Maurice William “Rease” Roche, 71
Co-Owner, Roche’s Garage

Rease Roche passed away Saturday, October 15th, just one day shy of his 72nd birthday, after a two-year battle with cancer.
His mother always called Rease her “Irish import,” and all his life he carried with him an extra bit of luck, sparkle and a touch of the blarney. Rease was so friendly and outgoing, he would walk into a roomful of strangers, stick out his hand and say, “Rease Roche, Callicoon, New York,“ and come out with new friends every time. If you’re reading this, it probably happened to you.
With his brother Mickey, Rease was the co-owner of Roche’s Garage in Callicoon for 50 years, and he always felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to his employees and his family to make the business successful. His work ethic could not be beat, and his reputation as an honest businessman earned him customers so loyal that long after they leave Callicoon, they still buy all their vehicles from Roche’s. Roche’s Garage won many awards from General Motors for sales, service and dedication to G.M.
Rease also took pride in service to his community. He liked the messy, hard jobs that he thought no one else would want to do. He was a volunteer firefighter and later a Commissioner of the Callicoon Fire District; a trustee at Sullivan County Community College; a member of the board of the Sawyer, Kautz and Thorwell Foundations; a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus and a parishioner of Holy Cross Church.
Rease was also a proud alumnus of St. Bonaventure University, from which he graduated in 1961. He frequently returned to campus for alumni events and was a faithful donor and booster.
One of Rease’s great pleasures in life was hunting. He loved being in the woods, enjoyed the camaraderie of good friends and was a Golden Eagle member of the NRA.
Rease loved sports and through Roche’s Garage was a strong supporter of local sporting events and teams. The Roche’s softball team won many championships, including a national championship. Rease was elected to the Softball Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to the sport.
Rease was also a proud father of Tom, Joe, Karen and Tricia, father-in-law of Bari, Patti, Tim and Vern, and grandfather of David, Megan, Max, Courtney, Luke, Quinn and Cassie. He was a tough disciplinarian, imposed high standards of behavior and showed by example how to live a good, righteous, useful, humble life while also enjoying its pleasures. He wished for nothing more than healthy, happy, fulfilled children and grandchildren and did his best to help them.
He also was a loving brother to his long-time business partner, Mickey Roche, to Col. Terrence Roche, and to Maureen Knipp.
Rease was above all a loving husband to his wife Marion of nearly 50 years. They shared everything, including a birthday, and their bond was remarkable to all who knew them. Marion nursed Rease throughout his two-year fight with cancer and right up until the end was his source of comfort and strength.
A mass of remembrance will be held Friday, October 21st at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon with a reception to follow at the Villa Roma in Callicoon. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Holy Cross Church P.O. Box 246 or to Interfaith Outreach United P.O. 479 in Callicoon, New York 12723.

Jean Kunis

Jean Kunis, 96, a resident of South Fallsburg, for over 70 years, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 13, 2011.
The daughter of the late Meyer Belt and Annie Trinkman Belt, Jean was born on April 20, 1915 in Springfield, Ma. She was predeceased by her Husband, Alfred, her Sister Shirley and Brothers Sam & William.
Jean spent her entire adult life in South Fallsburg where she and her husband, whom she met while vacationing at the Nemerson Hotel in 1937, owned and operated Alter’s Luncheonette, during the heyday of the Catskill Mountains. In her later years she served as the local ticket agent for the Short Line Bus Company. Jean was a very hard worker, and along with her husband, set a positive example for their sons and instilled in them positive values and work ethic. She loved the community in which she lived and the many close friends that she regularly socialized with. During her life Jean volunteered for many charitable organizations. She was a member of the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association, Sisterhood, Hadassah, Fallsburg PTA and Senior Citizens Club. She was an avid knitter who loved sharing the fruits of her labor and got a tremendous amount of pleasure making sweaters and outfits for all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends’ children.
She married her late husband, Alfred, in 1939. Her life was all about family, being a loving and caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her love, devotion and sacrifice for family was unconditional
Jean leaves behind her two sons, Steven Kunis (Janice) of New City, and Bob Kunis (Judy) of Monticello. She will also be missed by her five grandchildren; Scott Kunis of New City, Allison Kunis of New York, Darin Kunis (Beth) of Goshen, Brent Kunis (Liza)of Goshen, and Jordan Kunis of Monticello . She also leaves behind five loving great grandchildren, Taylor, Ava, Sarah, Jake and Sophie Kunis, all of Goshen.
Her final years were spent at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty where she received superior care and attention. A special thanks to all the nurses and aides on Unit 1 who worked to see that she was always attended to and comfortable.
Funeral services took place on Sunday, October 16, at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway, Monticello. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association, South Fallsburg, NY 12779. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home of Monticello. www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.

