Helen Reith Ryan of White Plains, passed away after a long illness at Brandywine Nursing Home in Briarcliff Manor on October 22, 2007. She was 94.
She was born and raised in Manhattan, attended both Julia Richman and Hunter High Schools, took courses at City College of New York, lived much of her adult life in Parkchester, the Bronx. She spent her final 27 years in White Plains near her daughter and two of her grandchildren.
While she did spend much of her life in the NYC area, she had two homes in her heart. She was also a lifelong resident of Sullivan County and built a home in Cochecton Center. Her love for Sullivan County was borne out of many summers spent during her childhood on her grandfather’s farm on Skibereen (Skipperene) Hill.
Helen was an independent person through and through. She was ahead of the entire women’s movement by several decades. She grew up during the Great Depression and worked most of her life, starting at age 17. She served as an executive secretary at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., and later as a secretary and office manager in the NYC public schools starting in the early 1950s. She continued working part-time in the NYC Public School system well into her 70s. In addition to her career, she was a lover of classical music and the great American music from her youth and early adulthood. She was a classically trained pianist since age 12, gifted on her instrument, and she continued to play and entertain others well into her 80s on her cherished Steinway baby grand piano.
She was a Rock of Gibraltar. She held strong opinions but always kept an open mind. She was a true intellectual despite a limited college experience due to her many family responsibilities. She also served as an unofficial family historian and preserved much family history so that future generations could appreciate their roots. Her historical record keeping was later used in the publication, “The History of Sullivan County.”
Her independence in thought and in the way she lived her life sustained her through the loss of her husband, Joseph Peter Ryan, when she was 47. She raised her two children, Dorothy and Ted, and was a loving daughter and caretaker to both her parents until their deaths.
She was active in her community, both with the White Plains Senior Center and the local AARP. She maintained close friendships over the years with her high school classmates, and other childhood friends.
She was a wife, mother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a loving grandmother and friend. She made an indelible impact on all whose lives she touched. May she rest in peace.
Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Ryan Mangini and her son-in-law, Richard T. Mangini; her son, Edward Scott Ryan and her daughter-in-law, Anke Ryan; her sister, Marie Reith Porter; her grandchildren, Matthew Bay Craddock, Samantha Ryan Mangini and Philip Peter Ryan; her nephews, William B. Porter III and Carl Porter and her nieces, Marie Seeger and Jeanne Borowski.
She is predeceased by her niece, Patricia Claire Robbins and her nephew, George Reith Porter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 26 at 11 a.m. at the St. Francis Xavier R.C. Church, Narrowsburg.
Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. Father William Scully O.F.M. will officiate.

Rachel “Sue” Gai, 50

Rachel “Sue” Gai of South Fallsburg, died Monday, October 22, 2007. She was 50.
Her funeral service will be at noon on Saturday, October 27 at First Baptist Church, Route 42, South Fallsburg.
Burial will be Saturday, October 27 in Rock Ridge Cemetery, East Broadway, Monticello.
Arrangements are by Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, Woodbourne.

Clarence N. Jay
Ret. Truck Driver, 89

Clarence N. Jay of Cochecton Center, a retired truck driver, and a lifelong resident of the area died Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pa. He was 89.
The son of the late Albert and Helen Burdick Jay, he was born June 27, 1918 in Milanville, Pa. He was married to Madeleine Heinle Jay for 60 years.
In World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in the 70th Tank Battalion Special Forces as a tank commander. He participated in the invasions of Northern Africa, Sicily and D-Day as well as the Battle of the Bulge. During the Sicilian Campaign, he was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action.
He was a member of the VFW Post 530 Honesdale, Pa. and the Cochecton Center Rod and Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife, Madeleine Jay at home; two sons, Thomas C. Jay and his wife, Karen and Richard Jay and his wife, Sandi also of Cochecton Center; a daughter, Linda Pomes and her husband, Richard of Cochecton Center; seven grandchildren, Todd Jay, Roy Jay, Kimberly Jay, Tammy Haass and her husband, Carl, Melanie Jay, Matthew and Michael Pomes; and four great-grandchildren, Carl Haass Jr., Katelyn Haass, Briana Haass and Brandon Haass.
He is predeceased by two brothers, Charles Jay and Albert Jay and a sister, Lavina Powell.
Friends are invited to call on Friday, October 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, October 27 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 90 Main St., Narrowsburg.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 27 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Cochecton Center (Laurel) Cemetery, Co-checton Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cochecton Center (Laurel) Cemetery, Cochecton Center, NY 12727 or Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, PO Box 4, Lake Huntington, NY 12752.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rasmussen Funeral Home, Narrowsburg.

