Abel Trestyn of Hollywood, Fla., a longtime seasonal resident of Sulivan County, died Wednesday, March 9, 2005, in Florida. He was 78 years of age.
He was born December 28, 1926, near Monterey, Mexico.
In a family statement, it was said, "Mr. Trestyn won the gold medal for the 800 meter swim in the 1943 Pam American Games. He enjoyed the serenity of the mountains and a simple walk to town. Family was most important to him."
He is survived by his wife, Judith Trestyn, at home; five children and step-children, their spouses and children, David, Valerie, Stefan, Susan and Murray; and numerous other nieces, nephews, friends and associates.
A memorial service and cremation were held on Friday at the I.J. Morris Funeral Home in Hollywood, Fla.

Anna Hosek of Glen Spey, a retired machinist for Red Devil, Inc., in Union, N.J., and a 12-year area resident, died Thursday, March 10, 2005, at the Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. She was 83 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Mary Bomala, she was born July 1, 1921, in Romania. She was the widow of Martin Hosek.
Mrs. Hosek was a member of St. Leo's R.C. Church in Irvington, N.J.
She is survived by four daughters, Rose Hosek of Glen Spey, Lotka Hosek of Marlboro, N.J., Kathy Jarmas and her husband, Thomas, of Massachusetts, and Anna Thiele of Glen Spey; a son, Petro Hosek of Seneca, SC; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Mara Burke.
Services were held Monday at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's R C. Church in Port Jervis with the Rev. Anthony Iqnaci officiating.
Entombment was made at the Gethsemane Gardens Mausoleum in Union, N.J.

Royal S. Taggart of Glen Spey, a longtime area resident and a retired supervisor since 1975 for gas distribution at P.W.E.&G. in Hackensack, N,J., died Thursday, March 10, 2005, at his home. He was 94 years of age.
The son of the late Earle and Martha Welbrock Taggart, he was born September 7, 1910, in Cheyenne, Wyo. He was the widower of Lillian Manwaring Taggart and Evelyne Cwazka Taggart.
He was a member and past master of Pioneer Lodge &70, F.&A.M., and a member of the Bergen Chapter, Royal Arch Masons #40, both in Hackensack, N.J.. He also held membership in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of North Jersey, Shlaam Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. in Livingston, N.J.; Wilson Lodge #300 in Ridgefield Park,. N.J.; The Square Club of Maywood, N.J.; The Sunset Square Club of Tom's River, N.J.; the Court House Square Club of Bergen County, in Hackensack, N.J.; the Bergen County Shrine Club in Teaneck, N.J.; the North Jersey Past Masters Associaton in Paterson, N.J.; and the Order of DeMolay, Legion of Honor, New Jersey.
He is survived by two daughters, Jody Vertucci and her husband, Kenneth, of Glen Spey, and Marilyn Persico of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; a step-son, Joseph Cwazka of Saddle Brook, N.J.; a step-daughter, Joan Traina and her husband, Frank, of Sparta, N.J.; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchldren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Knight-Auchmnoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, with the Rev. Stephen Huston officiating.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributionsmay be made to the Shriner's Hospital, Boston, Mass. 02100.

Louise D. "Tootie" Springer of Chester, a retired laborer for a handbag company and a longtime Washngtonville resident, died Friday, March 11, 2005, at the Orange County Residential Health Care Facility in Goshen. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late James and Louise Vandermeulen Carey, she was born August 26, 1927, in Blooming Grove. She was the widow of Donald Springer
Mrs. Springer was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Walden and Maybrook.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a loving mother and grandmother."
She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Donald and Diane Springer of Sunset Beach,Mo., John Springer of Chester and Edward and Judy Springer of Pine Bush; two daughters, Shirley Spriger and her fiance, David Vankeuren, of Liberty and Betty Manning and her husband, Craig, of Chester; two brothers, William Carey of Walden and John Carey and his wife, Mabel, of Cuddebackville; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, James Carey.
Friends may call at the David T. Ferguson Funeral Home, 20 North St., Washingtonville, on Tuesday from 7- 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Ferguson officiating.
Burial will be made in the Washingtonville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sulivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.

