November 5, 2013
Shirley Stabbert
Family matriarch, teacher 87
Shirley Stabbert passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, November 3, 2013, following a courageous year-long battle with melanoma. She was 87 years of age.
Shirley Nellie Kohler was born on July 19, 1926, the only child of Percy W. and Katherine (Katie) Hill Kohler of Kohlertown.
Shirley was born and raised across the street from the family business, William Kohler and Sons Lumber Co., in a home designed by her grandfather, William Kohler. She grew up surrounded by her family in Kohlertown as well as her mother’s large extended family who lived in White Sulphur Springs.
Following graduation from Jeffersonville Central School at the age of 16, Shirley attended the State Teachers College at New Paltz, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She returned to Kohlertown and began her career as a second grade teacher at her alma mater. She also taught in Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon.
On July 1, 1951, Shirley became the bride of Fred W. Stabbert Jr. of Callicoon, and the couple moved to Alexandria, Va. while Fred served in the U.S. Army.
Upon returning home, the couple built a house in Callicoon, which remained Shirley’s home until the day she died. Shirley and Fred raised four daughters and a son, who went on to marry and gave them 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Shirley’s father, Percy, was always fond of saying, “I really got a lot of interest on my investment,” whenever in the company of the large family.
The couple was happiest when surrounded by their family and many friends and were renowned for throwing parties for almost any occasion. Shirley’s only request was “no surprises.” But her surprise 70th birthday party caught her so off guard, she couldn’t even eat dessert, her favorite meal of the day.
For her 80th birthday, she convinced Fred to take her, the children and the grandchildren on a trip to Geneva. Visiting Switzerland, the home of her Grandfather Kohler, was one of her lifelong dreams. The trip was such a success that Shirley and Fred took the family to London and Paris the next summer, creating many wonderful memories.
Shirley’s life centered around her family and she made everyone in her family feel loved and special. She was always ready to dispense her wise and witty counsel and her many sayings are often repeated by those who loved her.
Shirley was also blessed with a wide circle of friends whom she would chauffeur to The Forestburgh Playhouse and on many other adventures around the county. She adored these friends and enjoyed many wonderful times in their company.
Shirley was active in the community. She was a founding member of the Grover M. Hermann Hospital Auxiliary in Callicoon and was proud to be a recent inductee of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also served as an elder on the Board of Sessions of the First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville, was a Delaware Community Center volunteer and was a member of the Eastern Star.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband, Fred W. Stabbert Jr., and her two brothers-in-law, Edwin and Robert Stabbert.
Survivors include a loving sister-in-law, Anne Foland of Middletown; four daughters: Kathy and John Werner of Hurley; Laurie and Richard Sanford of Bloomville; Billie and Peter Finch of Riverview, Fl. and Mary and John Hope-Ross of Naugatuck, Ct. and one son, Fred and Regina Stabbert III of Callicoon.
She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren: Dr. Elizabeth Werner and Peter Lefkovits; Michael Werner and fiance Madeline Odak; Richard and Pamela Sanford Jr.; Courtney and Jill Sanford; Abigail Sanford; Christian and Beth Finch; Amy Finch; Brian and Diane Finch; David Hope-Ross; William Hope-Ross; Stephen Hope-Ross; Laura Stabbert; Claire Stabbert and fiance James Humbert; and Andrew Stabbert.
Also, four great grandchildren, Emily, Peyton and Simon Finch and Theodore Sanford.
She is also survived by her nieces and nephews; Tim and Prudy Robisch, Anne Marie and Tom Willi, Elaine and Ken Ernst, and David and Renee Robisch and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, 34 Upper Main St., Callicoon. Visiting hours will be from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 7 at the First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville with the Rev. Ann Wood officiating.
Interment will follow in Callicoon Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville, PO Box 685, Jeffersonville, NY 12748 or Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Edward F. Lowe
Retired Auto Mechanic, 82
Edward F. Lowe of Livingston Manor, NY, a retired automobile mechanic and a 50 year area resident, died Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY. He was 82.
The son of the late Robert and Frances Colburn Lowe, he was born September 17, 1931 in New York City, NY.
Ed had worked for many years for Jerry’s Auto in Bronx, NY before moving to Sullivan County. He enjoyed hunting, painting cars and working as an auto mechanic.
Survivors include one daughter, Paula Austin and her husband James (Mutt) Austin of Shandelee, NY. He was predeceased by his wife of fifty-eight years, Pauline J. Bersick Lowe, on October 2, 2011 and by one brother, Robert Lowe.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 1 p.m. in the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe, NY. The Reverend Bridgette LeConey will officiate.
Memorial contributions in Edward’s name may be made to the Orange-Sullivan Hospice, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home Railroad Ave. Roscoe, NY, 607-498-4929 or 845-493-5200 www.Harris-FH.com
Liberato Manzolillo
October 11, 1929 – November 1, 2013
Liberato “Libby” Manzolillo, 84, of Callicoon, NY, died on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Roscoe Regional Rehabilitation and Residential Health Care Facility in Roscoe, New York.
The son of Jim and Minnie (Fazziola) Manzolillo, Libby was born on October 11, 1929 in Maspeth, NY.
