Abraham Miller of Parksville, a lifelong area resident and retired from the United States Army with the rank of Staff Sergeant, died Tuesday, August 31, 2004, at the Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center. He was 79 years of age.
The son of the late Benny and Jenny Frieman Miller, he was born April 23, 1925, in Brooklyn.
Mr. Miller received numerous decorations during his time in the service including the Bronze Star Medal with four Overseas Bars, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars attached, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with four Stars and the Good Conduct Medal Clasp Silver with one Loop.
He was an active member of the Russell Sprague Post No. 109, American Legion, the Clarence Hoyt Post No. 9217, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Liberty and the Kelly-Ratner Post No. 198 of the Disabled American Veterans in Kauneonga Lake.
Mr. Miller is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Irving and Doris Miller of Tamarac, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Ruth Hubschman.
Services were held Thursday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.
Burial with full military honors was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.

Angela "Ann" Wachtel of Liberty, a former resident of Weeki-Wachee Gardens, Fla., and Kelly Corners, died Sunday, August 29, 2004, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 87 years of age.
The daughter of the late Anthony and Antonette Sibilia, she was born July 14, 1917, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Sidney Wachtel.
Mrs. Wachtel had also lived in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Richmond Hill, Queens where she was an engaged and tireless community activist. She served for a number of years as state Democratic Committeewoman, representing South Queens.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Edward Wachtel and Lori Ramos and Chuck Wachtel and Jocelyn Lieu, all of New York City; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Dominic Daurio of White Sulphur Springs; a brother, Andrew Rizzotti of Warwick; five grandchildren, Kimberly Paola and her husband, Fred, Samantha and Nicole Daurio, Henry Wachtel and Grace Wachtel; and three great-granddaughters, Angela, Elena and Eva Paola.
A Memorial Mass was offered at St. Peter's Church, 264 S. Main St., Liberty on Thursday with Rev. Ivan Csete officiating.
Private cremation was held at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, N.Y. 10016, Attn.: Memorials.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Mildred Sugarman of Youngsville and Delray Beach, Fla., died Monday, August 30, 2004.
She was the daughter of the late Sarah and Samuel Gertler and the widow of Sidney Sugarman who died after 64 years of marriage.
Mrs. Sugarman is survived by four daughters and their families: Barbara Kravitz, Jayne and Kenneth Steinglass, Caryn and Jim Andersen and Tracy and Richard Mindness; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two nephews and their wives, Yvonne and Irwin and Davida and Ken Slobody.
Services were held Wednesday at the Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City.
Memorial contributions may be made to Masconomet Healthcare Center, Gould Unit, 123 High St., Topsfield, Mass. 01983.

Peter Melnyk of Glen Spey, a former restaurant owner in Newark, N.J., and a longtime area resident, died Monday, August 30, 2004, at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. He was 78 years of age.
The son of the late Andrew and Maria Gach Melnyk, he was born July 11, 1926, in Ukraine.
Mr. Melnyk was a member of St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Glen Spey and a member and past president of the Lumberland Lions Club. He was also a former two-term Town of Lumberman Councilman.
Earlier in his life he taught English in Germany and was a producer and announcer in radio and television in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Natalia Hunczak Melnyk, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Peter T. and Marta Melnyk of Long Valley, N.J.; a daughter and son-in-law, Larysa and Herbert Dyrszka of Haworth, N.J.; and five grandchildren, Johanna Natalia Dryszka, Marc Dyrszka, Lars Dyrszka, Kristina Melnyk and Andrew Melnyk.
A Liturgy Mass was offered at St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church on Wednesday with the Rev. Mark Hirniak officiating.
Burial was made in the Glen Spey Cemetery.

Benjamin Padua Sr. of Ellenville, a 40-year area resident and a supervisor for VAW in Ellenville, died Tuesday, August 31, 2004, in the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He was 59 years of age.
The son of the late Juan P. and Ernestina Morales Padua, he was born September 12, 1944, in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Padua was a member of The Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew in Ellenville.
He is survived by his wife, Margarita Echeverry Padua, at home; four sons, Benjamin Padua Jr. of New York City, Angel Padua of Monticello, James Morales of California and Walter Collazo of North Carolina; a daughter-in-law, Tracy Padua; a brother, Angel Luis Padua of Kerhonkson; three grandchildren, Rilley Sinclair Padua, Harold Ricco Padua and Christian Miguel Padua; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew, 137 S. Main St., Ellenville.
Burial will be made in the Fan-tinekill Cemetery in Ellenville.

