Donald C. Crawford of White Lake, a lifelong area resident and associated with banking in Sullivan County for many years, died Saturday, December 22, 2001, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa., following a long illness. He was 84 years of age.
The son of the late William and Maude Sniffen Crawford, he was born December 15, 1917, in Glen Wild.
He attended a one-room school in Glen Wild before attending and graduating from Monticello High School in 1936. In 1937, Mr. Crawford joined the National Union Bank as a general clerk. After 42 years with the bank, he retired in December 1979 as president and chairman of the board. His retirement coincided with the merger of National Union Bank and the Chester National Bank, now known as Key Bank, and he then became a member of the Board of Directors of Key Bank of Southeastern New York.
Mr. Crawford graduated from the American Institute of Banking and continued professional study throughout his career. He was a past president of the Sullivan County Bankers Association, a past chairman of the Group VI New York State Bankers Association, and a past treasurer and administrative board member of the New York State Bankers Association.
Being active in his community, Mr. Crawford was a life member of the Monticello Fire Department, where he was financial secretary for many years, and was a member of the Monticello Exempt Firemen's Association. He was also a life member of the Monticello Elks, a past member of the Monticello Rotary Club, and a member of the first Monticello Village Planning Board. Mr. Crawford also volunteered as treasurer for many charitable organizations in the area, including the American Heart Association's Heart Fund, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Red Cross and the March of Dimes.
Throughout his life, he loved sports and was an expert skier. His family had owned the land that is now Holiday Mountain Ski Area in Bridgeville. Mr. Crawford also loved figure skating and swimming and for many years played in various softball leagues in Monticello.
Mr. Crawford was a 40-year member of the Sullivan County Golf and Country Club in Liberty. He finally shot his long-sought "hole in one" in 1983 after he retired. He was an avid outdoorsman and naturalist who enjoyed hunting, fishing and taking long walks with his bassett hound, Dutch. A 35-year member and former president of the Indian Field Hunting and Fishing Association, he enjoyed his retirement in a beautiful wooded setting at the Indian Field Club in White Lake where he spent many long hours with his wife, Mary, viewing Sullivan County's wildlife from their lakeside home.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Mulvey Crawford, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Angela Crawford of White Lake; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Walter Taylor of Monticello; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were held at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty on Thursday.
Burial was made in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Monticello Fire Department, 10 Pleasant St., or the Monticello Elks Charitable Fund, P.O. Box 24, both at Monticello, N.Y. 12701.

Claude "Bud" Edwards of Fair Oaks, a retired roofer for Musbach Roofing in Middletown who later went into business for himself, died Saturday, December 22, 2001, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. He was 78 years of age.
The son of the late McKinley and Rosa Lee Edwards, he was born March 17, 1923, in Corbett. He was the widower of Ida Peg Knight Edwards who died in 1984.
Mr. Edwards served as a combat medic with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Greenville Post #3175, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #544 in Middletown.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Natalie Stewart, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, David and Rose Edwards of Bloomingburg; a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Richard Truex of Fair Oaks; a granddaughter, Julia Lybolt of Mohegan Lake; three grandsons, James Edwards of Bloomingburg, Michael Biasi of Rock Hill and Daniel Truex of Fair Oaks; and a great-grandson, Anthony Biasi.
Services were held Thursday at the Morse Funeral Home in Middletown.
Burial was made in the Bloomingburg Cemetery in Bloomingburg.

Frederick A Marotta of Bloomingburg, an employee of Border Products in the Bronx and a longtime area resident, died Monday, December 24, 2001, at his home. He was 53 years of age.
The son of the late Dominic J. and Josephine L. Davi Marotta, he was born February 11, 1948, in the Bronx.
Mr. Marotta attended Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg and St. Paul's Church in Bullville. He was a former volunteer fireman in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Irma Viera Marotta, two sons, Frederick J. Marotta and Adam D. Marotta, and a daughter, Stephanie A. Marotta, all at home; a brother, James J. Marotta of Summitville; a sister, Ann C. Marotta of the Bronx; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg with Fr. James Sidoti, O. Carm. officiating.
Burial was made in the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery in Bloomingburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mamakating First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 525, Wurtsboro, N.Y. 12790.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.

