Edward “Mike” Kelly of Jeffersonville, a retired Town of Liberty Highway Superintendent and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, May 22, 2006 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was 86.
The son of the late John and Nora O’Keefe Kelly, he was born May 29, 1919 in Liberty.
Mr. Kelly was a Town of Liberty police officer and then the Town of Liberty Highway Superintendent from 1960 until 1981, succeeding his father who held the office for many years. He served during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of the Clarence Hoyt VFW Post #9217; a 60-year member of the Russell Sprague American Legion Post #109; a member of the Liberty Fire Dept. Co. #2, the Liberty Elks Lodge #1545 and the Liberty Knights of Columbus. He was a communicant of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Liberty, and a member of the NYS Federation of Highway Superintendents. He was an avid golfer and accomplished five hole-in-ones.
In a family statement, it was said “He never knew a stranger, for those he met were always greeted with a smile. He will be greatly missed.”
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Melvina E. Belmont Kelly at home; three daughters, Peggy Osterhout and her husband, Duke, of California, and Pat Williams and her husband, Eric, and Pam Mootz and her husband, David, all of Jeffersonville; a son, Joseph Kelly of N. Mex.; a brother, John F. Kelly and his wife Ellen of Kingston; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Kevin Kelly in 2002.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 26 at the Harris Funeral Home, West Street at Buckley, Liberty.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, May 27 at St. Peter’s R.C. Church, 264 N. Main St., Liberty with Monsignor Edward Straub officiating.
Burial with military honors will be made in Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Rd., Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Ruth A. Stackhouse, a lifelong resident of Monticello, entered into rest on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 87.
The daughter of the late James McCaffery and Helen Edwards McCaffery, she was born April 16, 1919 in Monticello. She was the widow of Charles Benson Stackhouse who predeceased her in 1979.
Ruth worked in the Five & Dime Store in Monticello and was a nurse’s aide in the Hamilton Avenue Hospital in Monticello. She also worked in the Cooke School cafeteria until she retired in 1982.
A family statement reads: “She was a loving mother and grandmother and the rock of the family whom we all will miss. She loved having all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren around her.”
She is survived by her two daughters, Janet Taggart and her husband, Frank, of Monticello and Joan Blackburn and her husband, Mike, of Rock Hill; two sons, Charles Stackhouse and his wife, Maryjane, of Monticello, and Jerry Stackhouse and his wife, Sue, also of Monticello; 14 grandchildren, Lori Benjamin and her husband, Rich, Kim Hogue and her husband, Dan, Brenda Cruz and her husband, JR, Charles Blackburn, Julie Stackhouse, Gary Michael Magie, Toni Ann Reiser, Katie and Kaci Stackhouse, Debbie Heins and her husband, Rich, Jamie Ferriero and her husband, Mick, Stacy Heins and her husband, Dave, Jim Taggart and his wife, Patty, Shane Taggart and his wife, Amy; nine great grandchildren, Rick and Ryan Heins, Haley Heins, Danny and Jenna Hogue, Hunter Ferriero, Quentin and Meg Cruz, Brooke Irelan; and several nieces and nephews.
Visition will be held on Sunday, May 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, Broadway and Liberty Street in Monticello with Fr. Robert Ginel officiating.
Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Mario Michael Matri, a longtime resident of Lake Anawanda, Callicoon Center, Sullivan County, formerly of Upper Saddle River, N.J., joined his beloved wife Eda in Heaven May 7, 2006. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary April 10, 2005.
He was 86 years of age.
The son of the late Henry and Rafael Matrisciani he was born Nov. 3, 1919 in Westchester.
Mr. Matri attended Columbia University where he received his education in architecture and civil engineering. Mario served from Nov. 28, 1943 to Jan. 26, 1946 in the U.S. Navy aboard a minesweeper in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Mario started his career at Timber Structures Inc. in 1948 as an engineer and advanced to division engineer, and in 1955 to division manager. Mario opened his own engineering company, M. Matri & Sons Inc. He retired at age 72.
He will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Mario truly embraced honesty, love of family and friends and peace. His love and generosity were never ending.
He was especially devoted to his grandchildren as they were the center of his life, along with his beloved wife. He will be sadly missed and forever loved. He will be forever remembered for his great love of family and friends. His integrity, honesty and love of cooking will always be treasured memories for those he loved.
He was a huge New York Yankees fan and saw Don Larson pitch a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
He was a member of St. Francis of Roma and Our Lady of Grace in New York City, the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, NJ and Saint Mary’s RC Church in Obernburg. He was a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his three loving sons, Hank Matri and wife, Marie of Upper Saddle River, NJ, Stephen Matri and wife, Ann of Mahwah, NJ, Richard Matri and his wife, Karen of Upper Saddle River, NJ; two beloved daughters, Marilyn Matri Verderame and husband Lance of Livingston Manor and Carolyn Matri of Lake Anawanda, Callicoon Center; thirteen loving grandchildren, Dawn Sykes, Michael, Amy, Mark, Stephen Jr., Jessica, Paul and Charlotte Matri, Matthew and Kimberly Verderame, Alexandra Raymond and Michael Aiello; two great grandchildren, Jack Sykes and Molly Matri; siblings, Aurora Cerullo of Phoenix, Ariz., Alba Valentino of LaJolla, Calif., and Arthur Matrisciani of Pearl River.
He was predeceased by three brothers, Alexander Matrisciani, John Matrisciani and Mario Matrisciani.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated May 11 at St. Mary’s RC Church in Obernburg. Father John Richardson officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Children International, 39 Cider Hill Rd., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.

