the D.M. Hamilton Steamers Auxiliary.

Besides her parents, survivors include her husband, Steven Musial; her children, Stephanie Musial of Oswego and Mary Kathleen, Nathaniel and Christopher Musial, all of Red Creek; four brothers, Leslie Locke of Troy, David Locke of Coxsackie, James Locke of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Douglas Locke of St. Augustine, FL; a sister, Susanne Williams of Daytona Beach, FL; inlaws Joseph and Dianna Musial of Coxsackie; and his aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

A brother, Robert Locke, died in 1972.

Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Coxsackie.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research, 260 Osborne Road, Albany 12211.

Arrangements were with Colvin-Roberson-Norton Funeral Home, Wolcott, with additional calling handled by Sopris Funeral Home, Coxsackie.


April 21, 2005

Ester Candrilli

Ester Vitarius Candrilli, 66, of The Plaza, Schenectady, died Wednesday, April 13 at St. Clare’s Hospital.

She was born in Kingston and moved to Schenectady in 1968. She graduated from Kingston High School and worked in the  Kingston Knitting Mills then at G.E. in Schenectady as a photo technician.

Survivors include her husband, Joseph Candrilli; two daughters, Violet M. (Robert) Forget of Watervliet and Robin M. (Dale) Vunk of Broadalbin; her mother, Ester Kish Vitarius of Ulster Park; two sisters, Mary Beatty of Cairo and Vivian Robert of Rifton; a brother, Fred Vitarius of Rosendale; a sister, Carol Nelson of Paris, IN; four brothers, James Vitarius of Norwich, William Vitarius of Shandaken, Julius Vitarius of New Paltz and Joseph Vitarius of Gardner; two sisters, Pamela Vitarius of Saugerties and Debbie Vitarius of Ulster Park; four grandchildren, Jamie Greenwood, Jennifer Loughlin, Jessica Loughlin and Gregory Vunk; and several nieces and nephews.

A sister, Effie Botsokas, and brother, Robert Vitarius, predeceased her.

Burial was in Parkview Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Clare’s Hospital, 600 McClelland Street, Schenectady.

Arrangements were with Daly Funeral Home, Schenectady.


April 21, 2005

Gloria Ferrier

Gloria Ferrier, 80 of Earlton, died Friday, April 15 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.

She was born December 5, 1924, the daughter of the late Louis and Elvira (Ciccone) Parisi.

Ferrier had been a Greene County resident since age 16. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church of Cairo and loved to sew, cook and bake.

Survivors include a daughter, Debra Ferrier Borrelli of Babylon, Long Island; a son, William Ferrier of Earlton; a brother, Charles Parisi of Cairo; a sister, Corine Rassmussen of California; three grandchildren, Michelle, Jeffery and Lauren; and a great-grandchild, Ashley.

He husband, William Ferrier, predeceased her in 1994.

Burial was in the Cairo Cemetery.

Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.


April 21, 2005

William Holbrook Sr.

William Holbrook Sr., 41 of Round Top, died Saturday, April 9 at the Columbia Memorial Hospital emergency room in Hudson.

Born in Catskill October 7, 1963, he was the don of Harry and Lillian (Quackenbush) Holbrook of Round Top.

He was a heavy equipment mechanic of Birch Hill Enterprises.

Holbrook enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Besides his parents, survivors include his wife, Allyson (Donahue) Holbrook; two sons, William Jr., and Timothy; a sister Nancy of Rensselaer; a brother, Harry and wife Debbie of Milford; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

A Brother, Larry, predeceased him in 1998.

Interment was in the Davenport Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse 13220-3049, or to the Cairo Ambulance Service., Route 145, Cairo 12413

Arrangements were with Richards Funeral Home, Cairo.  


April 28, 2005

Philip Palmer

Philip J. Palmer, 81 of Greenville, died at Eden Park Nursing Home in Catskill on Monday, April 25.

He was born in Westerlo June 21, 1923, the son of the Late Laverne and Cora (Cutler) Palmer.

Palmer retired from the State Department of Transportation, having worked out of the Voorheesville station.

Survivors include his son, Philip T. Palmer and wife Mary Ellen of Wynantskill; a daughter Beverly Condon and husband Reid of Greenville; his grandchildren, Cheryl Lee, Amy Latart, Kelly Lazensky and Kevin and Craig Palmer; and great-grandchildren Victoria Slingerland, Krystal and Brook Latart and Zachary Lazensky.

His wife, Louella (Clickman) Palmer, and a brother, Percival Palmer, predeceased him.

As to his wishes, there will be no services. Cremation took place at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

Arrangements were with Cunningham Funeral Home, Greenville.


April 28, 2005

Robert Irwin Sr.

Graveside services for Robert K. Irwin Sr., who died January 17, at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, will be Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in Riverside Cemetery, Coxsackie.

The Rev. Neil Irwin will officiate.

Everyone is asked to meet at the cemetery on the morning of the service.

Arrangements are with W.C. Brady’s Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie.


April 28, 2005

Ira “Roger” Germond

Spring interment for Ira “Roger” Germond, who died January 19, will be Saturday, May 7 at noon in the Manorkill Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet at the cemetery.  


April 28, 2005

Glenroy Sweet

Spring Interment for Glenroy Sweet, who died on March 1, will be Thursday, May 5 at 11 a.m. in the Greenville Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet at the cemetery.


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