OBITS: Times Herald-Record 9 Feb 2005; Middletown, Orange co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Times Herald-Record http://www.recordonline.com Alexis, Robert J. Robert J. Alexis, a 36-year corrections officer for the New York City Dept. of Corrections, retiring in 1991 from Fishkill Correctional Facility and lifelong area resident, died February 6, 2005 in St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, after injuries sustained from a car accident. He was 72. The son Joseph Alexis and Helen Utter, he was born March 8, 1932 in New York, N.Y. He married Mary Matthews on May 7, 1957. She passed away September 4, 2001. Robert served in the Navy from 1951-1954 and was of the Roman Catholic faith. Survivors include his sons, William and Richard Alexis and James Maloney; daughter, Linda Sayers; grandchildren, Deborah Wilson, Kathryn McCullouch, Daniel Alexis, Keith Ferris, Michael and Robert Maloney; and great-grandchildren, Joseph Sayers and Zachary and Megan. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, February 13 at Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Homes, Inc., 900 Route 82, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m.., Monday, February 14 at St. Denis Church, 325 Beekman Rd., Hopewell Junction. Burial will follow in St. Denis Cemetery, Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction. Published in the Times Herald-Record from 2/9/2005 - 2/12/2005. Dattolo, Elizabeth "Betty" Elizabeth "Betty" Dattolo, a homemaker and resident of the area for many years, died Sunday, February 6, 2005 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. She was 85. She was born on June 10, 1919 in Latvia and was married to Alfred Dattolo who passed away on January 21, 2001. Elizabeth was a great supporter of the Animal Rescue Foundation in Beacon. Survivors include many loving friends. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 12 at Aloha Acres Club House. There will be a brunch immediately following the service. Cremation took place in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh. Donations may be made to the Animal Rescue Foundation, 54 Simmons Lane, PO Box 1129, Beacon, NY 12508 (845) 831-5161. Arrangments by Copeland Funeral Home, Inc., 162 S. Putt Corners Rd., New Paltz. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Deschauensee, Zita Zita DeSchauensee, of Chester, a retired editor for Princeton Hall Publishing and a longtime resident of the area, died Saturday, February 5, 2005 at Schervier Pavilion in Warwick, N.Y. Zita was 87 years of age. The daughter of the late Anna Marie and Francis L. DeSchauensee, she was born on October 6, 1917 in Short Hills, N.J. Zita was a member of St. Columba R.C. Church, Chester. She went to school at Kent Place and Oak Knoll Schools in Summit, N.J. and later graduated from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania. She earned her Master's Degree in Social Service at Catholic University in Washington, DC. She always had a great desire to investigate items of interest, and take another course of study to become more versed in the subject matter. She is survived by her sister beloved Nanette DeSchauensee of Warwick and her adoring cousins. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2005 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, 3 Hudson Street, Chester. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 10 a.m. in St. Columba R.C. Church, 27 High Street, Chester. Interment will be in the family plot located at St. Theresa's Cemetery, 136 Passaic Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to Orange County Right to Life, P.O. Box 51, Washingtonville, NY 10992. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Thomas F. Flynn, Director of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, 3 Hudson Street, Chester, NY 10918. 845-469-2525 Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Fitzgibbons, Thomas J. Thomas J. Fitzgibbons, a longtime area resident, died Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at his home. He was 62 years old. The son of the late Mary Fitzgibbons, he was born on January 3, 1943 in Bayridge, N.Y. Thomas was a manager of stock transfer for Bank One and formerly Morgan Guarantee, in New York, N.Y. Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Patricia Rohan Fitzgibbons at home; his family of cats, "the guys and gals"; two sisters, Susan Reed and her husband, John, of Staten Island, Maureen Becker of Staten Island; one sister-in-law, Patricia Fitzgibbons of New Jersey; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Jack Fitzgibbons, May of 2004, and one brother-in-law, Jerry Becker. Cremation will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. The family will be receiving friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday Feb. 12th at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Avenue in Middletown. A service of remembrance will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Fr. Peter Tran Van Phat will officiate along with Pastor Ashley. Memorial donations in Thomas' name may be made to Hospice of Sullivan and Orange County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550. Arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc. www.applebee-mcphillips.com Published in the Times Herald-Record from 2/9/2005 - 2/11/2005. Glendura, Sue (Horaz) Sue (Horaz) Glendura, a homemaker, raised in Roseton, N.Y., entered into rest Sunday, February 6, 2005 at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Newburgh Campus. She was 72. The daughter of Helen Caputo Casalaspro and the late Pasquale Casalaspro, she was born February 29, 1932 in Staten Island. She was a member of the Oblate Fathers of Our Lady of Hope Center Prayer Group for 30 years. She was married to the late Frederick Glendura Sr. Survivors include her mother, Helen Casalaspro, Town of Newburgh; one daughter, Susan Ruggiero and her husband Jim of Newburgh; three sons, Frederick Glendura Jr. and his wife Anna of Newburgh, Stephen Glendura and his wife Missy of Newburgh, Robert Glendura and his wife Debbie of Wallkill; four sisters, Patricia Fayo and her husband Nicolas of Newburgh, Helen Granieri and her husband Butch of New Paltz, Marie DeBenedictus and her husband Benny of Naples, Fla., Anna Loguidice and her husband Alfred of St. Mary's, Ga.; grandchildren, Jimmy and Christopher Ruggiero, Stephan and Tiffany Glendura, Patrick Bardin and Briana Noble and her husband Ed; great-grandchildren, Max and Constance Noble and Garrett Bardin; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her stepfather, Steve Horaz. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Engel Funeral Home, Inc., 5319 Rt 9W, Middlehope. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Newburgh. The Rev. William Scafidi and the Rev. Luke Sweeney will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Engel Funeral Home. For a note of condolence or for directions, visit us at www.engelfuneralhome.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. McPeek, Evelyn B. Evelyn B. McPeek, a retired fashion designer and lifelong area resident, died Monday, February 7, 2005 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis. She was 84. The daughter of the late Edmund and Ida Lewis Boswell, she was born November 18, 1920 in Paterson, N.J. She was married to the late Daniel S. McPeek Jr. who was District Game Protector for Pike Co., Pa. She was a member of the Matamoras United Methodist Church, the Tabitha Guild and the United Methodist Women of the Church. She graduated from Dunkirk High School of NY and Fashion Academy of RCA in New York City where she modeled and was a fashion designer. She later became an assistant teacher in the fashion designing field. While married to her husband, she also assisted him in office with the Game Commission. Survivors include two daughters, Carol Losee and her husband Dayne of Matamoras, Pa. and Joanne Reggio and her husband August of Deerpark; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Kelly, Jennifer Kurowski-Curan, Erik Kurowski, Richard Reggio and Nicole Reggio; five great-grandchildren, Erin, Danielle and Jamie Kelly, Cyrus and Faith Reggio; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, and one brother. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9p.m., Wednesday, February 9 at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 10 at the funeral home. The Rev. Glenn Scheyhing will officiate. Spring interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Matamoras, Pa. Contributions may be made to the Matamoras United Methodist Church or the Matamoras Fire Department, Matamoras, PA 18336. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit Knight-Auchmoody.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. O'Neal, Adele Adele O'Neal, a 40-year resident of Newburgh, died Saturday, February 5, 2005 at Montgomery Nursing Home in Montgomery. She was 66. The daughter of Gertrude Leach and the late James Wilson Hill, she was born April 20, 1938 in Clarkton, N.C. She received her education in the Bladen County School District, Clarkton, N.C. She was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church; president of the Missionary Ministry for 6 years, Deaconess, Gospel Choir, Youth Advisor and Soup Kitchen, Newburgh. She obtained a Master's Degree in Theology from the Newburgh Bible Institute of New Hope Baptist Church, Newburgh. Survivors include her loving mother, Gertrude Hill of Clarkton, N.C.; three sons, Richard and Kenneth Ford and Gregory O'Neal and wife Antionette all of Newburgh; one daughter, Yvette O'Neal of Newburgh; three stepchildren, Debbie, Ronnie and Dexter O'Neal all of Brooklyn; seven sisters, Bettie Ballard and husband John of Leland, N.C., Alice Hill of Pinehurst, N.C., Mary Hill and Gloria McIntyre and husband Hilton all of Elizabethtown, N.C., Ethel Hill of Clarkton, N.C., Virginia Mae Hill and Nancy Hill Grady both of Newburgh; four brothers, Benjamin Hill and wife Mattie, Earl Hill and Leon Leach all of Clarkton, N.C. and Eddie Hill of Manchester, Conn.; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; special friends, Rose Ray and husband James, Evang. Nettie Gardner, Shirley Wilkins and Mert Peterson, the Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs and First Lady Briggs and the entire New Hope Baptist Church Family; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by husband William Henry O'Neal; father, James Wilson; and sister Alberta Hill. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, February 11 at New Hope Baptist Church, 20 Briggs Way, Newburgh. Services will begin at 11 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Coleman Briggs will officiate. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, New Windsor. Rhodes Funeral Home, 259 Walsh Ave., New Windsor, entrusted with professional arrangements. Please visit our website at www.rhodesfuneralhomes.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Racine, Mary Ann Mary Ann Racine, of South Fallsburg, N.Y., died unexpectedly on February 1, 2005 in California. Born in Monticello, N.Y. on November 17, 1926, daughter of Martha and Charles Stieglitz. She was a graduate of Albany State Teachers College and received her MA in French from Columbia University. She was a retired French teacher from the Monticello school district. In her retirement she enjoyed travel, gardening, reading, nature walks, family gatherings and doting on her granddaughter Danielle. She is survived by her husband Denis Racine, son Denis C. Racine, Jr. of California, Daughter Annette Stratton and her husband Frank of South Fallsburg, Granddaughter Danielle Stratton, her two brothers Charles (Elizabeth) Stieglitz of Berkshire, N.Y. and Richard (Glenna) Stieglitz of South Fallsburg, N.Y. and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Ricciotti, Alfred A. Alfred A. Ricciotti, "Itsy", 76, of Gulfport, Fla., died on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at Palms of Pasadena Hospital. Born in Newburgh, N.Y., he later moved to Ocean Grove, N.J., then to Key West and finally to Gulfport in 1993. He was a route driver for Nabisco for 25 years, he then sold real estate in New York and New Jersey. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Jude's Cathedral in St. Petersburg. He was a member of the Son's of Italy in Key West and St. Petersburg. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels for the Gulfport Senior Center and he loved to play bocce and pinochle. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, they had been together for 53 years; a daughter Palmer and son-in-law Gino Pagani, Key West; a brother, Joseph, Fairfield, Conn.; three sisters, Florence Constantino and Maria Silverman, both of Newburgh, N.Y., Connie Guadango, New Windsor, N.Y.; two grandsons, James Pagani, Palm Beach, Fla., Christopher Pagani, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; a granddaughter, Gina Miller, Murfreesboro, Tenn; three great-grandchildren, Megan, Jenna, and Anthony; a sister-in-law, Yvonne Smith, England; a brother-in-law, James Woodfine, England, many nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Gulfport Memorial Funeral Home. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Sczerbicki, Alice Brown Alice Brown Sczerbicki, of Newburgh, entered into rest on Monday, February 7, 2005 at St. Luke's Hospital. She was 80. Daughter of the late Egbert and Eva Odell Brown, she was born in Mountainville, NY on February 6, 1925. Alice was an avid gardener. Survivors include her loving sister, Louise V. Julian and her husband, Vincent D. Julian of Highland Falls and their children, Donald W. Julian of Kansas City, KS, Linda Julian Kenoyer of Light House Point, FL and Susan Julian Parsons of Gilbert, AZ. She was predeceased by her husband,Theodore Sczerbicki. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 10 at Brooks-DiDonato Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550. A Funeral Service will be held at 12 p.m. Entombment will follow in Cedar Hill Mausoleum, Newburgh. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Alice's name to the American Heart Assn., 301 Manchester Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 To send a personal condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit Brooks-DiDonato.com. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Smith, Todd Raymond Todd Raymond Smith, 31, of New Paltz, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. Todd was a volunteer fireman responding to a fire alarm with the New Paltz Volunteer Fire Dept. He was born in Kingston, N.Y. Jan. 25, 1974, a son of Armond and Sherry Sutton Smith. He was a lifelong area resident. He was an active member of the New Paltz Fire Dept. He was previously a member of the Cottekill, High Falls, Bloomington and a past chief of the Stone Ridge Fire Departments. He was currently employed by the Highland School District as a school bus driver. In addition to his parents of Hope Mills, N.C., he is survived by a sister, Stacey Alecca of Hope Mills, N.C.; his maternal grandmother, Helen (Sutton) Hutchins of Kingston; two nieces, Chelsea and Lauren Alecca and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., Route 32, Rosendale. The Rev. David Trauffer, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene of New Paltz and chaplain of the New Paltz Fire Department, will officiate. Cremation will be at Wiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston with full firematic honors. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Rondout Valley High School, C/O Todd Smith Memorial Service Scholarship Fund, PO Box 9, Accord, NY 12404. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Van Etten, James "Jim" James "Jim" Van Etten died February 4, 2005, in Fort Pierce, Florida. Mr. Van Etten was born in Monticello, New York, and was a resident of this area for 25 years, coming from New York. He was a roofer in the construction industry. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (St. Lucie), 3375 20th Street, Suite 100, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Lenora Van Etten of Fort Pierce, Florida; sons, Vincent James Van Etten and Craig James Van Etten both of Fort Pierce, Florida; brother, Mark Van Etten of Livingston Manner, New York; sister, Cheri Van Etten of Clairmont, Fla.; 3 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 9th at 11 AM at Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service. Those unable to attend may sign the guest book at www.haisleyhobbs.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005. Whitfield, Javier David Javier David Whitfield, a lifelong resident of New Windsor and 11th grade student at Cornwall High School in Cornwall, died Sunday, February 6, 2005 at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall Campus, Cornwall. He was 16. The son of Enoch E. Whitfield and Aida Cruz Whitfield, he was born March 30, 1988 in the Bronx. He was a member of the Cornwall High School Football Team and the Track Team. Survivors include his loving and devoted parents, Enoch E. Whitfield and Aida Cruz Whitfield at home; one brother, Phillip Pizarro of the Bronx; two sisters, Ziomara and Yessena Whitfield both of New Windsor; paternal grandparents, Lora Ann Bailey of Yonkers and Earl Whitfield Jr. of Queens; maternal grandmother Rosa Cruz of the Bronx; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, many relatives and friends. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Hudson Valley Funeral Home, 239 Quassaick Ave. (Rte 94), New Windsor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 10 at 10 a.m. in St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 340 Hudson St., Cornwall on the Hudson, Cornwall, N.Y. Father Bernard Heter will officiate. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, New Windsor. Rhodes Funeral Home, 259 Walsh Ave., New Windsor, entrusted with professional arrangements. Please visit our website at www.rhodesfuneralhomes.com Published in the Times Herald-Record on 2/9/2005.