Eileen Lounsbury
Ret. Secretary, 87

Eileen “Lee” Lounsbury of Cochecton, a retired secretary in the Research Dept. at Mobil Oil, died October 25, 2007 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 87.
She was born to George and Theresa Hynes DeMar on October 1, 1920 in Kenoza Lake.
She was a member of St. George’s R.C. Church of Jeffersonville. Lee was a horse breeder and also an Airline Attendant for American Airlines in the early days of aviation.
Survivors include her caregiver and friend, Melanie Collins.
She was predeceased by her late husband, Edward C. Lounsbury.
Friends may call on October 26 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville from 7 to 9 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 27 at 10 a.m. at St. George’s Church, Jeffersonville. Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M., will officiate.
Cremation will be private.
Burial of the cremains will be made in Calvary Cemetery in Youngsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. George’s Church, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.

James J. Kearney, 53

James J. Kearney, of Monticello, died Friday October 19, 2007 at Catskill Regional Medical Center Harris. He was 53.
He was born in Brooklyn on January 15, 1954 to the late Michael and Ruth Strasser Kearney and was a 25-year resident of Monticello.
He is survived by two brothers, George Kearney of Poughkeepsie and Robert Kearney of NYC; one sister, Ruth Kearney of Liberty and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at Liberty Cemetery, Liberty on Thursday, October 25.
Arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Home.

Michael M. Frain
Ret. Detective, 66

Michael M. Frain of Chester, a 36 year area resident, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. He was 66.
The son of the late Michael C. Frain and Mary J. Regan Frain, he was born on May 8, 1941 in Brooklyn.
He retired as a detective for N.Y.P.D. 44th Precinct in the Bronx after 35 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Orange County Shields; member of the A.O.H. - Joseph Duelk Division; member of the New York City Detectives Endowment Association; a member of American Legion Post #329 in Pearl River; and a member of the Retired Detectives Association in New York City.
Survivors include his wife, Eileen T. Payton Frain of Chester; daughters, Catherine Grove and her husband, Michael of Central Valley, Susan Kelley and her husband, Gerald of Royersford, Pa., Patricia Frain and her fiance, Frank LaManna of Maspeth and Kelly Bradley and her husband, Doug of Wurtsboro; brothers, John Frain of Melbourne, Fla., Thomas Frain of Clearwater, Fla.; grandchildren, Michael and Payton Grove; nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at Sacred Heart Church, Monroe.
Interment followed in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.
Funeral arrangements were made by Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Homes, Monroe.

