Alfred Ivan Swendsen of Tyler Hill, Pa., a truck driver for Curtis Nurseries in Callicoon for 30 years before retiring in 1987 and a lifelong area resident, died unexpectedly Wednesday, March 17, 2004. He was 71 years of age.
The son of the late Ivan A. and Ruth Hinaman Swendsen, he was born in Tyler Hill.
Mr. Swendsen was a 1950 graduate of Damascus High School and a member of the Damascus United Methodist Church.
In a family statement, it was said, "He loved to take care of his yard and especially enjoyed mowing his lawn. He was also an experienced handyman and enjoyed local history."
He is survived by his wife, Doris Jeanne Jackson Swendsen, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, David A. and Angie Swendsen of Damascus, Pa., and Michael and Ruthie Swendsen of Abrahamsville, Pa.; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Bruce Robbins of Honesdale, Pa.; a sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Corky Diehl of Tyler Hill, Pa.; a brother and sister-in-law, Rodger and Clara Swendsen of Tyler Hill, Pa; six grandchildren, Eric Swendsen of Damascus, Pa., Sarah and Kevin Swendsen of Abrahamsville, Pa., Julie Becker and her husband, Chris, of Hershey, Pa., Jason and Heather Robbins of Stroudsburg, Pa., and Jeremiah Robbins of Honesdale, Pa.; and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A Memorial Service was held at the Wesley Room of the United Methodist Church in Damascus on Saturday with Attorney Nick Barna officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Damascus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Tyler Hill, Pa. 18415 or to the Damascus United Methodist Church, Damascus, Pa. 18415.

Thomas W. McCausland of Swan Lake, a longtime area resident and a retired mechanic for the Town of Bethel Highway Department, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. He was 76 years of age.
The son of the late Howard and Mildred Jewel McCausland, he was born December 15, 1927, in South Bend, Pa.
Mr. McCausland was a former member of the Swan Lake Fire Department and was a member of the Swan Lake Hunting Club.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Letha Marion Decker McCausland, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Barbara McCausland of Swan Lake; a sister, Emma Shupe of McIntyre, Pa; four grandchildren, Jaime, Kristy, Thomas R. and Glen Eric McCausland. He was predeceased by a son, Richard McCausland, and a brother, Foster McCausland.
Services were held Monday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Kauneonga Lake with the Rev. Alex McLean officiating.
Burial was made in Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel.

Dorothy Spicer of Liberty, a 30-year area resident, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 79 years of age.
Miss Spicer was born October 30, 1924, in New York City.
She is survived by her caregivers of over 30 years, Jane and Jerry Reside of Liberty and several friends at CRC and at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home Adult Day Care Center.
Services were held Monday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty with the Rev. Robert C. Nadelen officiating.
Burial was made in the Liberty Cemetery.

Joseph Smits of Wurtsboro, a retired machinist and a 12-year area resident, died Saturday, March 20, 2004, at his home. He was 85 years of age.
The son of the late John and Alice Goodrich Smits, he was born March 29, 1918, in Paterson, N.J.
A World War II veteran, he was a member of the Seabees of the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Mr. Smits was a machinist for Wright Aeronomics in Teterboro, N.J.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lillian Nesbihal Smits, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Pastor Steve Grunlan of Kansas; a son, Glen Smits of Craigsville; a brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Mickey Smits of Wyckoff, N.J.; five grandchildren, Steven Grunlan Jr. and his wife, Sonjia, Jaime Grunlan and his wife, Melissa, S/Sgt. Rebecca Bolton and her husband, Dana, Jennifer Smits and her wife, Dana Wegener, and Corrine Smits.
Friends may call at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, on Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the family plot in the Circleville Cemetery.

Rose Calton Schwartz of Deerfield Beach, Fla., died Wednesday, March 17, 2004. She was 85 years of age.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Roberta and Larry Kerman; two grandsons, Jarret Kerman and Russell and his wife, Jennifer Kerman; and a brother, Bernard Dinerstein.
Graveside services and burial were held Sunday at the Cedar Park Cemetery in Emerson, N.J.

