Freda Budoff of Palisades, a 51-year Monticello resident, died Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at the Nyack Hospital after a short illness. She was 85 years of age.
The daughter of the late Max and Jenny Batushansky, she was born July 20, 1918, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Alex Budoff who died in 1981. He was the founder of Budoff Outdoor Furniture in Monticello.
Mrs. Budoff was a member of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, a longtime volunteer at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, a past member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Sullivan County Chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a member of the Monticello Senior Citizens Club, and had served in many other leadership positions on local and regional levels.
She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Stuart and Roslyn Budoff of Vestavia Hills, Ala., Marvin and Joanne Budoff of Athens, N.Y., and Mark and Donna Budoff of Wesley Hills; six grandchildren, Jana and her husband, John, Jon and his wife, Toni, Jessica, Alyssa, Max and Peter; three great-grandchildren, Alexi, Paul and Samuel; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Murray Blayne and Sam Batushansky.
Services were held Thursday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz officiating.
Burial was made in the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to any chapter of Lighthouse for the Blind.

Emma Pottberg Dietrich of Kauneonga Lake, a 60-year area resident and a former employee of the Monticello A&P Store, died Sunday, September 14, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late Harry and Emma Mueller Pottberg, she was born September 3, 1919, in the Bronx. She was the widow of Richard Dietrich who died in 1985.
Mrs. Dietrich most recently worked as an information clerk at the Lake Superior State Park in Bethel.
She was a 52-year member and past matron of Kiamesha Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, a 49-year (charter) member of the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary, and secretary to the Commissioners of the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department until two years ago when her health began to fail. She was a lifeguard at the Smallwood Beach from its beginning in the early 1940s to the late 1960s.
Mrs. Dietrich is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Marie Dietrich of Smallwood; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Gloria Pottberg of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a cousin, Rita Renz of Smallwood; two granddaughters, Analey and Shannon Dietrich; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 3534 Route 55, Kauneonga Lake, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the family plot at the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Firemen's Ladies Auxiliary, Smallwood, N.Y. 12778, or to the charity of one's choice.

Vernon "Chris" Christopher of Monticello, a retired maintenance worker for the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris and a longtime Monticello resident, died September 12, 2003, at the Orange Residential Healthcare Facility in Goshen. He was 71.
The son of the late Lovelee Smith, he was born August 14, 1932, in Portsmouth, Va.
He is survived by his longtime companion, Maria Castillo, of Monticello; five children, Charles Christopher of Killeen, Tex., Kim Jarrette, Keith Christopher and Trisha Christopher of Middletown, and Kenneth Christopher; two step-sons, Raymond Castillo of Monticello and Michael Castillo of Cincinnati, Ohio; a brother, William Smith Jr.; a sister, Patricia Smith of New Mexico; 15 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Morse Funeral Home, 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown, on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Cremation will be made at the Oxford Hills Crematory in Chester.

Courtney Thompson of Liberty, a 40-year area resident and a chef for the Sullivan ARC at the former Bennett Residence in Liberty, died Monday, September 8, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 61 years of age.
He was born in Barbados, Virgin Islands, on September 2, 1942.
Mr. Thompson was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Ferndale.
He is survived by his mother, Veda Agard of Barbados; a dear friend, Rose Stewart of Liberty; two daughters, Adahlia Thompson and LaToya Russell, and a son, Zechariah Stewart, all of Liberty; and a granddaughter, Tanajia Thompson of Liberty.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Friendship Baptist Church in Ferndale with the Rev. Willie Smith officiating.
Burial will be made in the Liberty Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Blanche M. Halcott of Middletown, a retired bookkeeper and a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, September 14, 2003, at her home. She was 74 years of age.
The daughter of the late Clifford and Maude LaForge Davis, she was born July 15, 1929, in Westtown. She was the widow of Richard Halcott.
Mrs. Halcott was a member of the Webb Horton Memorial Presbyterian Church and the Town of Wallkill Happy Seniors Club.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Jeff Hall of Bloomingburg; a granddaughter, Katie; three brothers, Clarence Davis of Middletown, Floyd Davis of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Roy Davis of Narrowsburg; and many special nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. She was predeceased by a sister, Edna Velie; and three brothers, Oscar Davis, Ernie Davis and Ken Davis.
Services will be held at 10 a.m on Tuesday at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown with the Rev. Susan Faye Wonderland officiating.
Burial will be made in the Wallkill Cemetery in Phillipsburg.

David Evans, a six-year resident of Jeffersonville, a former 30-year resident of Pompton Plains, N.J., and a retired oil burner technician, died Friday, September 12, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 83 years of age.
He was born December 8, 1919, in Loch Gilly, County of Fife, Scotland.
Mr. Evans is survived by his wife, Vera Fritz Evans, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Andrew Scott and Deborah E. Evans, of Callicoon Center; a daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne Ann and Paul Gumbiner, both at home; a sister, Adrina Tweedie of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and nieces, nephews and friends.
Cremation was under the direction of the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.
A memorial service will be held at a later time to be announced.

Mary June E. Kulesza, a 13-year resident of Beach Lake, Pa., a former resident of Monroe and a retired telephone investigator for Sylvan Lake Telephone Co. in Hopewell Junction, died Wednesday, September 10, 2003, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. She was 68 years of age.
The daughter of the late John F. and Julie Ann E. Komara Kulesza, she was born June 4, 1935, in the Bronx.
Miss Kulesza was a member of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Narrowsburg and a member of St. Jude's Children's Charity. She was a talented artist and writer of children's stories and enjoyed sculpting.
She is survived by three first cousins, Martha Telech of Jermyn, Pa., Michael Cheykovsky of Columbia, Md., and Joseph Cheykovsky of San Diego, Calif.; three second cousins, Judy Osnick of Mayfield, Pa., Carl Wisnesky of Falls, Pa., and John S. Kasheta of Carbondale, Pa.; and a longtime friend, Martin Ferrick of Narrowsburg.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Thomas Jones officiating.
Burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1818, Memphis, Tenn. 38101.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

Agnes P. Merritt of Tyler Hill, Pa., a retired nurse anesthetist, died Thursday, September 11, 2003, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Louis C. and Mabel E. Whitson Piquet, she was born May 27, 1914, in Woodbury, L.I. She was the widow of Henry G. Merritt who died in 1999.
Mrs. Merritt attended schools in Woodbury and Huntington, L.I., and graduated from the New York Presbyterian School of Nursing in 1937. She became a member of the Anesthesia Staff of Nurses in 1938 and resigned in 1946 to be married.
Before moving to this area, she was an active member of the Ladies Guild of the Lincoln Park Community Church and an active volunteer at the Andrus Pavilion of St. John's Hospital, both in Yonkers. Mrs. Merritt attended and supported the United Methodist Church in Beach Lake, Pa.
She is survived by two sons, Henry C. Merritt Jr. of New York City, and Lawrence C. Merritt of Vancouver, Canada; a daughter, JoAnne E. Merritt-Ross of Tyler Hill, Pa.; a brother, Wilber Piquet of Irvine, Calif.; two grandchildren, Mark Ross of Silver Spring, Md., and Shannon Ross-Britton of New York City; and two great-grandchildren, Sophia Ross-Britton of New York City and Gavin Parker Ross of Silver Spring, Md.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Weightman officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Twin Tiers Crematory in Endicott.
Memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics, P.O. Box 3010, Norristown, Pa. 19404-3010.