Eve Levine
Homemaker, 96

Eve Levine of Ferndale, the widow of Nathaniel Levine, a longtime resident of Liberty, died on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 in the Skilled Nursing Unit of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 96.
Eve was born October 4, 1911 in New York City, the daughter of Morris and Rose Butler. She lived in Hollis Hills, Queens before moving to Liberty in 1968.
While living with her husband and two daughters, she was a homemaker, while her husband ran his pharmacy in the Bronx. Then in 1967, Nat retired from being a registered pharmacist and sold his business. They moved to Liberty. Together they operated the Family Gift Shop at the Stevensville Hotel in Swan Lake until his death. It was then in 1970 that she moved into her daughter, Renee and her late husband Arthur Friedman’s home on the grounds of Grossinger’s Resort. She helped them raise their two children and worked in the Mon Ami Gift Shop on the premises of the resort. Eve loved life, people and most of all her family. She was a very elegant lady who loved to have people around her. The courage and strength that she has shown her family will always live on. She will always be in our hearts and sadly missed.
She is survived by her daughters, Renee Friedman of Grossinger’s and Margo Butler; one grandson, Robert and his wife Kelly of Horsham, Pa.; one granddaughter, Randi and her husband Kevin Ceneviva and their two sons; her great-grandsons, Dominic and Dylan of Plano, Texas; several very caring nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews; and great-grandnieces and nephews.
Eve also leaves behind many wonderful friends from the Liberty area, wonderful nurses, aides, staff and the residents at the Skilled Nursing Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center.
The family wishes to acknowledge the late Dr. J. Arthur Riesenberg for the extraordinary devotion and care she received from him, as well as the excellent care from Dr. Sheldon Leidner who never gave up on her by giving Eve the gentle care she needed.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, October 26 at 12:30 p.m. at the Ahavath Israel Cemetery, Hy-San-Na Road, Liberty. Rabbi Marvin Goldman will officiate.
Funeral arrangements are by Joseph N Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello.

Walter Ramsay Jr.
Student, 21

Walter James Ramsay Jr. of Rock Hill was sent home Monday, October 22, 2007 as a result of a motor vehicle accident. He was 21.
The son of Walter Ramsay Sr. and Carolyn Kerber Ramsay, he was born May 6, 1986 in Harris.
Walter was a current student at Orange County Community College and was employed by The Center for Discovery in Harris where all the staff and students loved him. Walter was a graduate of Lincoln Tech in New Jersey, and was a graduate of Sullivan County Drug Court, which he credited for a turnaround in his life.
He has touched the hearts of many, and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.
He is survived by his parents, Walter and Carolyn Ramsay of Wanaksink Lake; three sisters, Rosemarie Ramsay and son, Brenden Hooks of Woodridge, Karen Crawford and her husband, Steven of Port Charlotte, Fla., Denise Coffey and her husband, Charlie of Port Charlotte, Fla., and their children, Alicia and Brandon; his maternal grandmother, Evelyn Kerber, of South Hampton, N.J. and Wanaksink Lake; uncles, Mike Kerber and his wife, Ruth of Arcadia, Calif., Carl Kerber and his wife, Ruth of Rock Hill, and their children, David and Jennifer (Eric) Droukas; aunts, Chris Kerber of East Rutherford, N.J. and her daughter, Athena Rivera, Judy Levine and her husband, Ed of Harris, and their children, Jessica, Vanessa and Jack Konefal, and Ashley, Adam, Alex and Aaron Levine; also leaves behind many lifelong friends; his paternal grandmother, Rosalie B. Ramsay predeceased Walter.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 26th at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro with Fr. Peter Madori officiating.
Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Monticello.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Discovery, P.O. Box 840, Harris, NY 12742.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc., Funeral Home of Monticello.

Roni J. Wilhelm Sr.
Mason, 49

Roni J. Wilhelm Sr. of Ellenville, a lifelong resident and self-employed mason, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2007 in the Town of Shawangunk. He was 49.
The son of James and Arline Cahill Wilhelm, he was born Sept. 22, 1958 in Ellenville.
He was a former correction officer at Eastern New York Correctional Facility, Napanoch, and attended the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew, Ellenville.
Survivors include three sons, Roni “R.J.” J. Wilhelm, Jr. of Cape Coral, Fla., James P. Wilhelm of Ellenville and Eric P. Wilhelm of Cape Coral, Fla.; one daughter, Amanda Wilhelm of Kerhonkson; five brothers, Wayne Wilhelm of Hernando, Fla., Craig Wilhelm of Grahamsville, Joseph Wilhelm of Pine Bush, Terry Wilhelm of Queensbury and Randy Wilhelm of Grahamsville; two sisters, Patricia Piatek of Liberty, Sherry Torres of Orlando, Fla.; seven grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Araya Marie Wilhelm and a brother, Glenn.
Funeral services will he held at 10 a.m. Friday at Loucks Funeral Home Inc., 79 N. Main St., Ellenville.
Burial will be in the Fantinekill Cemetery, Ellenville.
Contributions, in his memory, may be sent to Veritas Villa, Lower Cherrytown Rd., Kerhonkson, NY 12446 or to the family.
Arrangements by Loucks Funeral Home Inc., Ellenville.

