Gustave H. "The Banana Man" Oelkers of Barryville, the retired owner of Oelkers General Store and a 34-year Barryville resident, died Friday, January 14, 2005, at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. He was 89 years of age.
The son of the late Gustav and Bernadine Steinbrink Oelkers, he was born February 13, 1915, in Brooklyn. He was the widower of Ruth Emily Olsen Oelkers who died August 3, 2002.
He is survived by three daughters, Norma Notzold of Westchester, Pa., Emily Oelkers of Barryville and Verna Jones of Hawley, Pa.; five grandchildren, Kirsten Hamrahi, Paul Notzold, Britte Notzold, Thomas Jones and Brian Jones; a great-granddaughter, Sofia Hamrahi; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home in Barryville with Pastor Linda Bohs officiating.
Burial will be made in the Spring in the Lutheran Cemetery in North Branch
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 63, Eldred, N.Y. 12732 or to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550

Sadie "Syd" Bakst Jaffe, a 62-year resident of Glen Wild and a retired elementary school teacher, died Saturday, January 15, 2005, at her home. She was 96 years of age.
The daughter of the late Jacob and Yetta Bakst, she was born in Glen Falls on May 13, 1908. She was the widow of Abe Jaffe, a Glen Wild poultry farmer.
Mrs. Wild taught third and fifth grades at the Cooke School until her retirement in 1973. She was a volunteer for many years at Community General Hospital and a founding member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Glen Wild Synagogue and the Glen Wild Women's Club.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Naomi Jaffe and Clint Anglin of Troy; a daughter-in-law, Faun Bank of Tamworth, Ontario; four grandchildren, Avalon Anglin-Jaffe of Troy and Lucas, Leigh and Max Bank-Jaffe of Tamworth, Ontario; a sister, Esther Cutler of Naples, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Bernard Jaffe, and three sisters, Reva Cohen, Ida Levine and Gertrude Feintuch.
Services were held Monday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in the Congregation Anshei Glen Wild Cemetery in Glen Wild.

Anna Mae West of New York City, a former Sullivan County resident and a switchboard operator for the Clifton Hotel in New York City for many years, died Thursday, January 13, 2005, at the Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. She was 87 years of age.
The daughter of the late Oscar and Fannie LeRoy Hammer, she was born June 16, 1917, in Liberty. She was the widow of Andrew West who died in 1966.
Mrs. West is survived by a brother, John Hammer of Livingston Manor; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday at the Harris Funeral Home in Liberty with the Rev. Francis Waite officiating.
Burial was made in the Bon Air Cemetery in Roscoe.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, N.Y. 12401.

E. Lorraine Bowers of Bloomingburg, a retired registered nurse and a longtime area resident, died Friday, January 14, 2005, at the Arden Hill Campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Goshen,. She was 72 years of age.
The daughter of the late Stephen and Fabiola Gagnon Krinsky, she was born July 2, 1932, in Manchester, N.H. She was the widow of John Bowers who died May 1, 1982.
She worked for 25 years as a registered nurse at the Horton Memorial Hospital in Middletown until her retirement in 1991. Mrs. Bowers was a parishioner of St. Joseph's Church in Middletown and later at Our Lady of the Infant Savior in Pine Bush, after moving to Bloomingburg.
Mrs. Bowers is survived by five sons and four daughters-in-law, Jack and Felisha Bowers of Bloomingburg, Stephen and Cindy Bowers and Michael Bowers, all of Butler, Pa., Thomas and Joyce Bowers of Tobyhanna, Pa., and Peter and Patricia Bowers of Pine Bush; a brother and sister-in-law, George and Arlene Krinsky of Monroe; a sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Don Sole of Middletown; a sister-in-law, Barbara Jones of Milford, N.J.; 16 grandchildren, John, Bryan, Brandon, John Jr., Logan, Joseph, Nadia, Tracy, Joshua, Michk, Crystal, Gabrille, Eric, Kayla, Peter Jr. and Kevin. She was predeceased by a brother Steve Krinsky.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at Our Lady of the Infant Savior Church in Pine Bush.
Burial was made in the family plot in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Middletown.

