Obituaries from the Windham Journal
April 2009
Obituaries transcribed by Mignon Matthews
April 2, 2009
TOSCA GRABLACHOFF LANERI
Tosca Grablachoff Laneri, a long time resident of Maplecrest, died March 24, 2009. She was three months shy of her 100th birthday.
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she settled in the United States in the 1920s. She lived in New York City with her husband George until 1977 at which time they moved to the home they built in Maplecrest.
She was a homemaker and private piano teacher in New York City for over 40 years. She attended Saint Theresa’s church in Windham.
Tosca was preceded in death by her husband, George Laneri, her brothers George Grablachoff and Nick Grable and her sister Nadia Dimitrova. She is survived by two nieces and three nephews Tosca Engisch of Watauga, Texas; Joann Merrick of La Canada, California; Nick Grable of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; Frank Grablachoff of Rahway, NJ and Victor Grablachoff of Island Heights, NJ.
Mass of the Resurrection will be held on April 8, 2009, at St. Theresa’s R. C. Church, Windham, NY, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, NY. Arrangements are being handled by Decker Funeral Home, Windham, NY.
April 2, 2009
ROBERT ANDREW PASTERNAK
Robert Andrew Pasternak, age 34, of Round Top, NY, passed away March 26, 2009, at his residence.
He was born April 9, 1974, in Watertown, NY, the son of Robert Pasternak and Doris Duncan.
A graduate of Gilboa High School, Gilboa, NY, he served in the U. S. Navy, was a contractor and the owner of “Proud American Builders.”
Mr. Pasternak will be remembered as having a love of his motorcycles, music, fishing, helping a friend ad laughing. Robert was proud of being a country boy and patriot. His greatest love was spending time with his beloved daughter, Jenna Jules.
Survivors include his mother Doris Pasternak, Prattsville, NY; daughter Jenna Pasternak, Prattsville, NY; sister Julie (Stan) Bullock, Grand Gorge, NY; brother James (Eileen) Pasternak, Prattsville, NY; nephews Robert Van Etten and Liam Bullock, Grand Gorge, NY; nieces Anna Andose, Long Island and Chelsea Simmons, Oneonta, NY; many aunts and uncles and many, many, friends. He is also survived by his best friend and partner Tricia Jiraud and her three children Jessie and Kyle Deyo and Joseph Jiraud, Round Top, NY.
The funeral took place Sunday, March 29, 2009, at the Prattsville Methodist Church, Prattsville, NY, with Rev. Elliott Oakes officiating. Committal services will take place at a later date.
Arrangements were made by Miller Funeral Home, Roxbury, NY.
April 2, 2009
FREDA PECK
MAPLECREST – Freda Peck, 86, of Maplecrest, NY, died on March 27, 2009, at her residence. She was born on January 8, 1923, daughter of Eli and Leota (Dolan) Lane in Ashland, NY.
She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence E. Peck, on March 30, 2001. She is survived by her son Lawrence Peck, Jr., and her daughter Diane Baker. She is also survived by her grandson, Corey Baker and her brother Clifford Lane and her sister Amelia Layman.
A graveside service was conducted at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, NY, on Monday, March 30, 2009, with Pastor Barry Lowe officiating. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Decker Funeral Home, Windham, NY.
April 9, 2009
JAMES J. HILLIS
James J. Hillis, 85, of Windham, NY, died on April 5, 2009, at Holy Cross Hospice in Fort Lauderdale, FL. A funeral service will be held at Decker Funeral Home, Windham, NY, on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 11:15 a.m. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, NY. Calling hours will be on Monday, April 13, 2009, from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
April 9, 2009
MARGARET DOROTHY HOYT
KINGSTON – Margaret Dorothy Hoyt passed away on Tuesday, March 31. She was 89.
She was born Margaret Dorothy Flieger, to Martha and Martin Flieger on March 12, 1920, in Queens, NY. She married George Hoyt of Hunter, NY, on August 23, 1945, and they lived mainly in Hunter, NY, raising 4 daughters. For the last 20 years, she resided in Kingston. “Margie” was known for her generous and positive spirit even in the midst of adversity. She will be dearly missed by all her loved ones.
