Jack I. Simons of Liberty, a former supervisor of the Town of Liberty and a resident since 1937, died Friday, December 15, 2006 at his home. He was 74.
The son of Max and Cora Backman Simons, he was born September 30, 1932 in Scranton, Pa.
While in Liberty School, he was employed by the William F. Mauer Market and the Liberty Bowl-O-Drome. He was a graduate of Liberty High School.
Mr. Simons was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Korea, and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart. He attended Albany Business College on the G.I. Bill. He was employed at the U.S. Post Office in Liberty for 12 years and Prudential Insurance Company, retiring after 22 years. He was supervisor of the Town of Liberty for four years; a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9217, Liberty; an All American State of NY Commander of the VFW; a National Council Member of the VFW 2001-2003; a member of the Russell D. Sprague Post #109 American Legion; the Disabled American Veterans; and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
He was a member of the Ontario Hose Co. #3, a member and past president of the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce, president and former chairman of the Town of Liberty Democratic Committee, and treasurer of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee.
He was awarded the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award, the Veterans of Foreign War – Citizen of the Year in 1998, and the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2001.
Survivors include his loving wife of 48 years, Carol M. Ost Simons, at home; three sons, Craig D. Simons and his wife Lynne of Apalachin, David M. Simons and his wife Kimberly of Montgomery, and Grant D. Simons and his wife Sondra of Fort Mill, S.C.; two daughters, Kim M. Simons of Ft. Lee, N.J. and Gail A. Fairbairn and her husband Gary of Summit; eleven grandchildren, Bailey, Brenna, Kinsey, Michael, Maxwell, Alexandria, Samantha Simons, Corey Simons Hanson, Kayliegh Hanson, and Cutler and Devyn Fairbairn.
Firematic services were conducted Sunday by the Ontario Hose Company #3 at the Harris Funeral Home in Liberty.
Veterans services were conducted Sunday by the VFW Post #9217 at the funeral home.
Funeral services were held Monday at the funeral home.
Burial with Military Honors was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Clarence V. Hoyt Post #9217, P.O. Box 46, Liberty, NY 12754.

Patricia Gonnering
Ret. U.S. Army, 62

Patricia Allgeier Gonnering, 62, passed away on December 18, 2006 at the Legacy Hospice House. She was born in Callicoon, and moved to Ocala, Florida in 2006 from Liberty.
She was Catholic and retired as a Captain in the U.S. army after serving for 13 years. She is survived by two sisters, Rita A. Bouldin of Ocala and Mary A. Josephs of Toms River, N.J., as well as several nieces and nephews. Roberts Funeral Homes, Bruce Chapel West, of Ocala, Fla. is in charge of arrangements.

Eileen M. Sloane
Homemaker, 90

Eileen M. Sloane passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2006 in Boca Raton, Fla. She was 90.
She was born April 21, 1916, the daughter of Alice (Beattie) and Harry Mahar in Brooklyn.
She is survived by her husband, Eugene; and his children, Madeline Schnabel Sherman of Rutland, Vt. (formerly of South Fallsburg) and her husband Jacob, and Alan Sloane and his partner Wayne Wise of Tamarac, Fla; and granddaughters, Deborah Sherman of Boston, Mass. and Rebecca Sherman of Rutland, Vt.
She was predeceased by her parents, and her first husband, Arthur Shelan.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements by All County Funeral Home, Boca Raton, Fla.

Patricia A. Haas
Homemaker, 68

Patricia A. Haas, a homemaker and a lifelong resident of the area, passed away Sunday, December 17, 2006 at her home. She was 68.
The daughter of the late Kenneth and Pearl Ayers Kurtz, she was born January 24, 1938 in Queens. She married John E. Haas on February 12, 1955.
She is survived by her husband at home; two sons, John H. Haas of Yankee Lake and George Haas of Huguenot; one sister, Florence Potter of Town of Greenville; three grandchildren, George, Shawn and Sarah Haas; one great grandson, Anthony; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Kurtz.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, December 19 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 20 at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Worzel Hill Cemetery, Shohola, Pa.
Funeral arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home Inc.

Eleanor Geiselhart
Retired End Riveter, 89

Eleanor Geiselhart of Napanoch, a lifelong resident and a retired end riveter for Channel Master Corp. in Ellenville, died December 14, 2006 in Benedictine Hospital, Kingston. She was 89.
The daughter of Frederick John and Margaret Agnes McCarthy Wilhelm, she was born January 18, 1917 in Wawarsing.
She was the widow of Carl Charles Geiselhart.
Survivors include her daughter, Diane McClay and her husband, Robert of Napanoch; two granddaughters, Kathleen and Charles Madison of Greenfield Park and Patricia and Robert Shamro of Neversink; her sister, Helen Hornbeck of Cleveland, Ga.; four great grandchildren, Rebecca and James Madison, Morgan and Macy Shamro; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers Charles and Raymond Wilhelm.
Graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family. Rev. Jay Vogelaar will officiate.
Donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org/ tribute or Make a Wish Foundation of Hudson Valley, 832 South Broadway, The Wish House, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
Arrangements by Loucks Funeral Home, Inc., Ellenville.