Louise M. Steele
Bookkeeper, 71

Louise M. Steele of White Sulphur Springs, a bookkeeper for the former Katz's Bakery in Liberty, died Friday, January 14, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 71 years of age.
The daughter of Clara French Perrier Beau and the late Romeo Perrier, she was born July 4, 1933, in Black Lake. She was the widow of William V. Steele who died July 13, 1983, after 32 years of marriage.
Mrs. Steele was a charter member of the White Sulphur Springs Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, had served as a Girl Scout leader and had volunteered by delivering Meals on Wheels for the Sullivan County office of the Aging. She attended the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her mother of Columbia, S.C.; a son, Kenneth Steele and his fiancée, Debbie Lorino, of Liberty; two daughters, Linda S. Holmes and her husband, Lyman R., of Wurtsboro, and Donna Houman of White Sulphur Springs; three sisters, Jeanette Hyzer of New Windsor, Albertine Perrier of Owego and Celia Perrier of Columbia, S.C.;10 grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Carolyn and Kevin Holmes, Nicole and Theresa Steele, Zachariah Mercer and Andrew, Kelly and Taylor Lorino; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, William J. Steele.
Services will be held at noon on Tuesday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 South Main St., Liberty, with Pastor Bridgette LeConey officiating.
Interment will be made in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the White Sulphur Springs Fire Department, Route 52, White Sulphur Springs,N.Y. 12787 or to the American Lung Association of Hudson Valley, 35 Orchard St., White Plains, N.Y. 10603-9924.

Chrysoula Karadontes of Jeffersonville, a homemaker and a 48-year area resident, died Saturday, January 15, 2005, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 95 years of age.
The daughter of the late Thomas and Evdokia Sikiotis Solomos, she was born April 27, 19109, in Sparta, Greece. She was the widow of Andrew Karadontes.
In a family statement, it was said, "Our mother was and is loved by all who met her. She was comforting, nurturing and funny. She took good care of everyone in the true tradition of old-country-selflessness. Mom lives forever in our hearts."
She is survived by a daughter, Anne Maus; two sons, Peter and Thomas Karadontes; a sister, Pitsa Benetos; a brother, Dimitri Solomos; four grandchildren, Georgia Hart, Andrew Karadontes, Christine Karadontes and James Karadontes; three great-grandchildren, Kali and Jared Hart and Nicholas Karadontes; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by a son, Christopher, a daughter-in-law, Michele Karadontes, a son-in-law, Joseph Maus, a sister, Voula Ihlepoulos, and two brothers, Potis and Stratis Solomos.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Family Council of the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, Liberty, N.Y. 12754 or to Holy Name Greek Orthodox Church, Middletown, N.Y. 10940 or to the charity of one's choice.

Gwendolyn Clarice Perkins of Monticello, a retired nurse's aide from Morrisania Hospital in the Bronx, died Thursday, January 13, 2005. She was 88 years of age.
The daughter of the late William and Jenny Davis, she was born March 28, 1916, in Harlem.
A former member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Manhattan, she later attended the South Fallsburg Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Sheila Willis and Beverly Nedd, at home; a son, Ronald Perkins and his wife, Margie, of Reston, Va.; a son-in-law, Surbrook Nedd of the Bronx; six grandsons, Aaron Nedd, at home, Gilbert and Christopher Perkins of Reston, Va., Claynard Norford and his companion, Melissa Schoonmaker of Loch Sheldrake, Sylvester Nedd and his wife, Allison, of Connecticut, and Jorge "George" Castalanos of Long Island; two granddaughters, Carmen Nedd of Maywood, N.J., and Skeeter Nedd of Queens; 11 great-grandchildren, Robert and Shamier Nedd, Jian Weaver, Gohon Norford, Anthony and Collin Jackson, Kourtney Bivins, Keon, Kevon, Kalim and Syian Nedd; many nieces and nephews; and her friends at the Adult Daycare at the Catskill Regional Medical Center.
Friends may call at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 Main St., Woodbourne, on Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the First Baptist Church of South Fallsburg with the Rev. Anthony Black officiating.

