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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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May 30, 2003

Unveiling of Monument
For Stanley Liese

There will be an unveiling of the monument for Stanley Liese at the Beth-El Cemetery in Bethel at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. A celebration of the life of Stanley and his wife, the late Lillyan Liese, will follow at the White Lake Firehouse from 2 to 4 p.m. Mr. Liese is a former Town of Bethel Justice.
Arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Memorial Service
for Maggie B. Palmer

A memorial service for Maggie B. Palmer, who died April 29, 2003, will be held at the Buffalo Filmore Community Church, 821 Filmore Ave., Buffalo on Saturday, May 31, 2003, at 3 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Buffalo Filmore Community Church, 821 Filmore Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 14210.

Robert D. Robinson
Logger, 41

Robert Daniel Robinson of Livingston Manor, a self-employed logger and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in Manhattan. He was 41 years of age.
The son of Robert and Joan McGar Robinson, he was born August 8, 1961, in Roscoe.
He is survived by his mother of Livingston Manor; his father of Columbus, N.C.; a brother, Daniel Robinson of Bluffton, S.C.; and his maternal grandparents, Leon and Mabel McGar of Livingston Manor.
Friends may call at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl St., Livingston Manor, on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Gerald L. Wondra officiating.
Interment will be made in the Lew Beach Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family, c/o Joan Robinson, DeBruce Rd., Livingston Manor, N.Y. 12758.

Melody Ruckdeschel
Fiscal Coordinator, 47

Melody A. Ruckdeschel of Wurtsboro, a fiscal coordinator for the Mental Health Association in Goshen, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the Horton Campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. She was 47 years of age.
The daughter of the late John D. and Florence Sorensen Schneider, she was born April 30, 1956, in Kingston.
A 1973 graduate of Onteora High School, she resided in Ashokan and Middletown before moving to Wurtsboro a year and a half ago.
In a family statement, it was said, "She will be dearly missed by her son, daughter, brothers, sisters, husband and grandchildren, and especially her dog, Bounce."
Mrs. Ruckdeschel is survived by a son, Christopher Ruckdeschel and his wife, Delia, of Middletown; a daughter, Sarah Ruckdeschel of Middletown; her husband, Henry Ruckdeschel of Bloomingburg; three brothers, Dave Schneider of West Shokan, Wayne Schneider of Las Vegas, Nev., and Leslie Schneider of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Penny Schiavone of Blooming Grove and Peggy Shultis of Boiceville; her stepmother, Margaret Smith of Hurley; and three grandchildren, Florence and Giacomo Ruckdeschel and Jaysen Rodriguez.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 149 Cottage St., Middletown.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 419 East Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Jessie E. Jaschek
Ret. Accounting Clerk, 89

Jessie Eleanor Jaschek of Highland, a former resident of Highland Lake and a retired accounting clerk for Avon Products, died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Harry and Annie E. Lipfert Roth, she was born September 16, 1913, in New York City. She was the widow of Max Jaschek who died in 1989.
Mrs. Jaschek is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Gladys L. and Sal Maneri of Port Washington; four nieces, Diane Provenzano, Laurel Emery, Laurie Haas and Carol Meier; a nephew, William Roth; and several grand-nieces and grandnephews.
Services will be held Friday at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home, Route 97, Barryville, with the Rev. Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Burial will be made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Elizabeth A. Brown
Ret. Nurses Aide, 90

Elizabeth A. Brown of Ellenville, a retired nurses aide at the Ellenville Community Hospital and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, May 19, 2003, at the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston. She was 90 years of age.
The daughter of the late Willard Fillmore and Lilly Mae Pickford Yorks, she was born April 1, 1913, in Ellenville. She was the widow of Harold D. Brown Sr.
Mrs. Brown was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Harold Jr. and Arlene Brown of Grahamsville, and Richard and Dolly Brown of Wilson, N.C.; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Cremation was private.
Graveside services and burial will be held Saturday at the Pine Bush Cemetery in Kerhonkson with the Rev. Eileen Daunt officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ellenville First Aid and Rescue Squad, 20 Webster St., Ellenville, N.Y. 12428.

Sylvia Rubin
Ret. Administrator, 81

Sylvia Sharoff Rubin, a four-year resident of Guilderland, formerly a lifelong resident of Monticello, died Saturday, May 24, 2003, after a long illness. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Louis and Rachael Goodman Sharoff, she was born October 25, 1921, in Monticello.
Mrs. Rubin was employed by various governmental positions over the years. She was clerk of the Selective Service during World War II and was the youngest person to hold that position. She established the insurance department of the County of Sullivan in the early 1960s and was the administrator until her retirement in 1986.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jack "Jake" Rubin, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Richard and Lois Rubin of Slingerlands; a grandson, Noah; many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by four brothers, Joe, Harry, Jack and Raymond Sharoff, and a sister, Alice Greenfield.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.
Burial was made in the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, Landfield Ave., Monticello, N.Y. 12701 or to the charity of one's choice.