Samuel Edward Smith

Samuel Edward Smith of Jeffersonville, died October 21, 2007. He was 74.
Memorial visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 26 at the Home of Richard and Susanne Vogt, 917 Rt. 284, Westtown (behind Snowcat country).
Arrangements are by Ferguson Funeral Home, Sussex, N.J.
Frank R. Draganchuk
Corrections Officer, 64
Frank R. Draganchuk of Middletown, an avid and devout fisherman, died Sunday, October 21, 2007 at the Schervier Pavilion in Warwick, after a hard fought battle with cancer. He celebrated 64 years of life.
The son of Ann Elchyshen Draganchuk and the late Frank Draganchuk, he was born on October 27, 1942 in Monticello.
Frank grew up in Woodridge and played baseball for Fallsburg Little League and Fallsburg Central School. He served in the U.S. Army as a peacekeeper following the Korean War. He was a corrections officer for Otisville Facility for over 20 years.
He was a passionate fisherman and loved to share his joy and knowledge with everyone he met. Some of his favorite fishing holes included: Old Falls in Fallsburg; Cape Hatteras, N.C.; Lake Ontario; Green Point, Long Island; The Salmon River in Pulaski; Sandy Point, N.J.; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Eluthera, Bahamas. He was a member of the Southern Catskill Anglers. He was a lifelong New York Yankees fan.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Maureen P. Draganchuk, at home; his daughter, Denise D. Bills and her husband Michael J. of Virginia; one grandson, Sean Michael and two granddaughters, Madeline Joanna and Emily Grace, also of Virginia; his mother, Ann Elchyshen Draganchuk of Middletown; one uncle, Steven Draganchuk of Green Field Park; two aunts, Janet Girton of Melbourne, Fla., and Edith Daganne of Spring Hill, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, Joseph Pitkin and his wife Jeanne of Hagman, and David Pitkin of Chestertown; three sisters-in-law, Susan Lee of Clifton Park, Nancy Clark and her husband Christopher of Berwyn, Pa., and Jacqueline Van Noy of Edmonds, Wash.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 27 at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, 130 Highland Ave., Middletown.
A celebration of Frank’s life will begin at 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
Cremation was held privately.
Because of his own connection to gun safety in schools, memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s name to The Firearm Safety and Marksmanship Outdoor Adventure Program, c/o Pine Bush High School, Route 302, Pine Bush, NY 12566.

Octavia E. Purcell
Registered Nurse, 87

Octavia E. Purcell of Monticello, died Monday, October 1, 2007 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris. She was 87.
The daughter of the late Thomas and Eldina Gumbz, she was born January 20, 1920 in the Dominican Republic.
She was a registered nurse at Horton Hospital in Middletown and was a member of the 7th Day Adventist Church in Monticello.
She is survived by a son, Renwick Purcell of Yulan; three sisters, Eldina Mannarion of Hacketstown, NJ, Aida Torres of Queens, and Dora Bonnifoy of the Dominican Republic; and nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held Thursday, October 25 in Liberty Cemetery, Liberty.
Arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes, Inc., Monticello.

Martin Berger, 75

Martin Berger of Glen Spey, a lifelong resident of Crystal Run Village, Inc., passed away Monday, October 22, 2007 at home. He was 75.
The son of the late Morris and Anna Klein Berger, he was born April 12, 1932 in New York City.
Survivors include the staff and friends at Haring Road IRA of Glen Spey.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, Woodbourne.
Interment was made in the Woodbourne Reformed Cemetery, Woodbourne.