System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Anita B. Durkee
11/17/2006 - Anita B. (Lyman) Durkee, 86, of Cass Street, Westfield, formerly of Rawson Rd., Cuba, N.Y. died November 11, 2006 at Waters of Westfield SNF, Westfield, where she resided with her daughter.
Mrs. Durkee was born on August 28, 1920 in Centerville, N.Y. the daughter of the late Clyde and Mildred (Jones) Lyman.
Anita was a graduate of Rushford Central School and had been employed with Acme Electric of Cuba, N.Y., at the Cuba Memorial Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide, and in production at the Perry Knitting Mill in Perry, N.Y.
She enjoyed painting Landscape Art and was well known for her baking abilities. Her homemade rolls and cookies were a family favorite.
She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed wild flower gardening.
Mrs. Durkee was a member of Rawson Road Baptist Church Ladies Aid Society.
Survivors include her daughter Dawn Durkee of Westfield, her sister, Isabel Lyman of Houghton, NY and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Durkee, whom she married on August 12, 1961 at the Rawson Road Baptist Church and who died in 1982, as well as her son, William “Chip” Durkee; her two sisters, Ardith Bogart and Marion Lyman; and by her three brothers, Parley, Ervin and Edward Lyman.
Burial will be in Hardy´s Corner Cemetery, Rushford, N.Y.
Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer's Association Western New York Chapter, 2805 Wehrle Drive, Suite 6, Williamsville, New York 14221.
Arrangements are by the MASON Funeral Home on Clinton Street in Westfield.
Helma S. Ranney
11/9/2006 - Helma S. Ranney, 82, of 7352 Burdick Road, Dewittville, died Nov. 1, 2006 in her home.
She was born Sept. 26, 1924 in Stockton, the daughter of the late Ralph and Elizabeth Saladay Shoemaker.
Helma enjoyed her animals and going fishing. She is survived by eight children, Diane Northrup, Rod Ranney, Larry Ranney, Robert Ranney, Jeanette Landon, Bonnie Westpfahl, Melissa Wursitz, and Annette Ranney; multiple grandchildren and several great grandchildren; two brothers, Bruce Shoemaker, and Jack Shoemaker, and one sister Sarah Freeman.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard J. Ranney, who died January 30, 2001; two sons, Leonard Ranney and David G.S. Ranney; three sisters, Maude Shoemaker, Nettie Maynard, and Annie Kelly; and three brothers, Harry Shoemaker, Paul Shoemaker, and Ralph Shoemaker.
Burial will be in the Mayville Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Hartfield Vol. Fire Co., P.O. Box 182, Mayville, NY 14757.
Arrangements are by the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville.
Richard A. Helt
11/9/2006 - Richard A. Helt, 56 of 2 Forest Ave. Mayville, died Oct. 31, 2006 in the Hamot Medical Center, Erie, Pa.
He was born Sept. 3, 1950, the son of the late James I. and Melva Jean Yoho Helt. He was formerly employed as the service manager at Sears in Lakewood.
Richard was a former member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and was a member of the American Legion in Mayville, and the Jamestown Moose Club.
Richard enjoyed golfing, and loved his family.
He is survived by three children; Jessica Giordano of Charleston, S.C., Richard Helt of Mayville, and Teresa Speilman of Portville; and six grandchildren, Jordan, Maiah, Ainsley, Sophia, RJ, and Jared.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Nan Helt; and one brother, James Helt.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, which will be announced by the Freay Funeral Home, Mayville.
The Freay Funeral Home in Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
Lillian M. Cochran
11/2/2006 - Lillian M. Cochran, 89, of TenHaken Road, Panama, died Oct. 30, 2006 in the Heritage Green Health Care Center.
She was born Dec. 21, 1916 in the Town of Clymer, the daughter of the late Elmer and Grace Einink Bennink.
Lillian had run the family farm with her son until her retirement at the age of 62. She enjoyed visiting with her friends at the Little Hope Auction, taking care of her home, her flowers, lawn and being outside.