Spencer Quick of Stone Ridge, a lifelong resident of Accord and Stone Ridge and a retired farmer, died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at the Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck. He was 94 years of age.
The son of the late Eugene and Martha Krum Quick, he was born February 15, 1910, in Leibhardt (Accord). He was the widower of Seila H. Van Dermark Quick who died October 19, 1986.
Mr. Quick was also a longtime employee of Agway, Inc.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Spencer and Jacqueline Quick of Grahamsville; four grandchildren, David Quick and his wife, Laura of Grahamsville, Michelle Quick and her husband, Paul Lepke of Neversink, Aimee Quick of New York City and Alyson Quick of Columbia, Md.; two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Joseph Quick; and his companion of many years, Flossie Davis of Stone Ridge.
Graveside services and burial were held Saturday at the Pine Bush Cemetery in Kerhonkson with the Rev. Paul Ruter officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grahamsville Reformed Church, Box 238, Grahamsville, N.Y. 12740.

Russell Scheuermann of Montgomery, a retired heavy machinery operator and a lifelong area resident, died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at his home. He was 61 years of age.
The son of the late Harold and Anna Mohr Scheuermann, he was born December 31, 1942, in Warwick.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Scheuermann, at home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Curtis and Barbara Scheuermann of Cuddebackville and Philip Scheuermann of Wurtsboro; a daughter, Gloria Scheuermann of Goshen; five granddaughters, Michele, Danielle and Nicole Conklin of Goshen and Brittany and Brooke Scheuermann of Cuddebackville; a grandson, Brandon Scheuermann of Cuddebackville; a sister, Janet Bogart of Warwick; an aunt, Helen Masker of Pine Island; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday at the Millspaugh Funeral Home in Walden with Pastor Raymond Cumming officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 8, Montgomery, N.Y. 12549.

Peter V. Matichak of Murrells Inlet, S.C., a retired sales supervisor with Piggly Wiggly Stores in Charleston, S.C., died Friday, March 19, 2004, in South Carolina. He was 81 years of age.
The son of the late Paul and Rose Matichak, he was born July 31, 1922, in Ranshaw, Pa.
Mr. Matichak was a World War II veteran, serving with the U. S. Army engineers in the Philippines. He was a member of VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet.
A former volunteer fireman in Ranshaw, Pa., he was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and the Catholic Men's Club, all in Kinston, N.C.
He is survived by his wife, Alma Durski Matichak, at home; a son, Frederick Matichak of Rochester; a daughter, Patricia Munro of Bloomingburg; two grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a brother, Steven Matichak of Pottstown, Pa.; and a sister, Ann Preschlock of Santa Fe, N. Mex.
Services will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Catholic Church, P.O. Box 2659, Murrells Inlet, S.C. 29576.

Samuel H. McClurg, a lifelong resident of Middletown and a retired general manager for Grand Union Supermarkets with 47 years service, died Saturday, March 20, 2004, at the Horton campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. He was 79 years of age.
The son of the late Samuel and Reia Libolt McClurg, he was born January 8, 1925, in Middletown.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he served from 1943 to 1946.
Mr. McClurg was a member of many firematic organizations and served as a past president of the Middletown Fire Police, a past captain of Phoenix Engine Company, and was a member of the Veterans Fireman's Association of Middletown and the Peace Officer Association of Orange County. He was also a member of the Middletown Elks.
He is survived by his wife, Nellie M. Duczeminski McClurg, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Judy McClurg of Dallas, Tex., and Steven and Mary McClurg of Middletown; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Evelyn and Raymond DePew and Dorothy and Kenneth Angeloni, all of Bloomingburg; four grandchildren, Maureen McClurg of Malibu, Calif., Kelly McClurg of Dallas, Tex., and Megan and Ryan McClurg of Middletown.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 on Tuesday at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Ave., Middletown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Joseph's Church, 149 Cottage St., Middletown.
Burial with full military honors will be made in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Middletown.

Marion Pallotta Banning of Montgomery, a retired bookkeeper for Guardian Life Insurance Co. in New York City and a former resident of Middle Village in Queens, died Friday, March 19, 2004, at her home. She was 82 years of age.
The daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Montalbano Sinacore, she was born October 16, 1921, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of both Anthony Pallotta and Walter Banning.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Phyllis and Larry DeGirolamo of Queens, and Mary and Ronald Fontana of Montgomery; seven grandchildren, Julia Scafo, Marianne Tiesler, Anthony Fontana and his wife, Katherine, Lisa Scott and her husband, David, Paul Fontana and his fiancée, Peggy Baisley, Ronald Fontana and Deborah Battifarano and her husband, Stephen; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Rae Sinacore of Cochecton and Anthony and Marianne Sinacore of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Sinacore.
A Funeral Mass was offered Monday at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Bullville with Father Patrick McGuigan, O. Carm., officiating.
Burial was made in St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.