Cornelia “Connie” Delaney O’Neill, formerly of Monticello, died Saturday, May 20, 2006 at her home in Frederick, Maryland.
The daughter of John and Agnes Purcell Delaney, she was born May 26, 1916 in Monticello. She was the widow of William M. O’Neill.
Mrs. O’Neill was a graduate of Rider University in Lawrenceville. During her working years, Mrs. O’Neill was employed at the New York Telephone Company as manager of Operator Services, running offices that serviced towns and summer resorts in the Catskill Mountains.
In the 1960s, the O’Neill family moved around the East Coast as Mr. O’Neill worked opening several banking firms. The family settled in the early 1970s in Frederick, Md. where Mr. O’Neill opened the Francis Scott Key Bank.
She is survived by a son John A. O’Neill and his wife Kendra of Frederick, Md., and a granddaughter, Marisol O’Neill. She was predeceased by two sisters, Clare Shiells and Eleanor Delaney.
Funeral services and burial will be scheduled at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled for the family by the Keeney and Basford P.A. Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, Md. Expressions of sympathy and condolences can be made at www.keeneybasford.com

Edward A. “Big Ed” Vallone Sr. of Roscoe, formerly of Brooklyn, died Monday, May 22, 2006 at his home. He was 83 years of age.
The son of Salvatore and Eugenia D’Ambrosia Vallone, he was born June 13, 1922 in Brooklyn.
He was the founder, former owner and president of Pioneer Bus Corp. of Brooklyn and Staten Island. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was approached by the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles to play baseball. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and was a member of the U.S. Pigeon Federation.
In a family statement, it was said, “The most enjoyable times were with family and friends around the dinner table. When Big Ed ate, everybody ate.”
Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Mae Vallone, at home; a daughter, Linda DeSabato of Queens; two sons, Edward A. Vallone and his life-partner, Christine Knickerbocker, of Liberty, and Philip E. Vallone and his wife, Donna, of Roscoe; four grandchildren, Denise Pisapia and her husband, Frank, and Michael DeSabato, all of Queens, and Philip E. Vallone Jr. and Nicholas K. Vallone of Roscoe; a sister-in-law, Rose Marie J. DiTommaso of Roscoe; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday at Harris Funeral Home in Liberty with Msgr. William Collins officiating.
Burial with military honors was made in Riverview Cemetery, Roscoe.
Memorial contributions may be made to Roscoe/Rockland Hose Co. #1, Roscoe, NY 12776; the Roscoe/ Rockland Vol. Ambulance Corps, Box 321, Roscoe, NY 12776; or St. Aloysius Church, Livingston Manor, N.Y. 12758.

Rose E. Salatti of Huguenot, a longtime area resident, died Sunday, May 21, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Place in Port Jervis. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late Joseph and Jenny Mure, she was born June 2, 1928 in Brooklyn.
She is survived by her husband Anthony J. Salatti, at home; a daughter, Elena Ladika and husband Fred of Port Jervis; two sons, Frank Salatti and wife Patricia of Tampa, Fla., and Anthony Salatti and wife Jill of Wurtsboro; two sisters, Millie Veneri of Waterbury, Conn., Ann Mandraccia of Brooklyn; a brother, Joseph Mure of Massapequa Park; seven grandchildren, Fred and wife Sheila, Tammy and husband Francisco T., Jennifer, Frank and wife Jennie, Andrew, Danielle and Emily Rose; two great-grandchildren, Cory and Aylssa; and several nieces and nephews.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Arrangements are under the direction of Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc.