May 12, 2000

Margaret Niessen
Homemaker, 92

Margaret Niessen of Cochecton Center, a homemaker and a 68-year area resident, died Sunday, May 7, 2000, at the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center in Honesdale, Pa. She was 92 years of age.
The daughter of the late Bernard and Barbara Schmoll Keuter, she was born January 31, 1908, in Eschweiler, Germany. She was the widow of Frank Niessen who died in 1988.
Mrs. Niessen was a member of Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church and its Rosary Society, both in Lake Huntington, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Senior Citizens Sunshine Club and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
She is survived by two daughters, Maria Meyer and Mildred Meyer, both of Cochecton Center; a son, Fred Niessen of Pleasant Valley; two sisters, Maria Thielen of Eschweiler, Germany, and Ann Wickel of Aldenhoven, Germany; a brother, Peter Keuter of Augsburg, Germany; a brother-in-law, Msgr. Dr. Bernhard Niessen of Buenos Aires, Argentina; 11 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Elizabeth Joussen.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Wednesday at Our Lady of the Lake R.C. Church in Lake Huntington with the Rev. Thomas Jones officiating.
Burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Church or the Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, both at Lake Huntington, N.Y. 12752.
Funeral arrangements were made by Rasmussen and Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

John J. Gillen, 75
Ret. Graphic Arts Supvr.

John J. Gillen of Barryville, a retired graphic arts supervisor with CalTex in Manhattan, died Monday, May 8, 2000, at the Mercy Community Hospital in Port Jervis. He was 75 years of age.
The son of the late John and Katherine Sullivan Gillen, he was born February 1, 1925, in New York City.
Mr. Gillen had been a summer resident for many years and a resident for 16 years.
A U. S. Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he was a member of the Tusten-Highland Memorial Post No. 6427, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Narrowsburg and a member of St. Ann's R.C. Church in Shohola, Pa.
In a family statement, it was said, "He was a wonderful and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was loved and will be missed."
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Bohmann Gillen, at home; two daughters, Joanne VonEssen of Massapequa and Maryann Frank of Concord, N.C.; a sister, Kathleen Richards of Forest Hills, Md.; a granddaughter, Christina Frank of Concord, N. C.; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Resurrection was offered Wednesday at St. Ann's R.C. Church in Shohola, Pa., with the Rev. Michael Quinnan officiating.
Cremation was made at the H.G. Smith Crematory in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 63, Eldred, N.Y. 12732 or the Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, N.Y. 12771.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home in Barryville.

Betty Jane B. Wright
Ret. Publisher, 80

Betty Jane Banes Wright (nee Hazel Mary Skellinger) of Warwick, a retired publisher of the Warwick Valley Dispatch and Goshen Independent Republican, died Sunday, May 7, 2000, at her home. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of the late Seely and Mabel Lovelace Skellinger, she was born January 15, 1920, in Port Jervis. She was the widow of Frederick Eugene Wright.
She was adopted in infancy by Dr. Jane Ketchum Banes of Damascus, Pa. When Dr. Banes became ill, she and Betty moved to Warwick to make their home with Dr. Banes' sister, Florence L. Ketchum. Dr. Banes died in 1936.
After graduation from the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell, Mrs. Wright worked in Rahway, N.J., and New York City before returning to Warwick to assist Miss Ketchum in the operation of the Warwick Valley Dispatch. Miss Ketchum passed away in 1945.
In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. Wright formed a partnership for the operation of the Warwick Valley Dispatch, a family newspaper founded by George F. Ketchum in 1885. The Dispatch subsequently won a national photographic and numerous state awards. Mr. Wright later acquired the Independent Republican from the late Harold Jonas of Goshen.
A lifelong Democrat, Mrs. Wright held town, county and state party offices.
She is survived by two sons, Frederick Eugene Wright II of Monroe and Thomas Wright of Monticello.
Private services were held at the Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home in Warwick.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Episcopal Church or the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, both at Warwick, N.Y. 10990.

Naomi A. Collins
Homemaker, 83

Naomi A. Collins of Roscoe, a homemaker and a former waitress at the Robin Hood Diner in Livingston Manor, died Friday, May 5, 2000, at her home. She was 83 years of age.
The daughter of the late Benjamin and Melissa Van Steenburg Becker, she was born July 31, 1916, in Union Grove.
She is survived by her husband, Fred W. Collins, at home; three daughters, Melissa S. Finch of Roxbury, Naomi A. Wells of Livingston Manor and Linda Lee Pierpoint of Roscoe; three sons, Richard C. Simmons of Lincoln, Ill., Gail G. Simmons of Kingston and William H. Pierpoint of Liberty; 21 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were private.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Harris Funeral Home in Roscoe.

Ethel Diehl
Homemaker, 87

Ethel Diehl of Callicoon, a lifelong area resident and a homemaker, died Thursday, May 11, 2000, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home in Roscoe. She was 87 years of age.
The daughter of the late Valentine and Lulu Miller Keim, she was born December 28, 1912, in Jeffersonville. She was the widow of Arthur Adam Diehl Sr.
Mrs. Diehl was a member of the First Grace Lutheran Church in Jeffersonville, a member of the Hortonville H-Bs and a member of the Sullivan County Extension Service.
She is survived by a daughter, Betty Long of Callicoon; three sons, Peter Diehl Sr., William Diehl and John Diehl Sr., all of Callicoon; a sister, Marie Clark of Liberty; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Arthur Adam Diehl Jr.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Kristen Anderson officiating.
Burial will be made in the Jeffersonville Lutheran Cemetery in Jeffersonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.