Marilyn Chernow, 64

Marilyn H. Chernow of South Fallsburg died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 64 years of age.
The daughter of the late Arthur and Esther Brown, she was born January 18, 1939, in Brooklyn.
She is survived by two daughters, Debra Chernow of Sacramento, Calif., and Lynn Chernow of South Fallsburg; two sons, Alan Chernow of Brooklyn and David Chernow of Sacramento, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Melissa, Gabriel and Aliyah.
Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 Main St., Woodbourne, with Rabbi Isaac Gottlieb officiating.
Interment will be made in the Temple Sholom Cemetery in Monticello.

Theodore Clark
Ret. US Customs, 87

Theodore Clark, a 50-year resident of Albertson and a retiree of the U.S. Customs Service after 37 years of service, died Saturday, May 10, 2003. He was 87 years of age.
The son of the late Royal and Lydia Clark, he was born August 21, 1915.
He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley Marino Clark, at home; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Roy Peter and Karen L. Clark of St. Petersburg, Fla., Vincent Clark of Washington, D.C., and Ted and Karen G. Clark of Ridgewood, N.J.; six grandchildren, Alison Hastings, Emily Clark and Lauren Clark, all of the state of Florida, and Matthew Clark, Christian Clark and Mary Hope, all of Ridgewood, N.J.; a sister, Pearl Dumont Clark of Rock Hill; and a niece, Donna Meadow, and a nephew and his godson, Paul Steven Dumont, both of Rock Hill.
A Funeral Mass was offered in Williston Park.
Burial was made in Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Williston Park Rescue Squad, Willis Ave., Williston Park, N.Y. 11596.

JoAnna LaMantia
Homemaker, 84

JoAnna LaMantia of Woodbourne, a homemaker, died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late Michael and Angela Albenese Medico, she was born October 4, 1918, in Waterbury, Conn. She was the widow of Theodore V. LaMantia Sr.
She is survived by a son, Anthony LaMantia of Woodbourne; a daughter, Carmela LaMantia of Long Island; 20 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Theodore LaMantia Jr., two brothers and three sisters.
Services were held at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne with the Rev. Bob Pinto officiating.
Burial was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.

Celia S. Wands
Homemaker, 86

Celia Schnipper Wands of Newburgh, a longtime area resident and a homemaker, died Monday, May 26, 2003, at St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. She was 86 years of age.
The widow of both Harry Schnipper and Harold Wands, she was born August 15, 1916, in Brooklyn.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a loving mother and grandmother."
Mrs. Wands is survived by two sons, Jacob "Jack" Schnipper of Westbrookville, and Barry and his wife, Bernice Schnipper, of Middletown; and four grandchildren, Joe and his wife, Pam Busse, Daniel Schnipper, Jennifer Schnipper and Tricia and her husband, Tom Lynch.
Graveside services and burial were held Tuesday at the Agudas Israel Cemetery in New Windsor with Cantor Endre Spamler officiating.

Nora M. Ward
Homemaker, 79

Nora M. Ward of Hancock, a homemaker and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at her home. She was 79 years of age.
The daughter of the late Leslie and Hattie Howell Barriger, she was born April 27, 1924, in Abrahamsville, Pa.
Mrs. Ward was a member of the Hancock Historical Society and the Abrahamsville Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, William L. Ward Jr., at home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Victoria and Daniel Conkling of Walton and Maryellen and David Brucher of Akron, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Amy Conkling, Jacob Conkling and his wife, Missy, Amanda, Lisa and Clifford Brucher; a brother, Edwin Barriger of Abrahamsville, Pa; a sister-in-law, Shirley Barriger of Abrahamsville, Pa.; two nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by a brother, Vernon Barriger.
A memorial service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon with the Rev. Francis Waite officiating.
Cremation will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 628, Monticello, N.Y. 12701; Delaware Valley Hospital, 1 Titus Place, Walton, N.Y. 13856 or to the Hancock Rescue Squad, Hancock, N.Y. 13783.

Charles A. Wood, 35

Charles A. Wood of Kingston died Friday, May 23, 2003, at his home. He was 35 years of age.
The son of Frank A. and Kathleen Brophy Wood, he was born on October 28, 1967, in Middletown.
In a family statement, it was said, "Charlie loved fishing and the outdoors. He had a wonderful personality, and made friends easily. He was warm and down to earth and was very close with his family. He will always be remembered as a jokester and prankster by his family and friends."
He is survived by a son, Charles Andrew Wood Jr. of the state of Florida; his father and step-mother, Judith E. Wood of Monticello; his mother, Kathleen Krom of the state of Florida; two brothers, Frank A. Wood III of Wallkill and Freddy Judd; three sisters, Denise M. Wood of Napanoch, Deanna A. Soultanakis of Wallkill and Andrea R. Wood of Slate Hill; three nephews, John Henry, Roger Lee Jr, and Brandon Michael Wood; two nieces, Tabitha Lee-Ann and Nicole Wood; and several aunts and uncles.
Services were held Wednesday at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Robert Nadalen officiating.
Burial was made in the Wallkill Cemetery in Middletown.