Sheldron Donald "Pickles" Zweck of Liberty, a retired New York State Corrections Officer and a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, January 16, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Caksill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 73 years of age.
The son of the late Sheldon Jacob and Emma Nevin Zweck, he was born June 22, 1931, in Pea Brook, Delaware C ounty, in the same home as his mother and most of the Nevin children, and was the first grandson of Thomas and Cora Mallock Nevin. He was the widower of Lois E. Hutchinson Zweck who died August 5, 2002, after 48 years of marriage.
Mr. Zweck was a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army, serving with the occupation forces in Germany and France from 1952 to 1954. He served in the Active and Ready Reserves from 1954 to 1960.
He was a member of the Russell Sprague American Legion Post #109 in Liberty and served as financial officer for many years, and a 32-year member of the Liberty Elks Lodge No. 1545. He was also the secretary/ treasurer of the Correction Officer's Local 1151, Council 82, in Woodbourne, for many years.
Mr. Zweck is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel T. and Barbara Fisher Zweck of Liberty, and James N. and Dawn Bowers Zweck of Durham, N.C.; and two grandchilden, Kristen and Ryan Zweck of Durham, N.C.
Friends may call at the Harris Funeral Home, West Street at Buckley, Liberty, on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Liberty Elks Lodge No. 1545 will conduct services at 7 a.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Konvalin officiating.
Burial, with military honors, will be held in the Liberty Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Criticial Care Unit, Harris, N.Y. 12742.

Denise Penny Ramo of Wood-ridge, a former six-year chef for Frankie and Johnnie's Restaurant in Hurleyville, died Thursday, January 13, 2005, at the North East Center for Special Care. She was 28 years of age.
The daughter of Joseph and Debra Palliser Ramo, she was born September 14, 1976, in Queens.
In a family statement, it was said, "Denise had many hobbies, which were computers, mechanics; she loved animals, and fishing, which was her favorite. She absolutely loved nature and anything to do with wildlife. She was a honor graduate of Sullivan County Community College and RIT, where she was the first graduate to receive the prestigious Mansfield Award for photography in ten years. She also enjoyed cooking."
She is survived by her parents, at home; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Monday with Fr. John Lynch officiating
Funeral arrangements were made by the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.

Norman Turetsky of Spring Valley and Swan Lake, the owner and operator of Lennon's Power Equipment in Ferndale, died at the Englewood (N.J.) Hospital on Wednesday, January 12, 2005. He was 68 years of age.
The son of the late Meyer and Bella Greenblatt Turetsky, he was born July 13, 1936, in Liberty.
Mr. Turetsky was president of the Swan Lake Synagogue.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Schwartz Turetsky, at home in Spring Valley; two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Melissa Turetsky of Ashland, Mass., and Stuart and Karine Turetsky of Livingston, N.J.; a daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Daniel Kobasa of Syracuse; and four grandchildren, Jordane, Emma, Gil and Dean.
Services were held on Friday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in the Swan Lake Synagogue Cemetery in Liberty.

Felix Block of Kiamesha Lake, a former commander of the Jesse Brams Post No. 206, Jewish War Veterans, in Monticello, and a past Mountain District Council, died Monday, January 10, 2005, at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie.
He was a highly decorated veteran of World War II. Mr. Block was also a member of the Ruddick Trowbridge Post No. 73, American Legion, and the Bailey-Richman Post No. 9588, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Monticello.
Mr. Block is survived by his wife, Laura Block, and a son, Stephen Block.
Services and burial were private.

Alma N. Bischoff of Lake Huntington, a retired head housekeeper for the Villa Roma in Callicoon and a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, January 15, 2005, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 92 years of age.
The daughter of the late Theodore and Emma Kirschofer Nearing, she was born February 5, 1912, in the Town of Cochecton. She was the widow of Clarence Bischoff.
Mrs. Bischoff was a member of the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church and its Ladies Aid, the Delaware Valley Senior Citizens in Callicoon and the Jeffersonville Senior Citizens. She was known around Lake Huntington for her love of hunting and fishing.
She is survived by severalnephews, Dennis Nearing and his wife, Carol, of Lake Huntington, and their children, Todd of Lake Huntington, Sean and his wife, Baret, of Cochecton, and Alyssa Nearing of Levittown, Pa., Robert Nearing and his wife, Mary Ann, of Honesdale, Pa., and their children, Heather Stephens and her husband, Wayne, and Patrick and his wife, Shelly, all of Honesdale, Pa., Linda Nearing and her husband, Ronald Sharpin, of Newton Center, Mass., and their children, Andrew and Christopher; two great-grand-nieces, Isabel Nearing and Libby Stephens; and several other nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Rasmussen Funeral Home in Narrowsburg on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Robert McLeod officiating.
Burial will be made in the Fosterdale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Huntington Presbyterian Church or the Cochecton Ambulance Corps, both at Lake Huntington, N.Y. 12752.