March 28, 2000

Frances Lupo, 95
Ret. Pharmacist

Frances Lupo of Youngsville, a retired pharmacist and a 19-year area resident, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. She was 95 years of age.
The daughter of Maria and Sebastian Lo Presti, she was born February 6, 1905, in Messina, Italy. She was the widow of Dr. Domenic Lupo.
Mrs. Lupo grew up in New York City and Long Branch, N.J.
She graduated from Columbia University School of Pharmacy in 1928. She had also worked as a fragrance and cosmetic consultant for Saks Fifth Avenue for 14 years and later as a real estate broker both in New Jersey and New York.
She is survived by a daughter, Maria Lupo Grimaldi of Youngsville; two grandchildren, Nicholas and Julia Grimaldi, both of Boston, Mass.; a granddaughter-in-law, Stephanie Levine Grimaldi of Boston, Mass.; and a great-grandchild, Matthew Grimaldi of Boston, Mass.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Francis Church in Youngsville.
Burial was made in Calvary Cemetery in Youngsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Roscoe Community Nursing Home, 12776; the Youngsville Firemen's Auxiliary, Youngsville, N.Y. 12791; or to the Jeffersonville Ambulance Corps, Jeffersonville, N.Y. 12748.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.

Melvin R. Kracht
Ret. Truck Driver, 80

Melvin R. Kracht of Woodbourne, a retired truck driver for Local 445 in Newburgh and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, March 22, 2000, at the Grover M. Hermann Division of Community General Hospital in Callicoon. He was 80 years of age.
The son of the late Willard and Hattie Avery Kracht, he was born September 14, 1919, in Neversink.
A World War II Army veteran, he was a member of Local 445; a past commander of Bailey-Richmond Post No. 9588, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Monticello; a member of the Sgt. Andrew Brucher Post No. 5499, VFW, in White Lake; a member of the Monticello (BPOE) Elks Lodge #1545; and a former member of the Sullivan County Conservative Committee.
Mr. Kracht is survived by his wife of 52 years, Janice Porter Kracht, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald M. and Janis Kracht of Louisville, Kty., and Thomas and Linda Kracht of Pascagoula, Miss.; a brother, Robert Kracht of Hurleyville; three sisters, Marion Stackhouse of Neversink, Gertrude Miller and Edith Kracht, both of Napanoch; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a daughter, Sandra Kracht.
Services were held Sunday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty with the Rev. Paul Reuter officiating, followed by burial of the cremains at the Rural Cemetery in Grahamsville.

Vera Davis Bailey,
Retiree of NY Tel, 88

Vera Davis Bailey of Livingston Manor, a retired employee of the maintenance department of New York Telephone Company in Monticello and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. She was 88 years of age.
The daughter of the late Charles A. and Mary E. Davis Christle, she was born May 13, 1911, in DeBruce. She was the widow of Roy Bailey who died in 1971.
Mrs. Bailey was a member of the New York Telephone Pioneers Kingston Chapter and various other civic organizations.
She is survived by three sons, Joseph Davis of Groton, Vt., Lloyd Davis of Neptune, N.J., and Jules Davis of Livingston Manor; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sons, Gerald W. and Leo Davis, two daughters, Mary Horvath and Shirilene Davis, three sisters and a brother.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Private funeral services and burial were held.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Irene M. Fimognari
Retired Secretary, 70

Irene M. Fimognari of Kauneonga Lake, a homemaker, a retired personal secretary to the business manager of Monticello Central Schools and a 30-year area resident, died Saturday, March 25, 2000, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 70 years of age.
The daughter of the late Frank and Pauline Gobel Podest, she was born December 25, 1929, in New York City.
Mrs. Fimognari was a member of St. Peter's R.C. Church in Liberty, a past president of the Bethel Republican Club and a member of the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension.
She is survived by her husband, Albert W. Fimognari Sr., at home; two sons, Albert W. Fimognari Jr. of Smallwood and Robert Fimognari of Limerick, Pa.; a daughter, Therese Fimognari of Liberty; a sister, Joan Oktavec of Higganum, Conn.; and 11 grandchildren.
Services were followed by private burial in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute, 1275 York Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Kauneonga Lake.

Carolyn H. Torrens
Homemaker, 84

Carolyn H. Torrens of Liberty, a homemaker and lifelong area resident, died Saturday, March 25, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Lulu Ackert Hart, she was born August 10, 1915, in Poughkeepsie. She was the widow of Robert "Pappy" Torrens who died in 1995.
Mrs. Torrens was a member of the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert "Sonny" and Betty Torrens of Liberty; a daughter and son-in-law, Carol and John Benton of Liberty; two sisters, Verna Van Vlack of Poughkeepsie and Beatrice Hylander of Liberty; eight grandchildren, Cindy Yaun, Keith Torrens, Kevin Torrens, James Torrens, Terry Cluff, Michael Casternaro, Steve Torrens and Gregory Torrens; and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Gary Torrens, a brother, Cletus Hart and two grandchildren, Joseph and Marc Castenaro.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 South Main St., Liberty, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. David McCarthy officiating.
Burial will be made in the Laurel Cemetery in Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Prudence Wachs
Ret. Secretary, 90

Prudence Wachs, a five-year resident of Hurleyville, formerly of Miami, Fla., and a retired rabbinical secretary for Temple Emanuel in Miami, Fla., died Saturday, March 25, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 90 years of age.
The daughter of the late Benjamin and Rose Spitzer Reinhart, she was born July 20, 1909, in the Bronx. She was the widow of Henry Wachs.
Mrs. Wachs was a lifetime member of Hadassah and B'nai B'rith.
She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Dale and Seymour Berenson of Hurleyville and Jill Friedman of Halendale, Fla.; three grandchildren and their spouses, Harris Berenson, Hillary and Eric Egeland and Martin and Mary Berenson; and a great-granddaughter, Raquel Anne Egeland.
Graveside services and burial were held Monday at Mt. Ararat Cemetery in Pinelawn.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Robert B. Nolan
Ret. Repairman, 73

