Besides his parents, survivors
include his maternal grandparents, Donald and Cheryl Merritt of Purling;
maternal great-grandmother Leona Bartholomew of Catskill; paternal grandmothers
Joan Chowka and Jean Lowden, both of Freehold; an aunt, Kayla Merritt of
Purling; and many other aunts, uncles and cousins.
Burial was in St. Patrick’s
Cemetery, Catskill.
Arrangements were with Traver and
McCurry Funeral Home, Catskill.
December 9, 2004
HARRY KNIFFEN
Harry G. Kniffen, 85, of Coxsackie
Village, died Sunday, December 5 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Coxsackie Village June 5,
1919, he was the son of the late George and Florence (Applebee) Kniffen.
Prior to his retirement he was
employed by the Scully Foundry of Coxsackie. He also was employed by the
Coxsackie-Athens School District.
Kniffen was a lifetime member of the
D.M. Hamilton Fire Company and an avid Giants fan.
Survivors include his wife of 61
years, Susan A. (Clapper) Kniffen; a son, Harry G. Kniffen Jr. of Athens; two
daughters, Vera Crewell of Catskill and Susan Silvestris of Hudson; three
sisters, Rose Greene, Betty Meisner and Kathryn Boice, all of Coxsackie; eight
grandchildren, Kevin Silvestris of Red Hook, Robert Silvestris of Saugerties,
Theresa Gregory of Cairo, Henry and Jeffrey Olthoff and Tracy Garcia, all of
Catskill, and Nicole and Jennifer Lucas, both of Las Vegas, NV; and 13
great-grandchildren.
A brother, George Kniffen, and a
sister, Anna Roeben, died previously.
Burial was in Riverside Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the Coxsackie Rescue Squad.
Arrangements were with Brady Funeral
Home, Coxsackie.
AUDREY LONG
Audrey B. Long, 80, formerly of
Coxsackie, died Sunday, December 5 at Schuyler Ridge Nursing Home, Clifton
Park.
She has been a resident of Latham
since 2001, when she moved with her daughter. She was born June 21, 1924
in Ballston Spa, the daughter of the late Sanford and Anna Marie (Randall)
Briggs.
Long was a graduate of Ballston Spa
High School and Albany Business School. She was a secretary at Greene
Correctional Facility in Coxsackie.
Survivors include her two daughters,
Virginia and husband Wayne Spickerman of Latham, and Wendy and husband Paul
Hildreth of Brusnwick; three grandchildren, Paul Hildreth Jr., and Danielle
and Vanessa Spickerman; a niece, Esther Miller of Alplaus; and three nephews,
Quentin Barton and John Wilson, both of Ballston Spa, and Samuel Wilson of
Clifton Park.
Her husband, Arthur Long, died on
January 11, 1978.
Memorial donations may be made to the
Neurosciences Institute, Dr. Zimmerman, Albany Medical Center Hospital
Alzheimer’s Division or the Alzheimer’s Association NENY Chapter, 85
Watervliet Avenue, Albany 12206.
Arrangements were with Sopris Funeral
Home, Coxsackie.
December 9, 2004
EUGENE SOMERS JR.
Eugene Kinkead Somers Jr., 42, of
Earlton, died suddenly on Thursday, December 2 at home.
Born April 4, 1962 in Catskill, he
was the son of the late Eugene and Jane (Palmateer) Somers Sr.
Somers graduated from Catskill High
School and attended North Adams State College.
Survivors include his wife, Jennifer
(Hallenbeck) Somers; his son, Eugene K. Somers III; his siblings, Andrea
Simpkins and husband John of Avondale, AZ., William Somers of Mahwah, NJ, Mary
McEvoy and husband Dennis of Hudson, Patricia Austin and husband Allen of
Catskill and Daniel Somers and wife Annie of Hopewell Junction; his in-laws,
Frank and Kathy Hallenbeck of Rensselaerville; brother in-law William
Hallenbeck and wife Jene of Greenville; sister-in-law Kathy Spaargaren and
husband Frank of Milton, FL; grandparents Kay Bennette and Bertha Hallenbeck,
both of Rensselaerville; three nieces and 10 nephews.
Interment was in the Town of Catskill
Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the
SPCA, American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements were with Traver and
McCurry Funeral Home, Catskill.
December 16, 2004
MABEL OTTY HART
Mabel Otty Hart, 93, formerly of
Greenport and the Home for the Aged in Hudson, died Thursday, December 9 at
the Adventist Nursing Home in Livingston.
Born in Claverack November 5, 1911,
she was the daughter of the late Tilden and Anna (Wagner) Rote.
Hart was a homemaker and enjoyed
cooking and gardening. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church
of Hudson.
Survivors include her daughter and
son-in-law, Beverly and Ray Preusser of Craryville; three sons and
daughters-in-law, John and Pauline Otty of Bells Pond, Robert and Dotty Otty
of Hudson and Richard and Dena Otty of Round Top; 21 grandchildren; 21
great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husbands,
John H. Otty Sr. and Andrew Hart; a daughter, Rose Ann Domkoski; three
brothers, Elmer, Art and Raymond Rote; and three sisters, Goldie McIntosh, Ida
Coons and Rose Walker.
Interment was in the Mt. Pleasant
Reformed Church Cemetery, Greenport.
Memorial donations may be made to the
Mt. Pleasant Reformed Church, P.O. Box 355, Hudson, 12534, or to the American
Heart Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany 12205.
Arrangements were with Bates and
Anderson-Redmond and Keeler Funeral Home, Hudson.
December 16, 2004
LEWIS HORTON
Lewis A. Horton, 90, of Cairo, died
Friday, December 10 at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Cairo March 25, 1914, he was
the son of the late William and Sylvia (Chappel) Horton.
Horton worked as a general laborer
for several contractors before his retirement.
Survivors include his nephew, Robert
Shaw and wife Marie of Greenville; a niece, Arlene DiBello and husband Russell
of Greenville; and several grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great-grand-nieces and
great-grand-nephews.
A brother, Joseph Horton and a
sister, Marion Shaw, predeceased him.
Burial was in the Freehold Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Cunningham
Funeral Home, located in Greenville.
December 16, 2004
WILLIAM VAN TASSEL
William E. Van Tassel, 58, of Ancram,
a former longtime resident of Catskill, died Tuesday, December 7 at Columbia
Memorial Hospital, Hudson.
Born in Catskill April 2, 1946, he
was the son of the late William E. and Dora (Lennon) Van Tassel Sr.
Van Tassel had been self-employed in
the landscaping industry.
He was a member of the American Pool
Players Association Tuesday Night League in Columbia County.
Survivors include a daughter,
Samantha Van Tassel of Catskill; a son, Matthew Van Tassel of Catskill; three
sisters, Shirley Brady of Colonie, Lois Bogue of Ancram and Sharlene Nangle of
Florida; five brothers, Gerald Van Tassel of Surprise; John Van Tassel of
Cairo, Michael van Tassel of Pine Plains, Donald Van Tassel of Arizona and
Ellwood Van Tassel of Catskill; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and
great-nephews.
A sister, Marie Van Tassel,
predeceased him.
Burial was in the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements were with Peck and Peck
Funeral Home, Copake.
December 23, 2004
EUGENIE DODANE
Eugenie A. “Gene” Dodane, 93,
died Wednesday, December 15 at the Regency Health Center in Chandler, AZ.
Born in Paris, France on December 5,
1911, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Philomene (Van Hooydonck)
LePelletier.
Dodane came to the United States at
age 3 and was raised in New York City. There she met Paul P. Dodane,
also from France, and they married in the mid-1930s.
In 1938 they moved to Greenville and
purchased a tavern, which they named Paul’s Tavern on Route 32, north of
Greenville. They operated it together until 1954, at which the business
was sold and Gene became a full-time homemaker.
Dodane was an active member of the
South Westerlo Congregational Church, the Clematis Garden Club and the Order
of the Eastern Star.
She moved to Delmar in 1969 after her
husband’s death and then moved to the Bay Area of California in the
mid-1970’s to be closer to her son and his family. She later moved to
Chandler, AZ, again to be closer to her family.
Survivors include her son, Paul C.
Dodane and wife Elnora (Roe) Dodane, and two grandchildren, Paul P. Dodane II
and Christopher Martin Dodane, all of Chandler, AZ.
Burial was in the Bethlehem Cemetery,
Delmar.
Arrangements were with Cunningham
Funeral Home, Greenville.
December 23, 2004
GEORGE TARANTO
George Z. Taranto, 77, of Earlton,
died Monday, December 20 at the Stratton Veterans Administration Medical
Center in Albany.
Born in the Village of Athens on
September 19, 1927, he was the son of the late Antonio and Lucy (VanKuren)
Taranto.
Taranto served in the Army during
World War II. He had been a welder for Grummand Allied in Athens and
later was a driver for Thorp’s and a self-employed carpenter and welder.
He also worked for Community Action in the weatherization program.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and
growing vegetables.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy (Riopel)
Taranto of Cairo; his son, George and his wife Marlene Taranto of Earlton; his
daughters, Patricia and husband Tom Vita of Catskill and Lucianne and husband
Tim of Athens; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his daughter,
Pamela Bishop, on December 12, 2001.
Funeral services are today, December
23, at 10:30 a.m. from Sopris Funeral Home, 11877 Route 9W, Coxsackie.
The Rev. Carol Lewis will officiate.
Burial follows in the Old Athens
Rural Cemetery.
Calling is today after 9 a.m.
December 23, 2004
GEORGINE ANDRESEN
Georgine C. Andresen, 75, of Cairo,
died Wednesday, December 15 at Community Hospice at Columbia Memorial
Hospital, Hudson.
Born November 7, 1929 on an island
off Germany called Insel Fohr Schleswig Holstein, she was the daughter of the
late Georg and Meta (Friedricksen) Andresen.
Andresen had been the secretary of
the Republican Club, a member of the Cairo Planning Board, the Lily Pod
Writers group and the Artists Guild, and was a volunteer for the Cancer
Society.