William M. Amthor of Wallkill, the retired owner of Amthor's Welding in Walden and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, September 1, 2004, at the Montgomery Nursing Home. He was 88 years of age.
The son of the late Ed and Nettie Amthor, he was born Octrober 4, 1915, in Ellenville. He was the widower of Mildred V. Amthor.
Mr. Amthor is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, William E. and Theresa Amthor of Utica, Arnold G. and Alice Amthor of Wallkill and Thomas L. Amthor of Grahamsville; a daughter, Arlene Adams of Grahamsville; two sisters, Mary Smith and Hattie Wayman, both of Newburgh; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Gridley-Horan Funeral Home, 39 Orchard St., Walden, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Walden United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kent Jackson officiating.
Burial will be made in the Grahamsville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Walden United Methodist Church, Walden, N.Y. 12586.

Theodore B. Grudzias of Monticello, a retired bartender and a longtime area resident, died Tuesday, August 31, 2004, at his home. He was 78 years of age.
The son of the late John and Antoinette Sipanack Grudzias, he was born October 18, 1925, in Seymour, Conn.
A United States Army and Marine Corps veteran, he served in both World War II and Korea.
In a family statement, it was said, "He was a great father and a wonderful husband who will be dearly missed."
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Grudzias at home; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa Acton-Sisco and her husband, Anthony of South Fallsburg, Debbie and Jeffrey Whitted of Liberty and Terri and Bob Dibble of Monticello; a sister, Sophie Brown of Seymour, Conn.; eight grandchildren, Mariah, Caleb, Robert, Darryl, Alicia, Dierdre, Susan and Tabitha; and several nieces. He was predeceased by a son, Jimmy; a brother, Joseph; and a sister, Harriet.
Funeral services wil be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 401 Broadway, Monticello.
Burial with military honors will be held in the Rural Valley Cemetery in Cuddebackville.

Stefania Kashuba of Glen Spey, a retired machine operator and a 30-year area resident, died Tuesday, August 31, 2004, at St. Teresa's Nursing Home in Middletown. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Wasyl and Maria Radow Krun, she was born January 18, 1923, in Ukraine.
Mrs. Kashuba was a member of St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Ukrainian National Association and the Senior Citizens, all in Glen Spey.
She is survived by a brother, Wasyl Nakonechna of Ukraine; two nieces, Nadia Tanasiczuk and Luba Nakonechna, and a grand-nephew, Oleh Nakonechna, all of Brooklyn.
Friends may call at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main St., Port Jervis, on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Panachyda Service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday.
A Liturgy Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Glen Spey with the Rev. Mark Hirniak officiating.
Burial will be made in the Glen Spey Cemetery.

Burton S. Goldstein of Brooklyn, a retired Director of Enforcement for the NYC Department of Transportation, died Tuesday, August 3, 2004, in Brooklyn. He was 71 years of age.
The son of the late Abe and Sally Goldstein, he was born December 12, 1932, in Monticello. He was the first grandchild of Philip and Dora Goldstein of Maplewood.
A graduate of Monticello High School, he graduated with a BS degree in 1954 from NYU-School of Commerce. He received an MA degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1975.
Mr. Goldstein was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1954 and served in Maine, Wyoming, Texas and Alaska. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 1958. He began his career as a detective/investigator of the New York County District Attorney's office. Under the legendary Frank S. Hogan, he was the first inspector general of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs from 1978 to 1990 and then went on to retire as the director of enforcement for the NYC Department of Transportation.
He was a charter member with more than 46 years of membership in the Monticello Elks and was a member of the Fallsburg Masonic Lodge, F.&A.M.
Mr. Goldstein is survived by his wife, Judge Ferne J. Gartenlaub Goldstein of Kings/Richmond Counties; a son, Brian Goldstein of London, England; a daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Frank of Forest Hills; a sister, Rita Goldstein of Montgomery; two aunts, Irene Asman and Shirley Goldstein, both of Monticello; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Burial was made in the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (New York City Chapter) or to the Hematology/ Oncology Research Department of New York University, c/o Dr. Bruce Raphael, Tisch Hospital, New York, N.Y.