Frank Robert Buck
Business Owner, 58

Frank Robert Buck of Welcome Lake, Pa. died Thursday, December 14, 2006 at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, Pa., after a brief illness. He was 58 years of age.
Born March 7, 1948 in New York City, he was the son of the late Bernard and Lorraine Schnappauf Buck.
He was a graduate of Lafayette High School in New York, Class of 1965. Before retiring he owned and operated a painting business.
He is survived by his long time companion Christine Brajuka of Welcome Lake; two sons, Michael R. Buck of Syracuse and Francis J. Roche and his wife Linda of Salisbury Center; a daughter, Melissa Kerrigan and husband, Brian of Clarks Summit; two grandsons, Gavin and Logan Kerrigan; and a nephew, Robert M. Buck Jr.
He was predeceased by a brother, Robert M. Buck Sr.
Funeral services will be held from the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St., Honesdale, Pa. on Sunday at 5 p.m. Friends and family may visit the funeral home on Sunday from 2 until service time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, PO Box G, Waymart, PA 18472.

John Mitsigiorge
Ret. Businessman, 61

John Mitsigiorge of Liberty, a retired mechanic and restauranteur, died suddenly on Friday, December 8, 2006. He was 61 years of age.
The son of Zaharias and Hrysi Mitsigiorge, he was born December 24, 1944 in Kos, Greece.
A family statement said, “John loved children and really enjoyed fishing and tinkering. He spoke seven languages. John will be sadly missed by all who knew him. He was a help to all who asked.”
Survivors include his wife, Guadalupe; seven children, Hyris, Alexandra, Antonia, Elenne, Magdalene, Theodore and Marolis, and four grandchildren; three nephews, Loci, Kicolaos and Jack Kasiotis; one niece, Evangelia, who he brought up as his own; several nieces and nephews; and grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, and three brothers, Nikolaos, Manolis, and Theodore.
A graveside service was held Friday, December 15 at the Luna Cemetery, Rock Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
For further information, please contact the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.

Jesus Sanabria
Auction Assistant, 71

Jesus Sanabria, a longtime resident of the area, died at his home on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 with his family at his side. He was 71.
He was born in Puerto Rico on December 24, 1934. Jesus was an auction assistant for Sam’s Auction Service in Glen Wild.
Survivors include his wife, Carmen Torres Sanabria of Woodridge; a son, Juan Raphael Sanabria of Woodridge; a daughter, Carmen Vazquez and her companion, Robert Finn of Kauneonga Lake; two granddaughters, Jennifer Farrar and her husband, Robert and Monica Vazquez; two great-grandchildren, Dayvon Miller and My-Kell Farrar and several brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 19 at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 55 St. John St., Monticello at 6:30 p.m. with Rev. Robert Ginel officiating.
Cremation took place at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middlet Hope.
Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes Inc., Monticello.

Merie Ruth Gillespie
Homemaker, 92

Merie Ruth Gillespie of Bloomingburg, a homemaker and lifelong resident of the area, died Thursday, December 14, 2006 at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus in Middletown. She was 92.
The daughter of the late Mack Johnson and Christina Merie Manning Johnson, she was born January 7, 1914 in Middletown. She was the widow of Frank Robert Gillespie who predeceased her on February 13, 1976.
She was a former member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bullville, where she was past President of the Altar Rosary Society, making thousands of rosaries and scapulas for missions overseas. A current member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Middletown, she was a devoted daughter as well as a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She is survived by one son, Frank R. Gillespie and his wife, Norma of Scotchtown; one daughter, Lucille Bartels and her husband, Ronald of Bloomingburg; twelve grandchildren, Frank (Anna), Gabrielle, Andrew, Marcie (Chris), W. Mack (Michelle), Joan, Michael, Nessie, Mary, Theresa, Danny and Laura; six great-grandchildren, Joey, Jonathan, Nicholas, Catherine, Colleen and Emily; a sister, Gertrude Schoonmaker of Wallingford, Conn.; a brother-in-law, George Gillespie of Maybrook; a sister-in-law, Margaret Gillespie of Montgomery; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by two great-grandchildren, William and Grace.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, December 18 at St. Joseph's Church in Middletown.
Burial followed in the Brick Church Cemetery in Montgomery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Church in Middletown.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Wurtsboro.