She is survived by her daughters Sharon Sofranko of West Shokan, NY, and Judith Hoyt of Esopus, NY, as well as sons-in-law James Sofranko and Eric Friedman; grandsons Jacob and Atticus Hoyt-Friedman, and granddaughters Sara and Susie Sofranko. Also surviving are three sisters-in-law of Hunter, NY, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends from all across the US. She was predeceased by her husband Geroge Hoyt, (1980) and daughters Patricia Hoyt (1983 and Susan Hoyt McCormick (1996,)
A Catholic mass and memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Haines Falls, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice, Inc.
April 9, 2009
GEORGE B. MATTHEWS
George B. Matthews, 68, of Matuk Drive, Hyde Park, NY, died Friday, March 20, 2009, at Kingston Hospital, Kingston, NY. He was born December 21, 1940, in Windham, to the late John H. and Ellen (Baldwin) Matthews.
He had worked for IBM of Kingston and Fishkill for 29 years before retiring. He then worked for MPI in Poughkeepsie. He was a veteran of the US Army, serving from 1960- 1963, in Okinawa and Thailand.
George is survived by his daughter Alyssha L. Matthews, Overton, Marlboro, NY; former wife and friend Penny Steele Matthews, Fishkill, NY; sisters Cheryl E. Matthews, Port Ewen, NY and Diane M. Edge, Bigfork, MT; grandchildren Amanda Matthews, Alannah and Arianna Overton, Marlboro, NY; and several nieces and nephews. He was brother to the late Frances Aitken and John H. Matthews.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Keyser Funeral Service, Inc., 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, where services will be held on Sunday at 4:00 p.m., Rev. Arlene Dawber, officiating. Friends may call on Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to be made to NPR (National Public Radio) Foundation, 635 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001 or American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, NY 12401.
Light a candle in memory of George at www.KeyserFuneralService.com.
April 9, 2009
GEORGE S. SPANHAKE
PRATTSVILLE – George S. Spanhake, 81, of Washington Street, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at his residence after a lengthy illness. He was a native and life long Catskill Mountains resident. He was a logger for the many local logging families including: Nelson Shultis, Maurice Lane, Beecher Smith, Artie Ford, and Art Umhey. He operated chain saws and log skidders out of the mountains. He was a veteran of the US Navy and had been a member of the Tannersville American Legion Post #2322. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed both hunting and scouting.
He was born Nov. 2, 1927, in Wittenberg, son of the late William and Minerva Lasher Spanhake.
Surviving are his sons Christopher of Prattsville, Shawn of Big Indian, Roy of Gilboa, Wade of Ashland; daughters Wanda Partridge of Windham, Ann Hanley of Wisconsin; two sisters Louise Becker of Hopewell Jct., and Eleanor Smith of West Hurley; and a brother Frederick Charles Spanhake of Wittenberg. He was predeceased by his wife Marion Kirk Spanhake in 2002; a son George in 1988; two brothers, John and Willie; and, a sister Gertrude Hill.
A graveside service will be held later in the Spring at the Halcott Cemetery, and will be announced by the E. B. Gormley Funeral Home, 87 Man St., Phoenicia. To light a memorial candle, please visit: www.gormleyfuneralhome.com.
April 16, 2009
JAMES J. “RED” HILLIS
WINDHAM – James J. Hillis “Red”, 83, of Windham, NY, died on Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Florida. He was born on August 29, 1923 the son of Bill and Mary Hillis.
He is survived by his long time partner Kathy, his brother Frank and sister-in-law Sheila of Brookville, FL and his sister Patricia Ballentine, of PA. He was predeceased by his wife Alfreda Kowel, sisters Agnes Leakos, John, Marie Carey, Billy, Rita and Edward Hillis. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews as well as grand nieces and nephews.
