Jean Weiner of Livingston Manor, a pioneer in the travel service in this area who, with her late husband, Mack Weiner, owned and operated the Monticello Travel Service since 1958, died Monday, January 20, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 87 years of age.
She was born November 6, 1915, in Brooklyn.
Mrs. Weiner was a member of the Congregation Agudas Achim in Livingston Manor, the Sullivan County Business and Professional Women, The American Society of Travel Agents and Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce.
She is survived by a son, Alan Weiner of Greece; two daughters and sons-in-law, Estelle Stamm and Alling Woodruff III of New York City and Marion and Phil Turturice of Brooklyn; a grandson, Vincent Turturice of Brooklyn; and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her cat, Samantha.
A private burial was made at the Agudas Achim Cemetery in Livingston Manor.
Memorial services were held Thursday at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home in Livingston Manor with Rabbi Irwin Tanenbaum officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Garetta Peters, a former resident of Youngsville and the former owner of Garetta's Dress Shop in Jeffersonville, died Thursday, January 23, 2003, at the Bethany Village Assisted Living Care Center in Bethany, Pa., where she had recently resided. She was 91 years of age.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at press time and a complete obituary will be printed in the January 28 issue of the Democrat.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville. More information can be obtained by calling them at 482-4280.

Myrtle B. Tanner of Bloomingburg, a homemaker and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, January 20, 2003, at the Orange County Residential Health Care Facility in Goshen. She was 90 years of age.
The daughter of the late George and Myrtle Barnes Burleigh, she was born March 14, 1912, in Cornwall. She was the widow of James Tanner.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, James and Shirley Tanner of Bradenton, Fla., Robert and Patricia Tanner of Campbell Hall, George and Beth Tanner of Franklin, N.C., and John and Connie Tanner of Bloomingburg; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Ernest Tanner, and two sisters, Charlotte Wright and Florence McCloud.
Friends may call on Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe,
Pastor Gary Pignaloso will officiate at services at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Monroe Cemetery in Monroe.

Carla Hollander, a former resident of Monticello, died Saturday, January 18, 2003 at her home in the state of Florida. She was 28 years of age.
The daughter of Stuart and Patricia Hollander, she was born September 23, 1974, in Monticello.
She is survived by a daughter, Lianna Hollander, at home; her parents of Port Orange, Fla.; her grandmother, Bessie Hollander of Port Orange, Fla.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Suzanne and David Skolnik and their son, Darren, of Tiburon, Calif., and Justine and William Scuderi and their son, Anthony, of Port Orange, Fla.; a brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Kim Hollander of Smallwood; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter's Church, Liberty St., and Broadway, Monticello, with the Rev. Timothy Wiggins officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Peter's Cemetery in Monticello.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello.

