Marguerite “Maggie” Matthews, a retired English teacher and a 44-year resident of Liberty, died peacefully August 7, 2006 in Gwynedd, Pa. after a long illness. She was 79.
The daughter of the Rev. Cecil and Lucile Plumb, she was born December 17, 1926 in North Hornell. She was the widow of Paul F. Matthews who died in 1977.
She taught English at Sullivan County Community College from 1966 to 1988. Following her retirement, she served in the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa from 1988 to 1990. She was a faithful member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and was a past clerk of the Catskill Friends Meeting in Neversink.
Mag’s love of the outdoors and activity was nurtured by many years of participation in Catskill Wheelmen Bicycle Club and the Catskill Nordic Ski Club. Mag’s joy was expressed in her singing with the Delaware Valley Chorus and acting with the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop. Her Liberty Bridge Group friends sharpened Mag’s sense of wit and fair play on a weekly basis. Until her illness, Mag adopted Chestnut Street in Liberty in her efforts to preserve the beauty of her town.
Mag’s dream was to make the world a better place for her children, grandchildren and all people to live without war or violence. She and Paul pursued this dream with determination and action inspired by their Quaker faith. In 2003, Sullivan Peace and Justice honored Mag for “a life of peace and activism.”
Maggie is survived by her loving sister, Marian Hamlin and her husband, Paul, of Binghamton; her four loving children, Juliet Scala of Swan Lake, Girard Matthews and his wife, Linda, of Afton, Philip Matthews and his wife, Jenifer, of Fort Collins, Colo., and Kate Gallaher and her husband, James, of Bloomingburg; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Mariner, Michelle Mariner, Daniel Sayre, and Jonathan, William, Rebecca and Aliza Matthews; and her extended family of nieces, nephews and friends who will all dearly miss Mag’s loving and thoughtful spirit.
A Memorial Service will be held in Quaker tradition at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15 at the United Methodist Church, 170 North Main St., Liberty.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 or www.afsc.org.

Mildred “Midge” Wells, a retired housekeeping supervisor for Grossinger’s Hotel in Liberty, and a lifelong area resident, died Sat., August 12, 2006 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 71.
The daughter of Henry and Olive Purcell Wells, she was born June 5, 1935 in Ellenville.
She was a member of the Liberty Free Methodist Church.
Survivors include her stepmother, Elizabeth Cox of Liberty; two daughters, Tina Wells Tompkins and husband, Jack, of Liberty and Sherri Ann Turick Lutman and husband, Peter, of Monticello; three brothers, Robert Cox of Liberty, Julius Wells of Baltimore, Md., and Charles Wells of Rifton; three sisters, Olive "Peaches" Stone of Liberty, Louise Steinhilber of Rifton and Henrietta Cox of High Falls; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Wells and Donald Bebee.
Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, August 15 at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Allen Wachter officiating.
Cremation will be made at Cedar Hill Crematory, Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 105, Liberty, NY 12754.

James “Teddy” Thiele, a longtime resident of Mileses, died Saturday, August 12, 2006 at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 61 years of age.
The son of the late Berthold and Alvoy Asher Thiele, he was born November 28, 1944 in Salem, N.J.
Mr. Thiele was a retired storeroom clerk for Sullivan County DPW in Barryville, and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Hankins-Fremont Center Fire Dept., a member of the Fremont Center Community Church.
He is survived by two sisters, Caroline Cassadya of Woodstown, N.J. and Erma Twaddell of Slayden, Tenn.; three nieces; one nephew; and several grandnieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, August 17 at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 18 at the funeral home with the Rev. James O’Rourke officiating.
Burial will be made in the Fremont Center Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fremont Center Community Church, Fremont Center, N.Y. 12736 or to the Hankins-Fremont Fire Department, P.O. Box 164, Hankins, N.Y. 12741