Richard E. Layton
Farmer, 68

Richard E. Layton of Equinunk, Pa., a farmer, died Thursday, May 22, 2003, at his home. He was 68 years of age.
The son of the late Ernest and Florence Hathaway Layton, he was born in Equinunk, Pa.
A millhand for Cochecton Mills, he loved hunting and fishing. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and especially liked taking tractor rides with them.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie E. Roloson Layton, at home; a son, Rickey L. Layton of Equinunk, Pa.; four daughters, Gloria Ann White of Hancock, Brenda May Lewis and Barbara Dawn Punzi, both of Equinunk, Pa., and Netty June Possemato of Long Eddy; a brother, Dr. Bradley Layton of Equinunk, Pa.; a sister, Ann Geer of the state of Florida; and 15 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Romaine Kellam, and a brother, Laverne Layton.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday at the Braman United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kathy Grecco officiating.
No further information was submitted.

Irene A. Pajak
Ret. Therapy Aide, 76

Irene Adele Pajak of Middletown, a retired therapy aide for the Middletown Psychiatric Center, died after a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, May 24, 2003, at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, in Middletown. She was 76 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Esther Mazinski Brzinski, she was born December 9, 1926, in Monsey.
She spent most of her adult life in the area. Mrs. Pajak was an outgoing lady who loved people and especially enjoyed dancing the polka with her husband at the annual polka dance at the Elks Lodge. She and her husband enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and to Florida. She was a NASCAR racing fan, especially of the late Dale Earnhardt.
Mrs. Pajak is survived by her husband, Edward Pajak Sr., at home; a daughter, Karen Pajak of Accord; a son, Edward Pajak Jr. of Forestburgh; two sisters, Beatrice Mezanko of Goshen and Florence Bambakos of Poughkeepsie; a brother, John Brzinski of Highland; a daughter-in-law, Helen Pajak Dunn and her husband, Gary, of Westtown; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Helen, and a brother, Edward.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Wednesday at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Middletown.
Burial was made in the family plot in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 419 East Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Joseph L. Garofalo
Businessman, 60

Joseph L. "Trapper Joe" Garofalo of Chester, a 36-year area resident and the owner of Trapper Joe Plumbing and Heating, died after a nine-month battle with cancer on Thursday, May 22, 2003. He was 60 years of age.
The son of Patricia Pelligrino Garofalo and the late Joseph J. Garofalo, he was born December 9, 1942, in the Bronx.
A retired employee of Ford Motor Company in Mahwah, N.J., he was a member of the Warwick Valley Rod and Gun Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and was a wild bird and duck enthusiast. An avid billiard player, he also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
In a family statement, it was said, "He was always there with a handshake and smile and helped anyone in need. He is a great loss to the Chester community."
Mr. Garofalo is survived by his companion and best friend, Debby Jones; two daughters, Audrey Reeder and her husband, George, of Westbrookville, and Yvonne Garofalo of Chester; a son, Frank Garofalo of Chester; a step-daughter, Jessica Jones; his mother of Chester; a sister, Michalyn Chilcote and her husband, Ted, of Indiana; three grandchildren, Bryonna Marie, Ciarrah and Christian; a nephew, Raymond Chilcote and his wife, Rachel, of Indiana; a niece, Donna Peachy, and her husband, Sam, of Tampa, Fla.; and a grand-nephew, Matthew Chilcote.
Services were held Wednesday at the Lippincott Funeral Home in Chester with Deacon John Frohbose officiating.
Burial was made in the Warwick Cemetery.

Mareitta Cole
Ret. Legal Secy., 90

Mareitta Mori Cole of Port Jervis, a retired secretary for Steve Zeh, attorney-at-law, William Gregg, attorney, and Skydyne Inc., all in Port Jervis, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at the Homestead Nursing Home in Branchville, N.J. She was 90 years of age.
The daughter of the late Mario and Lenore Herr Mori, she was born April 19, 1913, in Port Jervis.
Mrs. Cole attended both the Drew United Methodist Church in Port Jervis and the Minisink Reformed Church in Montague, NJ., where she played the organ for many years. She was also the organist for many years at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home in Port Jervis. She had her own jazz band for many years, playing throughout the Catskills in many hotels, including Grossinger's and the Concord. She was also a proof reader, stenographer and reporter for The Union Gazette newspaper in Port Jervis.
In a family statement, it was said, "Her love of God was strong and she said her star was Jesus Christ 'and I play for Him'."
Friends may call at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Angelo Forleo officiating.
Burial will be made in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Minisink Reformed Church, Montague, N.J. 07827.

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