Libby is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 59 years, Gladys; his three daughters and their husbands: Patti and Arthur Norden of Callicoon, NY, Nancy and Gary Peters of Kenoza Lake, NY, Mary and Stephen Rousseau of Monroe, NY; his son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Marianne Manzolillo of Greenwood Lake, NY; his 11 grandchildren and their spouses: Lisa and Chris, Danny, Billy and Sandy, Libby and Matt, Margaret, Nellie, Artie, Charlotte, Catherine, Henry and Alex; his great-grandchildren: Dimico and Chase; his sisters: Molly Forsbach of Jeffersonville and Irene Thompson of Willard, OH; his brother, Mike Manzolillo of Jeffersonville; his many nieces and nephews; and the incredibly, kind and caring staff of the Roscoe Regional Rehabilitation and Residential Health Care Facility. He was predeceased by his brothers, Don and Cono Manzolillo.
Libby had been known in his hometown of Jeffersonville for his brief, but stellar career in boxing. Under the tutelage of Ray Shaara, he was a Golden Gloves champ in the late 40s and early 50s. Fighting under the name of Libby Manzo, he had more than 28 professional bouts, entering the ring with the likes of Paddy DeMarco and Sandy Saddler. He had a cadre of loyal fans who regularly traveled to New York City to watch him fight. He entered the service in 1952 and traveled throughout Europe coaching a U.S. Army boxing team while stationed in Germany. He and Gladys, high school sweethearts, married in 1954. They lived in the metropolitan New York area until 1961 when they decided to return to Sullivan County where they raised their four children. After years of running his own wholesale provisions business, he and Gladys retired and enjoyed travelling along the East Coast, finally settling as snowbirds in Lakeland, FL. Visitation was held on Sunday, November 3 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon, NY.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Monday, November 4, at Holy Cross R.C. Church in Callicoon, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Resident Holiday Fund c/o of the Roscoe Regional Rehabilitation and Residential Health Care Facility, 420 Rockland Road, Roscoe NY 12776 or to Holy Cross Church, 9719 Route 97, Callicoon, NY 12723.
Michael T. Gabriel
Former Stock Clerk, 28
Michael T. Gabriel of Liberty, a former stock clerk at the Great American in Liberty and caregiver for his mother, died Thursday, October 31, 2013 at home. He was 28.
The son of Charles and Nancy Skinner Gabriel, he was born December 13, 1984 in Harris, NY.
He is survived by his parents, Charles and Nancy Skinner Gabriel of Liberty, NY; his paternal grandmother, Joan Gabriel of Cochecton, NY; his aunt, Jean Gabriel of Cochecton; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Jacob and Ruth Skinner.
Funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, NY.
Beth Adriel Wray
December 15, 1972 - October 14, 2013
Beth Adriel Wray passed away on October 14, 2013 after a lengthy struggle with leukemia.
The daughter of Susan Runge and Kit Wray, Beth was born December 15, 1972 in Suffern, NY.
After the onset of her illness she resided in the home of her mother and step-father, Susan and Robert Runge, near Hancock, NY. During Beth's last days her parents, Susan and Kit, remained at her bedside in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NYC, along with her brother John Wray of Brooklyn, NY, and her sister Lynn Wray-Grant of Tallahassee, FL. Beth left peacefully with her family all around her, surrounded by love and prayers. A born musician of unusual innate talent, Beth was a bright, beautiful and inspiring presence to family and friends. She had an especially close and intuitive relationship with Laila Grant, her niece of 8 years. Beth described her inner spiritual life as magical while, outwardly, her passionate, adventurous and fearlessly-lived earthly journey sometimes involved tragedy and loss. Through it all, Beth remained a generous and deeply loving soul, wise beyond her years and always concerned with serving others while intensely devoted to the life of the spirit.
In lieu of flowers, donations for leukemia research may be made to Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr, P.O. Box 27106, NY, NY 10087-7106.
Arlene Alber
February 23, 1935 - November 2, 2013
Arlene Alber, 78, a longtime resident of Jeffersonville, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2013.
Born on February 23, 1935 in Glendale, Queens, NY, she was the daughter of Ernest J. Meyers and Norine Wright Meyers.
She was the devoted wife of the late William Alber, loving mother of Patricia Tabacco (Joseph), William Alber and Arlene McKenna (Kevin).
She is predeceased by her brother, Ernest J. Meyers Jr. She leaves behind her sisters, Carol, Miriam, Norine, Barbara and Pamela and brother, Andrew, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She enjoyed reading and nature.
She will be dearly missed.
William Walter Lowe
July 23, 1946 - October 24, 2013
William Walter Lowe aka “Wild Willy,” 67, of New Port Richey, FL, formerly of Sullivan County, NY, went home to be with Jesus on October 24, 2013 at Bayonet Regional Medical Center.
William Lowe was born on July 23, 1946 to William Henry Lowe and Elizabeth Leona Coniker Lowe Dumond.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was predeceased by both parents, two sisters, a brother, and his beloved cat, Katzie.
He is survived by his loving wife, Hannelore (Sue) Lowe, his children: Darryl McKinney and wife, Velvet, Derek McKinney and wife, Judy, Darin McKinney, Andrea Lowe and Allison Lowe; 7 cherished grandchildren: Erika McKinney, Adrianna Lowe, Benjamin McKinney, Christopher Lowe, Danielle Benson, Samuel McKinney, and Hannah McKinney; 3 sisters and 1 brother; and several nieces and nephews.
William was an avid swimmer in high school, the Postmaster in Long Eddy, NY from 1970-1986, and owner of W. Lowe Agency-Insurance and Income Tax in Monticello, NY. He loved being with family, cooking, and the NY Yankees. William had jokes and nicknames for everyone. He was “one of a kind” to his family, friends, and customers. He will be missed by all and live forever in our hearts.
Arrangements will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America Association.