Jim served his country during WWII in the Army Air Corps. He was a crane operator, working for the city of New York Public Works department before retiring and moving to Windham in the 1980s. Jim was a member of the Knights of the Road in Windham. He was an avid golfer (3 holes in one in his time) and enjoyed playing as much as possible. He usually started his day by getting the NY Post and doing the crossword puzzle and jumble. He loved history, sports and horse racing. He even became partners with his friends, buying a Trotter horse “Jenny Gay” that ran at Saratoga Race Track.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at Decker Funeral Home, Windham, NY. Interment followed at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, NY.
April 23, 2009
DOROTHY S. SNOW
Dorothy S. Snow 87, of Windham, NY, and Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away on April 17, 2009, at Lutheran Care Center.
She was born April 16, 1922, the daughter of Allan Sutcliffe and Catherine (Keech) Sutcliffe in Manhattan, NY.
Mrs. Snow was predeceased by her two husbands, Thomas J. Scharkey on Dec. 12, 1967 and Thomas B. Snow in 1994. She was also predeceased by her brother, Jay Sutcliffe, on May 10, 2002.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Katherine and Paul Meyerherm, Jacksonville, FL; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Roger Hanlon, Poughkeepsie, NY; grandchildren Jennifer Lowe and husband Sultan Captan of New York City, Christopher Lowe of Yonkers, Brendon Lowe of Lyndhurst, NJ, Daniel Lynch and his wife Trish of Westmont, NJ, Melanie Lynch of Poughkeepsie; step-grandchildren Thomas Snow and his wife Caroline of Las Vegas, NE and Donna Hemple and her husband Robert of Carlsburg, WA.
Mrs. Snow was a Medical Assistant for Dr. Bedell and also had an accounting business with her husband. She was a loving mother and grandmother and always had a smile on her face. She loved to travel and was very active in her church until she became ill.
The funeral was held Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Poughkeepsie, NY. Burial took placed at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, South Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY.
April 30, 2009
VERLYNN R. HILL
Verlynn R. Hill of Roscoe, NY, a retired high school math teacher and a 60 years resident, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at the Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY. He was 87.
The son of the late Arthur and Anna Lord Hill, he was born Nov. 7, 1921, in East Jewett, NY.
Verlynn served our country in the US Army during World War II; he received his bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College and his master’s degree in school administration from SUNY Albany. He was a high school math teacher in the Roscoe Central School for 35 years and a member of the United Church of Roscoe. He was a member of the Roscoe Kiwanis Club and a club treasurer for over 40 years. He was a member and treasurer of Roscoe NY&OW railway association and he was a director of the Beech Mountain Boy Scout Camp for 12 years from 1960-1972.
Survivors include one son Robert Hill and his wife Mary Beth of Fluton, NY; one daughter Darlene St. Amour and her husband Raymond of Scotia; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy V. Kirk on Jan. 8, 1999.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 24 at Harris Funeral Home, Roscoe, NY, with burial in Maplewood Cemetery, Hunter, NY.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Verlynn R. Hill Scholarship c/o Roscoe Central School, Roscoe, NY, 12776.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe, NY, www.harris-fh.com or 607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200.
April 30, 2009
KENNETH W. LESLIE
Kenneth W. Leslie passed away on April 26, 2009. Ken was born March 17, 1925, in Queens, NY, to Joseph and Isabella Lamrock Leslie.
Ken will always be remembered as an avid golfer and a “true gentleman” who was respected by everyone. Ken served his country in the US Navy during WWII. Upon his return home, he and his brothers partnered in their father’s business of North Shore Transportation. Ken moved to Windham where he purchased and operated Thedford’s Sir Sirloin Room Restaurant. In addition he also operated the Club House of the Windham Gold Course.
Ken is survived by his son, Donald and wife Pam of Florida and his brother David and wife Peggy of Wantaugh. Others surviving are his stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Ken was predeceased by his brothers Joseph, Ralph, and his wife Bette.
Family and friends will be in attendance Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Masons memorial will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday. The funeral Mass will be Saturday at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Ashland with Military Service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Theresa’s Church, 5188 St. Route 23, Windham, NY, 12496, or Catskill Chapter of Hospice, Catskill, NY 12414.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Decker Funeral Home, Windham, NY.
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