Augusta H. Everling, a 10-year resident of Roscoe, a homemaker and a former J.C. Penney employee, died Sunday, December 23, 2001, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home in Roscoe. She was 100 years of age.
The daughter of the late Peter J. III and Augusta Wamester Rutz, she was born October 16, 1901, in Allentown, Pa. She was the widow of George Everling who died May 11, 1993.
She is survived by a sister, Wilhelmina Stoesser of Roscoe; a niece, Helen Tempel, and her husband, Paul, of Roscoe; and several grand-nieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Peter J. Rutz IV.
Services were held Thursday at the Harris Funeral Home in Roscoe with the Rev. Alfred Croke officiating.
Burial was made in the Riverview Cemetery in Roscoe.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Roscoe-Rockland Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Roscoe, N.Y. 12776.

Rodrigo "Rodney" Besdansky of Wawarsing, a waiter at the Nevele Hotel in Ellenville, died unexpectedly Friday, December 21, 2001. He was 44 years of age.
The son of the late Obdullo and Margarita Saldarriagiz Arias, he was born July 20, 1957, in Medellin, Colombia.
In a family statement, it was said, "Rodney was a loving, caring father, brother and son, his children were always on his mind. He gave of himself unselfishly to the very end, even to his friends who were his extended family."
He is survived by two children, Ashley and Joey Arias of Parksville; his stepfather, William Besdansky of Jeffersonville; a brother, Fernando Arias of Costa Rica; two stepbrothers, Paul and George Besdansky and his wife, Marlene; a stepsister, Brenda Besdansky; the mother of his children, Cynthia and their caretaker stepfather, Ron Fracasse of Parksville; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Friends may call at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 Main St., Woodbourne, on Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Liberty with Msgr. Edward Straub officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Peter's Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to his children, Ashley and Joey Arias, 9 Spruce Lane, Parksville, N.Y. 12768.

Raymond "Ray" C. Curry Sr. of Neversink, a retired laborer/mechanic for the New York City Board of Water Resources and the owner of the Curry junkyard in Neversink, died on Monday, December 24, 2001, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 62 years of age.
The son of the late Chandler P. and Dora Schoonmaker Curry, he was born June 17, 1939, in Neversink.
Mr. Curry took great pleasure in collecting cars all of his life. He loved all stock car racing and especially enjoyed watching his children race.
In a family statement, it was said, "It will never be the same without him."
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sarah Audrey Akerley Curry, at home; 11 daughters and their spouses, Trudy and Alan Unger, Ramona and Charlie Howe, Shelly Curry and her companion, Rich Lowe, Susan and John Bankich, Rebecca and Donald Horner, Kami Curry and Heather Curry, all of Neversink, Rhonda and Matt Grimm of Swan Lake, Jodi Curry and her companion, Jim Torrens, of Briscoe, Rachel and Chuck Renaudette of Liberty and Heidi and Evan Reimer of Cochecton; nine sons and their spouses, Raymond Curry Jr., Billy and Dawn Curry, Gerald and Denise Curry, Timothy and Pam Curry, Matthew and Kathy Curry and Dale Curry, all of Neversink, John Curry of Woodbourne, Brad and Billie Jo Curry of Parksville, and Paul and Kathleen Curry of Liberty; 43 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Curry and his wife, Karen, of Neversink, and Donald Curry and his wife, Diane, of Harpursville; a sister, Virginia Wagner and her husband, Bob, of Bremen, Ga.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a daughter, Beatrice Mae Curry Hendrickson.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the United Methodist Church in Grahamsville with the Rev. Lorraine Ackermann officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neversink Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Neversink, N.Y. 12765.