Bernice Decker Masten entered into Heaven Monday, August 14, 2006 at the age of 75. She fought her illness bravely from her home with family and friends by her side.
The daughter of the late Charles and May Frey Decker, she was born March 8, 1931 in Liberty.
Bernice was well known for her love of Sullivan County history, her Native American ancestry, and her dedication to helping others search for their ancestral background. She was a major influence in the opening and running of the Mamakating Historical Society and her 15-year involvement in the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum.
Most of all Bernice loved her family – those that have passed and those still here. May you enter Heaven in peace and know that you will always be missed by everyone who has known you, but most of all by your family whom you have shown an endless love.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, John L. Masten Sr., at home; a son, John L. Masten Jr. and his wife, Laurie, and their children Annalise and John III; a son-in-law, Robert Jahrling and his sons, Bobby and Brian; a great-granddaughter, Alexis; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; a daughter, Barbara Ann Masten Jahrling; a sister, Bertha Meininger; and a brother, Clarence Decker.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, August 17 at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan St., Wurtsboro.
A funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.
Burial of the cremains will be held at the convenience of the family in the Sylvan Cemetery, Wurtsboro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mamakating Historical Society, P.O. Box 163, Summitville, NY 12781.

Anna “Dolly” “Cam” Angus of St. Petersburg, Fla. and formerly of Middletown, died Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown. She was 83.
The daughter of Luigi and Maria Isoldi Russo, she was born April 27, 1923 in Corona.
A retired waitress, she worked at Derby Lanes Dog Track and the Beef Barn, St. Petersburg, Fla. and at the Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Petersburg, Fla. and B.P.O. Elks Lodge #708, Tampa, Fla.
A loving wife, great mother and terrific grandmother, “Cam” had a heart of gold. This very special person would gladly give you the shirt off her back. She took care of everyone right up to the end. She was truly loved and will be missed.
She is survived by her husband, James, at home; her daughter, Cam and her husband, Anthony Monaco Jr., of Middletown; her sister, Marie Ventrice of St. Petersburg, Fla.; her grandchildren, Maryann Kubik and her husband, John, Anthony N. Monaco and his wife, Rebecca, and Michael Mobilia, all of Middletown; Ronnie Mobilia of Royal Palm, Nicholas Mobilia of South Carolina, Donna Blake of Holbrook, and James Mobilia of Long Island; her children shared with James, John Angus and his wife, Arlene, of Port Jervis, Christina Ritzel, Robert Angus, and Scott Angus, all of St. Petersburg; grandchildren, Todd Angus and his wife, Kelly, and Tyler Angus, all of Port Jervis; Ronald Angus and his wife, Melanie, of Otisville, Michael Ritzel, Danielle Ott and Melissa Stoppy of St. Petersburg, and JR Stoppy and his wife, Debbie, of Mountaindale; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her son, Jimmy Mobilia, James Angus III, and a daughter, Sheila Stoppy.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Middletown.
Burial was made in St. Joseph Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Critical Care Unit, Orange Regional Medical Center at Horton, 60 Prospect Ave., Middletown, NY 10940.
Arrangements were under the guidance of Morse Funeral Home.

Wilbur H. Riff of Jeffersonville, a retired manager for Alan Gerry TV and Appliance in Liberty, died Friday, August 11, 2006 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 89.
The son of Michael and Leah Levin Riff, he was born November 25, 1916 in Brooklyn. He was the widower of Gladace Schwartz Riff.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Merchant Marine, serving during WWII.
Survivors include two nephews, Stuart Nalven and his wife, Lynn, and Fred Nalven and his wife, Catherine; two nieces, Bonnie Tardella and her husband, Sal, and Caryle Garofalo and her husband, Richard; a stepbrother, Saul Harris; and several grandnieces and nephews.
Graveside services and burial were held Monday at the Laurel Hill Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sullivan County SPCA in Rock Hill.