She was a member of Resurrection
Lutheran Church of Cairo for more than 28 years, as well as the church choir
and the Ladies Guild of Cairo. Andresen loved to paint.
She is survivors include her niece,
Margaret-Ann Maben of Worcester; a brother, Georg Andresen of Germany; a
sister, Wilma Hommel of Catskill; a stepson, Victor DeFrancesco; and several
nieces and nephews, and aunts and uncles in Germany.
Her husband, Conrad DeFrancesco,
predeceased her.
Private cremation took place at the
Albany Rural Crematorium in Menands. Spring interment will be in the
Catskill Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Route 32, Cairo 12413, or to Community Hospice
of Columbia-Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
Arrangements were with Richards
Funeral Home, Cairo.
December 23, 2004
JOHANNA BAUER
Johanna F. Bauer, 80, of Bavarian
Manor, Purling, died Friday, December 17 at Albany Medical Center.
Born in Munich, Germany, February 5,
1924, she was the daughter of the late George and Anna (Schnieder) Henniger.
Bauer was an area resident since
1947. She owned and operated the Bavarian Manor in Purling from 1948 to
1966.
She was a lifetime charter member of
the Round Top Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary, a member of the Catskill Elks
Lodge #1341, the Republican Club, the Cairo Chamber of Commerce and the Greene
County Women’s League Cancer Patient Aid, and a past member of the Cairo
PTA.
She enjoyed knitting, gardening,
crocheting and all kinds of handwork.
Survivors include her sons, William
K. Bauer Jr. of Purling and Kenneth G. Bauer of Earlton; a daughter, Susanne
Oldakowski of Purling; seven grandchildren, Christopher Bauer, Katherine,
Jozef, Nicholas and William Oldakowski, and Sarah and Elizabeth Bauer; and
many second cousins.
Her husband, William Bauer, Sr., predeceased her on March 25, 1988.
Burial was in St. Patrick’s
Cemetery, Catskill.
Memorial donations may be made to the
Greene County Women’s League Cancer Patient Aid, c/o Mary Lupoli, 467 Silver
Spur Road W., Purling 12470.
Arrangements were with Richards
Funeral Home, Cairo.
December 23, 2004
YVONNE GENNEWEIN
Yvonne S. Gennewein, 66, of West
Coxsackie, died Thursday December 16 at her home after a long illness.
Born in Malone May 16, 1938, she was
the daughter of Mary Sosvill of Malone.
Gennewein was a resident of the West
Coxsackie area for four years. Prior to her retirement, she was employed
by the Eddy Knitting Mill in Flushing.
She enjoyed gardening and flowers.
Survivors include her daughters,
Ivett and Deborah of New Jersey; three sisters, Nancy, Shelly and Sheila; five
grandchildren, Dillon, Cayla, Steven, Peter and Bryan; and her friend, John
Mlekusch of West Coxsackie.
Private cremation took place at the
Albany Rural Crematorium, Menands.
Arrangements were with W.C. Brady’s
Sons Inc. Funeral Home, Coxsackie.
December 23, 2004
ROBERT BRANDON
Robert J. Brandon, 76, of Brooklyn,
whose family lives in South Westerlo, died Wednesday, December 15, after a
long illness.
He was born in Brooklyn February 9,
1928, the son of the late Robert and Lucy (Babino) Brandon.
Brandon was retired from Metropolitan
Life Insurance as a sales agent. He also served in the Navy.
Survivors include his sons and
daughters-in-law, Richard and Barbara Brandon of South Westerlo and Robert and
Josephine of Brooklyn; three daughters, Gloria Brandon of Staten Island,
Eileen Waked and husband Joe of North Carolina and Jennifer Milkovits and
husband Phil of Brooklyn and seven grandchildren, Alana and Alesa Brandon of
South Westerlo, Sarah, Robert and Thomas Brandon of Brooklyn and Eddie and
veronica Waked of North Carolina.
He was predeceased by his wife, Gisa
Brandon, in 2000. He also was predeceased by two sisters as well as his
former wife, Helen Valentino, in 1995.
A Mass was celebrated on December 18
at St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn.
December 23, 2004
ELIZABETH PARISI
Elizabeth F. Parisi, 91, formerly of
Coxsackie, died Tuesday, December 14 at Van Rensselaer Manor, Troy.
Born in Poland July 27, 1913, she was
the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Lavacek) Lenicek.
Mrs. Parisi had been a resident of
Coxsackie for 34 years and was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic
Church. She enjoyed gardening and cooking.
Survivors include a son and
daughter-in-law, Joseph and Susanne of Schoharie; two daughters, Marie Parisi
of Arizona and Teresa Murphy and husband Regan of Rensselaer; a sister-in-law,
Edith Parisi; three grandchildren, Camille, Casey and Cody; her nieces and
nephews; and friends Fred and Jean Donovan, erry Lasher, Kathy Griffiths and
Mary Mackin.
Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery,
Coxsackie.
Memorial contributions may be made to
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN
38105-1905.