Robert B. Nolan of Deerfield Beach, Fla., a former 46-year resident of Liberty and a retired installer repairman for special services of New York Telephone Company in Monticello, died Saturday, March 25, 2000, at Vitas Hospice of North Broward Hospital in Pompano Beach, Fla. He was 73 years of age.
The son of the late Frank A. and Virginia Hagen Nolan, he was born September 28, 1926, in Brooklyn.
A World War II Navy veteran, he was a member of the Clarence Hoyt Post No. 9217, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Russell Sprague Post of the American Legion, both in Liberty; the Liberty (BPOE) Elks Lodge #1545, the J.C. Young Hose Co. #1 of the Liberty Fire Department and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America Kingston Chapter.
He is survived by his wife, Jennie Sherwood Nolan, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Pat Williams of Jeffersonville; two daughters, Barbara Huggins of Boulder Colo., and Joanne Ashforth and her husband, Fred, of Waterville; nine grandchildren, Todd Williams, Kim Williams, Derik Nolan, Kristen Ashforth, Lauren Huggins, Ryan Ashforth, Kevin Nolan, Kyle Nolan and Connor Nolan; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sons, Bobby M. Nolan and Billy Nolan.
Friends may call at Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 South Main St., Liberty, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Peter's R. C. Church, 264 North Main St., Liberty, with Msgr. Edward Straub officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Wayne T. Kaarlsen, 52

Wayne T. Kaarlsen of Walden, a lifelong area resident, died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains. He was 52 years of age.
The son of the late Edward and Elaine Masker Kaarlsen, he was born April 5, 1947, in Monroe.
He is survived by his former wife, Barbara Prentice of Walden; a son, Stephen Kaarlsen of Idaho; two daughters, Holly Parker of Middletown and Nichole Prentice of Walden; three brothers, Donald Kaarlsen and Edward Kaarlsen, both of the state of Florida, and Clark Kaarlsen of Wurtsboro; two sisters, Jeanie Norris of Hurley, Wisc., and Beverly Kaarlsen of Middletown; two grandchildren; Hunter Kaarlsen and Kiarra Parker; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Victory Church of God in Walden with the Rev. Dean Dykeman officiating.
Burial will be made in Wallkill Valley Cemetery in Walden.

Leroy J. DePuy
Ret. Dishwasher, 57

Leroy J. DePuy of Napanoch, a former dishwasher at the coffee shop of the Nevele Country Club in Ellenville and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, March 21, 2000, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He was 57 years of age.
The son of Hazel Miller Cresswell and the late Fred DePuy, he was born February 8, 1943, in Ellenville.
He is survived by his mother of Napanoch; five brothers, Fred of Napanoch, Martin of Kerhonkson, Eugene of Wurtsboro, Michael of Ellenville and John of Woodbourne; a sister, Robin Knudsen of Samsonville; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday at the Loucks Funeral Home in Ellenville with the Rev. Peggyann Sauerhoff officiating.
Burial was made in the Furman Cemetery in Yeagerville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hazel Cresswell, Napanoch, N.Y. 12468.

Lynda M. Mitchell
Librarian, 55

Lynda M. Mitchell of Monticello, a librarian at E.B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello and a longtime area resident, died Friday, March 24, 2000. She was 55 years of age.
The daughter of the late Arthur and Alice Olsen Blon, she was born September 27, 1944, in Stamford, Conn.
In a family statement, it was said, "Lynda was grateful for the love of her children and sincere support of her closest friends. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her."
She is survived by three sons, William Mitchell of Upper Saddle River, N.J., David Mitchell of Germantown, Md., and Ryan Mitchell of Salisbury, Md.; a daughter, Lynette Mitchell of Liberty; and two grandsons, Michel and Matthew Mitchell.
Services were held Monday evening at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello with the Rev. Rosemary Smith officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope. Burial of the cremains will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the E.B. Crawford Public Library, 187-189 Broadway, Monticello, N.Y. 12701.

L. Stanley Berenson
Former MR Owner, 75

L. Stanley "Buddy" Berenson of Miami, Fla., a former owner of Monticello Raceway which he purchased in 1983, died Friday, March 24, 2000, in Florida. He was 75 years of age.
The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Berenson, he was born in Boston, Mass. on March 27, 1924 and lived in Miami since 1926.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he began a lifelong career in the sport of jai-alai, first working in the box office of Miami Jai-Alai. His father was president of Miami Jai-Alai and was responsible for the legalization of jai-alai in the state of Florida. When "Buddy" became president of Miami Jai-Alai he expanded the sport throughout Florida and the state of Connecticut.
He was also president and Chief Executive Officer of World Jai-Alai, owner of frontons in Miami, Tampa, Ocala and Fort Pierce, Fla., and Hartford, Conn.
According to his colleagues, "There was no one more dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the sport and he always carried with him an undying love of the game."
He terminated his interest in World Jai-Alai in 1977 and purchased the Hartford Jai-Alai Fronton in 1981. He purchased the Monticello Raceway in 1983. He was also a generous supporter and chairman of the National Children's Cardiac Hospital in Miami.
Mr. Berenson is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Berenson; two children, Richard Berenson and Diane Watson; three grandchildren, Chester and Haley Watson and Richard I. Berenson; a daughter-in-law, Alina Berenson, and a son-in-law, Dr. Edward Watson.
Private services were held in Florida.