Lafayette W. Stickle of Liberty, a retired maintenance carpenter for the Pines Hotel Resort in Fallsburg and a former longtime resident of Divine Corners, died Friday, December 21, 2001, at the Walnut Mountain Care Center in Liberty. He was 76 years of age.
The son of the late William and Grace Smith Stickle, he was born March 24, 1925, in Loch Sheldrake.
Mr. Stickle was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He is survived by a sister, Marie Hewlett of Woodbourne; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday at the Harris Funeral Home in Liberty with the Rev. Paul Cicio officiating.
Burial was made in the Hurleyville Cemetery in Hurleyville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the R&R Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Roscoe, N.Y. 12776.

Doris Farber of South Fallsburg, a retired reservation clerk for Kutsher's Country Club, the former Windsor's Hotel in South Fallsburg, and Brown's Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, and a longtime area resident, died Friday, December 21, 2001, at her home. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late David and Anna Goldberg, she was born May 26, 1924, in New York City. She was the widow of Seymour Farber who died in 1986.
Mrs. Farber is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Mel Weisblatt of Pomona; and two grandsons, Adam and Mardi Weisblatt.
Services were held Sunday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irwin Tanenbaum officiating.
Burial was made in the Workmen's Circle #281 Cemetery in Glen Wild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7E, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057.

Sophie Fedun of Hurleyville, a retired bookkeeper for Inter-County Farmers Cooperative of Hurleyville, died Saturday, December 22, 2001, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 83 years of age.
The daughter of the late Alex and Mary Welhan Bagailuk, she was born January 10, 1918, in New York City. She was the widow of George Harry Fedun Sr.
Mrs. Fedun was a charter member of the Luna Organization, a member of the Women's Auxiliary of Hurleyville Fire Department and a member of The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was so well loved by her family that even in her time of death, she was surrounded by the ones she loved. She will be missed by all."
Mrs. Fedun is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, George and Yung Fedun of Parksville; three daughters, Pat Gibson and Sonya and her husband, Robert Robinson, all of Hurleyville, and Mari-Jane and her husband, Bill Conklin, of Kiamesha Lake; a brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Shirley Bagailuk of Hurleyville; ten grandchildren, Mark Fedun, Peter Fedun, Nancy Bowdren, Gene Gibson, George Gibson, Christopher Gibson, Christina McGrath, Matthew Robinson, Jeremy Robinson and Daniel Robinson; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Wednesday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne with Msgr. Edward Straub officiating.
Interment was made in the Luna Cemetery in Rock Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kaaterskill Animal League, Pine Tree Dr., Glen Wild, N.Y. 12738.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.

Mary R. Decker of Monticello, a lifelong area resident and an employee of the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, died Monday, December 24, 2001, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. She was 63 years of age.
The daughter of the late Herbert and Ruth Decker, she was born August 6, 1938, in Chester.
For the past 17 years, she spent countless hours caring for patients as a nursing assistant.
In a family statement, it was said, "Mom, while my heart is broken, I find solace in knowing that you are once again with Marion. I can't help but think how happy you must be. Until we meet again, I love you, Mom."
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Larry Alley of Unadilla; two grandchildren, Tim Williams of Unadilla and Ayla Kelty of Narrowsburg; three sisters, Gladys Kautz of Bloomingdale, N.J., Dolores Gallo and Virginia Petruski, both of Kingston; a brother, Donald Decker of Texas; several nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends and co-workers. She was predeceased by a daughter, Marion Longcore, and two brothers, Gerald and Ronald Decker.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial services will be held at 8 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Kenneth Rodgers officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the STAT Flight Team, 95 Grasslands Rd., Valhalla, N.Y. 10595.

Rose M. Griebel of Narrowsburg, a retired nursery worker for Curtis Nurseries in Callicoon and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, December 25, 2001, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Charles and Margaret Scheiber Gabel, she was born April 30, 1912, in Lava. She was the widow of Fred Griebel who died in 1980.
Mrs. Griebel was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg.
She is survived by three cousins, Helen Wachter and Gladys Slater, both of Jeffersonville and Leonard Gabel of Callicoon; and many friends. She was predeceased by a brother, George Gabel.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Phyllis Haynes officiating.
Interment will be made in the Bauernfeind Cemetery in Callicoon.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Mid-Hudson Chapter, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, N.Y 12601.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

Pauline G. Helms of Livingston Manor, a homemaker and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, December 25, 2001, at her home. She was 58 years of age.
The daughter of the late Walter and Emma Davenport Ross, she was born April 25, 1943.
Mrs. Helms was a member of the Parksville United Methodist Church.
In a family statement, it was said, "Loving sister, mother and wife, blessed friend of all, even in death her love could not fall. She will be missed dearly beneath the earth's sod, beautiful and strong, our precious flower of God."
She is survived by her husband, Richard A. Helms Jr., at home; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Susan and John O'Dell of Livingston Manor, Linda Helms of Parksville, Tina and George Whipple of Livingston Manor, and Donna and Bruce Coddington of Swan Lake; three sisters, Hilda Edwards of Parksville, Emma Welch of Livingston Manor, and Shirley Velez of Livingston Manor; four grandchildren, Johnny O'Dell, Brian O'Dell, Jamie Shampine and Freddy DuMond; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Franklin Ross and Kenneth Ross, and two sisters, Viola Ross and Juanita Meyer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl St., Livingston Manor, with the Rev. H. Markham Fargo officiating.
Burial will be made in the Orchard Street Cemetery in Livingston Manor.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Family of Pauline Helms, c/o of Emma Welch, P.O. Box 564, Livingston Manor, N.Y. 12758 or to the Parksville United Methodist Church, Parksville, N.Y. 12768.

Gladys G. Bell, an 11-year resident of Wallkill and formerly of Bergenfield, N.J., a retired bookkeeper for Hydrotherm Inc. in Northvale, N.J., and a homemaker, died Saturday, December 22, 2001, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late Daniel E. and Frances A. Collins, she was born March 21, 1924, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Joseph F. Ruff and Francis Bell.
Mrs. Bell was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg and the Wallkill Senior Group. She especially enjoyed her cat, Timothy.
In a family statement, it was said, "Gladys totally enjoyed her family and friends and had a great pride in enjoying life to the fullest."
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan F. and Frank Lama of Burlingham and Nancie K. and Robert Vogt of Bloomingburg; a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph D. and Jackqueline Ruff of Cornwall; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Daniel E. Collins Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg with Father James Sidoti, O. Carm., officiating.

Anthony D. Bitetto, a four-year resident of Stonington, Conn., a former 32-year resident of Stamford, Conn., and a retired self-employed automobile mechanic, died Monday, December 24, 2001, at the Westerly Hospital in Westerly, R.I., due to cardiac arrest. He was 70 years of age.
He was the son of the late Albert James and Marie G. Angelo Bitetto.
An avid boater, Mr. Bitetto was a member of the Westerly Yacht Club and was a member and past commodore of the Halloween Yacht Club. Mr. Bitetto was a longtime active member of the New York Athletic Club and had received numerous awards. He was also in the National Guard in White Plains for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Pippo Bitetto of Stonington, Conn.; a brother, Albert James Bitetto of Lake Tahoe, Nev.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his twin brother, Vincent Frank Bitetto, and a sister, Rosemarie Bitetto.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Leo R.C. Church in Stamford, Conn.
Interment will be made in Calvary Cemetery in Youngsville.
Mrs. Bitetto is the daughter of the late Anna and "Red" Pippo of Hortonville. Messages of condolence will reach Mrs. Bitetto at 199 Taugwong Rd., Stonington, Conn. 06737.