Sheri Abramson

Sheri Abramson passed away peacefully at Achieve Nursing Home on October 15. Sheri was born in Brooklyn, to the late Irving and Dorothy Abramson. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jeryl and Roy Howard, nephew Zack Howard, and dear friends Lori Schneider and Gayle Price.
Sheri was a graduate of Monticello High School. She was an active volunteer in The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop for many years. She also volunteered as a patient advocate at the Achieve Nursing Home while a resident at that facility. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the dedicated staff at Achieve who cared for her.
Friends were invited to call at the home of Roy and Jeryl Howard, following graveside services on Tuesday morning, at the Glen Wild cemetery. Donations in Sheri’s memory may be made to The Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop.
Arrangements are under the direction of Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello. Visit www.nagarlickfuneralhome.com.

George N. Schmidt
Farmer and Retired Blockman for Allis Chalmer Farm Equipment, 88

George N. Schmidt, lifetime resident of North Branch, died Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Grover Hermann Division of CRMC, Callicoon. He was 88.
He was born October 25, 1922 at North Branch, NY, to George F. and Grace Ellen Moulthrop Schmidt.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, North Branch, Delaware Masonic Lodge 561, Callicoon and the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
He is survived by a brother Robert Schmidt of North Branch; three nephews, Frederick, Carl and Robert, four grand nieces and one grand nephew.
Friends may call Wednesday, October 19 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, 34 Upper Main St., Callicoon from 11 am to 1 pm. Services will be Wednesday at the funeral home at 1 pm, Pastor Phyllis Haynes officiating.
Burial will be in North Branch Lutheran Cemetery, North Branch, NY.
Memorial contributions may be made to Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps, PO Box 238 Hankins, NY, 12741 or North Branch Fire Department, PO Box 28, North Branch, NY 12766.

Robert L. Clairmont
10/11/1922 - 10/16/2011

Robert L. Clairmont passed away quietly on Sunday morning, October 16, at the Skilled Nursing Unit of CRMC. He was born on October 11, 1922 in Reading, Pa. to the late Alfred Sr. and Mary Sniffen Clairmont. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Louise Stratton Clairmont.
Bob was a World War II veteran having served on a Navy destroyer, the USS Wadsworth, in the South Pacific for three years. After discharge from military service, he was employed by the New York Telephone Company where he served in many roles before retired in 1985 after 35 years of service.
Bob was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in South Fallsburg, a member of the Pioneers of the Telephone Company and Past President of the Town of Fallsburg Lions Club.
Survivors include two sons, Russell L. Clairmont and his wife, Julie, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl., and Roger L. Clairmont and his partner, Mark Norris, of San Francisco, Ca.; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Clairmont and his wife, Tracey, of Memphis, Tn. and Ann Clairmont of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl.; and three nieces, Linda (Greg) Goldstein, Cynthia (Charles) Johnston, and Debra Briggs. He was preceded in death by his brother, Alfred Clairmont, Jr.
Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, October 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Colonial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 19, at 11 a.m. at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 5277 State Route 42, South Fallsburg, with the Reverend Joan La-Liberté officiating. Interment will follow at Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Bob’s memory may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 815, South Fallsburg, N.Y. 12779 or a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements are being handled by Colonial Memorial Funeral Home. For further information, please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.

Maurice Moishe Rosa

On October 12, 2011 Maurice (Moishe) Rosa, retired butcher and building contractor, passed away at his home in Monticello. Moishe was born July 8, 1928 in Brooklyn, NY. He was one of seven children born to the late Albert and Gilda Rosa. Moishe was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His greatest joy was time spent fishing with his grandson and watching his great-grandchildren play and grow. Moishe touched the lives of many people with his sense of humor and his generosity of spirit. He will be forever missed by many.
Moishe is survived by his loving wife Frances at home, his two beloved sons, Albert and Scott of Monticello and his adopted son, Mitchell Loring, of San Francisco, his most-cherished grandson David, wife Danielle and great-grandchildren, CJ, Ryan and Caroline all of Mahopac, as well as David’s mother, Deborah Manley, of Liberty, brother Danny of NYC and sister Mollie Kaye of Rockville, Maryland; many nieces and nephews including Fern Laks of Bloomingburg, and Anita Oswald of Rockville, MD.
Moishe is predeceased by his sisters Martha Marcus and Mickey Duckstein as well as his brothers Ralph and Leo.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, at Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway, Monticello, followed by burial at Brotherhood Cemetery, Thompson Road, Monticello.
The family asks that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to the charity of one’s choice.
For directions or to send the family a condolence note visit our website at www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc. Monticello.