Vita Cascone of Woodbourne, passed away Thursday, August 10, 2006 at the Orange Regional Medical Center. She was 69.
The daughter of Carlo and Vita Nania Regina, she was born March 3, 1937 in Brooklyn.
Vita was a sports lover. An avid Mets fan, she played for many years on local soft ball teams and belonged to various bowling leagues. She was inducted into the Tri-State Women's Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
She is survived by her husband, John, at home; one son, John, Jr.; two brothers, Dominick Regina and his wife, Jane, Salvatore Regina, and his wife, Laraine; one sister, Maria Frangipane and her husband, Al; six nieces and nephews, Donna Siegal and her husband, Barry, Nick Frangipane and his fiance, Beth Klotz, Denise Frangipane and her fiance, Bill Palmer, Claudia Dietz and her husband, Gerard, Kristy Gonsher and her husband, Allan, and Maria Santoro; and three grandnieces and five grandnephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Woodbourne. Fr. John Lynch officiated.
Burial was made in Grahamsville Rural Cemetery.
Arrangements were made by Colonial Memorial Funeral Home.

Jeremiah Michael Brosnan of Warwick, formerly of Deerfield Beach, Fla., died Friday, August 11, 2006 at St. Anthony Community Hospital, Warwick. He was 88.
The son of the late Michael and Kathleen Kellegher Brosnan, he was born July 12, 1918 in Bawneskehy Castleisland County Kerry, Ireland.
He was retired from N.Y.C. Dept. of Social Service, as a Stationary Engineer at Camp LaGuardia, Chester.
He is survived by four sons, Michael Brosnan of New York, Jeremiah Brosnan and wife, Jean, of Wurtsboro, John Brosnan and wife, AnnMarie, of Pine Island, Daniel Brosnan and wife, Sue, of New Hampton; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Julia Sullivan McCann Brosnan; three brothers, John, Timothy and Martin Brosnan; and a sister, Nora Brosnan, all of Ireland.
A Funeral Mass was held Monday at St. Stanislaus Church, Pine Island.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Goshen.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus Church, P.O. Box, Pine Island, NY 10969 or to the Make a Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley, 832 South Broadway, The Wish House, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
Arrangements were by the T.S. Purta Funeral Home.

Dr. Henry J. Kent, a research fellow for International Paper in Sterling Forest died Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at his home in Bloomingburg. He was 53.
The son of Fredrick Kent and Margaret Wurzinger Kent, he was born February 2, 1953 in Plymouth, England.
Henry was a Research Fellow at International Paper in Sterling Forest from 1986 until 2004. His research included mathematical modeling of coatings and led a group of scientists in the design of novel instrumentation to characterize fundamental properties of paper. His published works include three papers in the Royal Society in London England, as well as numerous other contributions to the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) in the United States. He held numerous U.S. Patents for his instrumentation. Recently he had been consulting for a number of companies in the U.S. and Europe. He was actively involved in the Save the Children programs.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia A. Reitemeyer Kent, at home; his parents of Austria; a son, Gene Kent of England; a daughter, Candice Kent of England; two stepsons, Keith Durchanek of Greenwood Lake and Christopher Durchanek of Bel Air, Md.; and a granddaughter, Caitlyn.
A memorial service was held Monday evening at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.
Interment will be made in the family plot in Kindberg, Austria at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc, P.O. Box 628, Monticello, NY 12701 or to the American Diabetes Assoc., Lower Hudson Valley Chapter, 200 White Plains Road, Suite 523, Tarrytown, NY 10591.

"ROCHELLE, DEAREST - Julie, Tina and I agree that life had nothing better to offer than moving in your orbit. From the bottom of our hearts – thanks. Forever yours, Erwin."
Rochelle L. White was born in Mountaindale on April 16, 1918 and died August 12, 2006.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Temple Beth El, Spring Valley.
Interment will follow at Hebrew Congregation of Mountaindale Cemetery, Glen Wild.
Arrangements were entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, Spring Valley.