Obituaries from the Daily Freeman February 2001

Contributed by Sharon Henke
Actual date that obituary appeared in the newspaper was not noted
Items extracted were those with any Greene County reference

CHARLES LELAND DAVIDSON

ALBANY - Charles Leland Davidson, a retired equipment operator for the village of Catskill Water Department until his retirement in 1990, died on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 at the Albany Medical Center. He was 76.

He was a member of Wadsworth Lodge No. 417 Free & Accepted Masons, and the Tunkhannock Baptist Church.

Mr. Davidson had previously been employed by Chemical Leaman Transport Co. in Albany, Atlantic Cement Co. in Ravena and Universal Atlas Co. in Hudson.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Born Jan. 8, 1926, in Tunkhannock, Pa., he was a son of the late Herbert and Della Belles Davidson.

Survivors include his wife, whom he married on Oct. 18, 1965, Lucy Pellegrino Davidson; a sister, Mice Johnson of Selkirk; a brother, Larry of Dundee; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.

A sister, Martha, and two brothers, Robert and Herbert, died previously.

The funeral will be 11 am. Monday at Millspaugh-Camerato Funeral Home, Catskill, with the Rev. Richard Snowden. pastor of the First Baptist Church of Catskill, officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Catskill.

OLIVIA IMPASTATO

CATSKILL - Qlivia Impastato, a longtime Catskill- mid Palenville-area resident died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001, at the Pavilion in Catskill. She was 84.

For many years Mrs. Impastato owned and operated Shoreland Farms of Catskill and later was a supervisor for many years for Atlanta Knitting Mills in Catskill and Athens.

She was a resident of Brooklyn before moving to the Catskill area in 1952.

Mrs. lmpastato was a communicant at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Catskill and a member of the Catskill Lady Elks Lodge No. 1341. She was also a retired senior volunteer person at Greene County Memorial Hospital.

She was born Sept. 29, 1916, in Alcaino, Italy, the daughter of the late Leonard and Mary Renda Pirrello. On Oct. 15, 1941, she married Procopio S. Impastato. He died Feb. 18, 1980.

Survivors include two sons, Peter Impastato. Edwards of Gainesville, Ga., and Leonard Impastato of Connecticut; two daughters, Providence Baker McLouth of Nassau and Maria Impastato Rothrock of Palenville; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Two brothers and three sisters died previously.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. today from Traver and McCurry Funeral Home, 234 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Bridge Street, Catskill, with the Rev. John S. Murphy officiating. Internment, will be in St. Patricks Cemetery, Catskill.

MADELINE YVONNE DEDERICK

COXSACKIE - Madeline Yvonne Dederick, the infant daughter of Douglas R. and Christa Yvonne Zibro Dederick of 41 New St., Coxsackie, died on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at the Albany Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 23, 2000, in Hudson.

Survivors in addition to her parents include maternal grandparents John and Martha Zibro of Waterford; her paternal grandmother, Arline Dederick of New Jersey and aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Dederick residence, with the Rev. J. Mcyna, pastor of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Coxsackie, officiating. Arrangements are by W.C. Brady’s Sons Funeral Home, 97 Mansion St.

STEPHEN J. LOBATO

ATHENS - Stephen J. Lobato of Third Street who owned and operated a construction company in Texas, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2001, at Albany Medical Center after a long illness. He was 48.

He was born Feb. 17, 1952, in Brooklyn, the son of Joseph Lobato of Massapequa and the late Lillian Marccano Lobato.

In addition to his father, survivors include three sisters, Diane A. Puorro of Athens, Gail Capoti of Babylon and Christine Gallapoli of Farmingdale; and many cousins, nieces, a nephew, aunts and uncles.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Catskill Rural Cemetery with the Rev. John Murphy officiating.

Arrangements are by Richards Funeral Home, 26 N. Vernon St.

JOAN H. CAWLEY

HUDSON - Joan H. Cawley, formerly of Hudson, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at the Eden Park Nursing Home of Catskill, where she had been a resident for the past five years. She was 83.

She had been employed for 25 years as a housekeeper at the New York Hospital of New York City until her retirement.

She was born Jan. 10, 1918, in Listowell, Ireland, the daughter of the late James and Hannah Sweeney Galvin.

Survivors include a son, James Higginbotham of Germantown; a daughter, Elizabeth O’Dell of Greenport; her companion, Alfred Baraka of Hudson; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Four brothers and a sisters died previously.

Services be at 11 am. Tuesday at Yadack - Fox Funeral Home, 209 Main St., Germantown. Interment will follow in Cedar Park Cemetery of Hudson.

PAUL MICHALICKA

COXSACKIE - Paul MicHalicka of Long Island City and Coxsackie died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at his home in Long Island City. He was 85.

He was a retired cabinetmaker for Steinway Piano Co., Queens; Survivors include his wife, Katerina MicHalicka; and a daughter, Vera Zacek.

The funeral will be 11:30 a.m. today at the W.C. Brady's Sons Funeral Home, 97 Mansion St, Coxsackie. Burial will be in the spring in the Riverside Cemetery.

JESSE W. CUSHING

ATHENS - Jesse W. Cushing, 25, of Schoharie Turnpike, who was employed by an overhead door company in Coxsackie, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

He was a lover of the outdoors and nature.

Born Oct. 21, 1975 in Catskill, he was the son of Lila J. Coxeter Cushing of South Cairo and the late David Cushing.

Survivors in addition to his mother include two brothers, David of Pennsylvania and Jonathan of the U.S. Navy. a sister, Sarah of Long Island; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at the Resurrection Lutheran Church, Main Street, Cairo, with the Rev. Stanley Slager officiating. Burial will be in Catskill Rural Cemetery.

GUNVOR PIKTA

CATSKILL - Gunvor Pikta, 72, of Becks Road died on Monday, Feb. 12, 2001, at home.

Born Aug. 10, 1928, in Sweden, she was the daughter of the late Ernst and Clara Sundstrom.

Her husband, Walter Pikta, died Dec. 29, 1987.

Survivors include a sister, Anna G. Samuelsson of Borlange, Sweden; and two nephews.

The funeral will be 9 a.m. Saturday at Traver & McCurry Funeral Home, 234 Jefferson Heights, with the Rev. John J. Murphy, pastor of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church of Catskill, officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Catskill.

GREENDALE - Walter E. Reese, 69, a butcher and the owner of Greenville Packing Company in Greenville until he sold the company in 1991, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, at home.

After selling his company, Mr. Reese worked as a self-employed cattle dealer until his retirement in 1995.

Born Aug. 15, 1931, in Claverack, he was the son of the late Walter A. and Hilda Dean Reese.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Rifenburgh Reese; a son, Jeffrey of Cairo; two daughters, Judith Bender of Linlithgo and Susan Keeler of Claverack; and nine grandchildren.

The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Yadack-Fox Funeral Home of Germantown with the Rev. Keith Hedrick, rector of Christ Church Episcopal of Hudson, officiating. Spring burial will be in Linlithgo Rural Cemetery.

SOUTH CAIRO - Linda L. Butler, 61, of Brookside Mobile Park, a lifelong area resident, died on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001, at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson.

Born March 22, 1939, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Elsie Goldman Wenke.

Survivors include a daughter, Stephonie L. Speenburgh of South Cairo; two sons, Jeffrey Pohler of Cairo and Steven Pohler of Florida; and three grandchildren.

Cremation will take place today at Wiltwyck Crematory in Kingston. Funeral arrangements are by Richards Funeral Home, 383 Bross St., Cairo.

CATSKILL - Bridget McGourty, a retired employee of the Roman Catholic Church, died Friday, Feb. 16, 2001, at the Pinehaven Home in Philmont. She was 78.

Ms. McGourty worked at various rectories in metropolitan New York and New Jersey, as well as in Saugerties and Athens, prior to her retirement. She was a resident of St. Joseph’s Villa in Catskill for a few years before moving to Philmont. She enjoyed traveling extensively with local church groups.

Graveside services will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, North Jefferson Avenue, Catskill, with the Rev. John J. Murphy officiating. Arrangements by Traver & McCurry Funeral Home, 234 Jefferson Heights, Catskill.

CATSKILL - Florence Booth “Flossie” Malone, a longtime resident of Cairo died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001, at the Eden Park Nursing Home. She was 87.

She was employed by the New York Telephone Co. in Westchester until 1943. At that time she moved to Cairo and was employed as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Villa for 31 years before her retirement in 1981.

Born Oct. 29, 1913, in Tuckahoe, she was a daughter of the late Jennie and Salomon Bells.

Survivors include her sons, Richard E. Booth of Cairo; two grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Her first husband, Almond E. Booth, and her second husband, Joseph Malone, died previously.

CATSKILL - Kenneth W. Simpkins, a farmer and longtime employee of A. L. Moon Fuel Co., died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at the Adventist Nursing Home in Livingston. He was 87.

He was a 1932 graduate of Catskill High School and a longtime employee of A. L. Moon Fuel Co. Inc. of Catskill prior to his retirement in 1978.

He also owned a farm on Cauterskill Road until 1999. Mr. Simpkins was a life member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Catskill.

Born Oct. 9, 1913, in Leeds, he was a son of the late Samuel and Ethel Brandt Simpkins.

Survivors include a daughter, Ione Patricia DeLucia; sons, Keith of Gilbert and John of Avondale, Ariz.; numerous grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A daughter, Mary Catherine, died in 1978; a brother, Lysle E. Simpkins, was killed in action during World War II; and two sisters, Roberta Tolbert and Agnes Lewis, died previously.

The funeral will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Traver & McCurry Funeral Home, 234 Jefferson Heights, Catskill, with the Rev. Hendrick, pastor of Christ Church of Hudson, officiating. Burial will be in the Town of Catskill Cemetery.

CATSKILL - Erin Lee Owen of Allen Street, formerly of Jerome Street, Cairo, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2001, in East Durham. She was 35.

She worked as a waitress for many years in the Greene County and Hudson areas. She loved to dance, cook and attend Grace Assembly of God services.

She was born March 8, 1965, in Brooklyn, a daughter of Connie Girardi Owen of Cairo and the late Robert Owen.

Survivors in addition to her mother include two daughters, Elizabeth Priola of Staten Island and Erin Gregio of Catskill; a brother, Robert of Catskill; two sisters, Andrea White of East Durham and Elizabeth De Camp of Cairo; her maternal grandmother, Jennie Girardi; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Richards Funeral Home, 383 Bross St., Cairo. The Rev. Anthony Saturnino, pastor of the Assembly Grace of God Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the spring in Cairo Cemetery.

HANNACROIX - Ellen Schnare, a self-employed home healthcare provider, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. She was 61.

Born Sept. 13, 1939, in Tuxedo, she was a daughter of the late James and Elizabeth Molloy DeGraw.

Survivors include her husband, whom she married on July 12, 1969, Frank Schnare; two daughters, Amanda Anderson of Earlton and Enin Schnare of Latham; and a granddaughter.

A memorial service will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the Sopris Funeral Home, U.S. Route 9W, Coxsackie, with the Rev. Richard Pruiksma officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

CATSKILL - Harriet B. Case of The Pavilion, a former Cairo resident, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at Columbia Memorial Hospital. She was 101.

Born June 23, 1899, in Brooklyn, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Margaret Proepster Bossert.

Survivors include two dear friends, Mildred McManus of Cairo and Anne Pacifico of Round Top.