Esther Goldstein Strassberg of New York City, a former co-owner of Esther Manor and the first Jewish employee of Sullivan County, died Tuesday, January 21, 2003.
Born and raised in Monticello, she resided in New York for the past 20 years. She was the widow of Irving Strassberg.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a true woman of valor, beautiful, intelligent and kind. . . Nana was always willing to listen, help, do, and give. She fought the 'fight' gallantly and honestly to the end."
Mrs. Strassberg was a past president of the Sullivan County Heart Association and the Sullivan County Cancer Association and a member of the Sisterhood of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue; a life member of Hadassah, the Eastern Star and City of Hope.
She is survived by her children, Leba and Neil Scdaka, Dr. Barbara Strassberg and Judge Harold Enten; five grandchildren, Dara, Samantha, Marc, Louise and Harry; a sister, Irene Asman; a sister-in-law, Shirley Goldstein; her caregiver, Dominica Sut; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by six brothers, Carl, Ralph, Ben, Abe, Hy and Nat.
Services were held Thursday at Riverside Memorial Chapel in NYC.
Burial was made in the Landfield Avenue Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Doris Simmons Painter of Neversink, a lifelong area resident and a private caregiver in Sullivan County, died Sunday, January 19, 2003, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Tex., after a long illness. She was 62 years of age.
The daughter of the late Jesse and Bertha Stickle Edwards, she was born May 29, 1940, in Neversink.
A member of the United Methodist Church of Grahamsville, Mrs. Painter recently moved to Dallas, Tex., to be closer to her children.
She is survived by her husband, Gerald Painter of Dallas, Tex.; a son, David Jasinski of Dallas, Tex.; two daughters, Debbie Harris of Kaufman, Tex., and Dawn Jackson of Dallas, Tex.; five brothers, Douglas Edwards of Fallsburg, Roger Edwards of Bradley, Robert Edwards of Middletown, Donald Edwards of Briscoe and Nial Edwards of Neversink; two sisters, Bertha Ann Apple of Bradenton, Fla., and Sandra VanAken of Neversink; 10 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Loretta Norena and Sarah Sennett.
Cremation was made in Dallas, Tex.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Grahamsville with the Rev. Lorraine Ackerman officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran IFC Food Program, 24 Chestnut St., Liberty, N.Y. 12754.
Local arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Michael Iafrate of Blooming Grove, a retired maintenance supervisor for the Rockland State Psychiatric Center, died Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at the Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. He was 87 years of age.
The son of the late Raffaele and Rosario Iafrate, he was born September 28, 1915, in Brocco, Italy.
Mr. Iafrate was a charter member of the Mid Valley Racing Pigeon Club in Newburgh and a member of PVI in Rockland County. He was a former member of the Neversink Beagle Club in Liberty and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
In a family statement, it was said, "He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed."
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Zina Alterio Iafrate, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Roseanne and Terence McGrath of Blooming Grove; two grandchildren and their spouses, Beth and Brett Carey of Blooming Grove and Kerry and Allan Dolberg of Jersey City, N.J.; three great-grandchildren, Samantha and Michael Carey and Marley Dolberg; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. He was predeceased by three brothers, Emelio, Bernard and Louis Iafrate.
Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 South Church St., Goshen.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Orange County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Goshen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Blooming Grove Volunteer Ambulance, 7 North St., Washingtonville, N.Y. 10992.

Narciso Vazquez Sr. of Washingtonville, a custodian for East Ramapo School District in Spring Valley, died Sunday, January 19, 2003, at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Arden Hill Campus, in Goshen. He was 66 years of age.
The son of Thomas and Carmen Garcia Vazquez, he was born October 29, 1936, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
He is survived by his wife, Selenia Saborio Vazquez, at home; four sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Cindy Obregon of Goshen, Maynor and Jennifer Obregon of Middletown, Albert and Jennifer Vazquez of Wurtsboro and Narciso and Lesa Vazquez of Spring Valley; a daughter and son-in-law, Carmen and Keith Buongiorno of Frenchtown, N.J.; three brothers, Albert, Hilberto and Pedro Vazquez; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services were held Thursday at the Donovan Funeral Home in Goshen with the Rev. Trevor Nichols officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 22 Freedom Plains Rd., Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603.

Julia Sierra Castro of Monticello, a homemaker and longtime area resident, died Tuesday, January 21, 2003, at her home. She was 66 years of age.
The daughter of the late Cayetano Sierra and Gabina Castro, she was born December 5, 1936, in Puerto Rico.
She was a member of St. Peter's R.C. Church in Monticello.
Ms. Castro is survived by six children, Marta Mangual and her husband, Gregory, of Monticello, and Alcides Martinez, Alfredo Martinez, Wanda Gonzalez and her husband, Angel M. Aponte, Ermelinda Gonzalez and her husband, Roberto Aponte, and Wilmarie Gonzalez and her husband, Heriberto Gutierrez, all of Puerto Rico; 10 grandchildren, Julio, Jesus, Alcibell, Joel, Wilcire, Angel, Niriclis, Roberto, Rosemelly and Heriberto; two sisters, Aurea Gomez of Queens and Teofila Sierra of Puerto Rico; two brothers, Gabriel Sierra and Feliz Sierra, both of Puerto Rico; and several nieces and nephews, including Efrain Velez and Elizabeth Chang. She was predeceased by three siblings, Manuel, Carmelo and Primitiva.
Friends may call at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 195 Broadway, Monticello, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturday at St. Peter's R.C. Church, Broadway and Liberty St., Monticello.
Burial will be made in St. Peter's Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc., 200 White Plains Rd., Suite 523, Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591.