Richard A. Benton, a lifelong Liberty resident and the retired owner of Sureway Taxi in Liberty, died Friday, March 11, 2005, at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J. He was 75 years of age.
The son of the late Ichabod and Edith Bruno Benton, he was born May 2, 1929, in Liberty. He was the widower of Sydney Rappaport Benton.
Mr. Benton was a veteran of the Korean War and was a longtime member of the Sullivan County Golf and Country Club.
He is survived by a daughter, Stacey Benton of Liberty; three sons, Benjamin Benton and his wife, Fay, of Ferndale, and Leigh Benton and Jonathan Benton, both of Liberty; a special sister-in-law, Myra Morse and her husband, Harry, of Liberty; a brother, Robert Benton and his wife, Sheri, of Liberty; two sisters, Brenda Benton and Debra Benton, both of Liberty; four grandchildren, Brittany Benton, Jessica Benton, Megan Lorino and Marissa Benton; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Arthur and John Benton, and a sister, Marie Shorten.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Pastor Bridgette LeConey officiaitng.
Burial will be made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.

Joseph A. Raffa, an 85-year resident of Neversink and the former Town of Neversink Supervisor from 1953 to 1975, died Thursday, March 10, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 94 years of age.
The son of the late Anthony and Jennie Inanella Raffa, he was born March 15, 1910, in Brooklyn. He was the widower of Florence May Raffa who died September 7, 2004.
Mr. Raffa was also chairman of the Board of Supervisors from 1970 to 1975, and Justice of the Town of Neversink from 1951 to 1953.
An active member of his comunity, he was a member of the Grahamsville United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Neversink Fire Department and a charter member of the Neversink First Aid Squad. He was also a 62-year member of Liberty Lodge #521, F.&A.M. and a longtime member of the Sullivan County Golf and Country Club.
He is survived by a son, Harry J. Raffa and his wife, Audrey, of Little Falls; a daughter, Joan Langdon andher husband, Edward, of Lake Katrine; two brothers, Anthony and Dominick Raffa; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday evening at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.
Burial was made in the Neversink-Fallsburg Cemetery in Neversink.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neversink First Aid Squad, Neversink, N.Y. 12765.

Rosemary D. Morehouse of Richmond, Va., a longtime resident of Wurtsboro and a retired banker with the Bank of New York, retiring in 1988, died Friday, March 11, 2005, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va., after a long illness.
Born in Oneonta, she was a full time mother and homemaker until she began her career with the Bank of New York. Upon retirement, she and her husband moved to Fripp Island, S.C., where she enjoyed entertaining and playing golf. In 2002, because of illness, they moved to Midlothian, Va., to be close to family.
She is suvived by her husband Perry Moremohse Jr. of Midlothian, Va.; two sons, Perry Morehouse III of Burke, Va., and Thomas Morehouse of Washingtonville; a grandson, Joshua Morehouse of Arlington, Va.; and a sister, Josephine Heineke of Vincennes, Ind. She was predeceased by a son, Sean Morehouse.
Cremation was made in Richmond.
A graveside interment of the cremains will be held at a later date at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Oneonta.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation, Bon Secours Hospice, 5875 Bremo Road, Suite 710, Richmond, Va. 23226.

Bella "Belle" Paige of Aventura, Fla., retired from Lord Electric in Manhattan, died Thursday, March 10, 2005, in Aventura, Fla. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of the late Max and Rose Regov Grossman, she was born April 29, 1924, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Rubin Paige.
She retired to her home in Mountaindale where she became active in the South Fallsburg Senior Citizens Group. She enjoyed winters in Florida.
In a family statement, it was said, "She will be greatly missed by her family and friends."
Mrs. Paige is survived by a son, David Paige of Rock Hill; a daughter-in-law, Beverly Paige of Woodridge; and two grandchildren, Randi Paige of Los Angeles, Calif., and Adam Paige of New York City. She was predeceased by a son, Michael.
Graveside services and burial were held Sunday at the New Montefiore Cemetery in Farmingdale, L.I.
The family will sit shiva through Tueday at the home of Bevery Paige in Woodridge.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.