She is survived by her son, Lyle Cochran and his wife, Laura, of Panama; two daughters, Charlene Wiggers of Tyrone, Pa. and Elaine Jukes and her husband, Keith, of Clymer; 12 grandchildren, Darlene, Darryl and Dwayne Wiggers, Danette Belcher, Dianna Foster, Misty Tucker, Kevin Cochran, Larissa Enlow, Michelle Hodge, Kristene Neckers, Amy Johnson and Erica Harvey; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Elaine M. Cochran in 1936; and a sister, Edna Vrooman on Oct. 7, 1998.
As per Lillian’s wishes, visitation will not be held and her funeral will be at the convenience of the family with the Rev. Stephen Wiggers, pastor of the Panama United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in the Clymer Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Clymer Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 31, Clymer, N.Y., 14724 or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are by the Spitzer Funeral Home in Clymer.
Mildred Allende Burns
11/2/2006 - Mildred “MeLee” Allende Burns, 36, of Dunkirk, passed away on Oct. 29, 2006 after a 3 1/2 year struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
She was born Nov. 19, 1969 in Westfield to Lydia Allende of Dunkirk and Victor Allende of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
She attended Westfield Central School and graduated from Fredonia High School and BOCES Food Service.
Before her illness, she worked at Arby’s, Wal-Mart and was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, the Ladies Guild and a Sunday school teacher.
She enjoyed family and friends, making crafts, bingo and was an avid New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills fan.
Besides her parents, she is survived by her husband, Harry; sons, Dylan and Noah at home; sister and brother-in-law, Lourdes and Ted Culver of Jamestown; stepfather, Frank Pagan; aunts, uncles and cousins including Aunt Maria Rodriquez of Westfield; nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Juanita Rodriquez and Jesus Baez.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend a Catholic mass on Nov. 3rd at 11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on Fourth Street, Dunkirk.
No prior visitation will be observed. The family has set up a trust fund for her children at Key Bank.
Donald C. Bensink
11/2/2006 - Donald C. Bensink, 71, of Colonial Columns, SNF, Colorado Springs, Colo., formerly of Jamestown and Westfield, died Oct. 26, 2006 in Colorado Springs.
He was born Oct. 13, 1935 in Corry, Pa., the son of the late Donald H. and Marjorie E. (Heath) Bensink. He was a 1953 graduate of Clymer High School. He served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1962 during the Korean War. He had been a Data Processor Supervisor for Blackstone Corp. of Jamestown for over 20 years.
Donald moved to Westfield in 1975 and established a successful bookkeeping business that he ran for 18 years. He retired in 1990.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Westfield. Don had been active in several professional and civic organizations that included the National Association of Tax Preparers, the Westfield School Board of Education, where he served for 17 years, the Grape Belt League Youth and County Baseball Association, where he had been an active baseball and softball umpire for many years.
He is survived by two stepsons, David M. Lauffer, of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Richard Shattuck of Kingsland, Ga.; two brothers, Richard H. Bensink of Mayville and Gerald A. Bensink of Tucson, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice M. Bensink, whom he married on Oct. 3, 1975 in Westfield and who died Dec. 27, 1993; and by a brother, James R. Bensink.
No visitation will be observed. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Westfield, East Main Street, Westfield, N.Y., 14787.
Arrangements are by the MASON Funeral Home on Clinton Street in Westfield.
Anna Kofoed Bentley
11/2/2006 - Anna Kofoed Bentley, 92, of East Main Road, Ripley, passed away peacefully at home, October 16, 2006, after a lengthy illness, in the loving care of her beloved nephew William Bentley and Nancy Burkhart.
She was born May 3, 1914 in Cherry Creek, the daughter of Harry F. Kofoed and Ida Bell Harrison Kofoed.
Mrs. Bentley was a graduate of Fredonia Normal School at Fredonia, NY, earning a degree in elementary education in 1937. At the same school (now State University of New York at Fredonia) she obtained her master’s degree and certification in supervision as an elementary school principal. Prior to coming to Ripley Central School, Mrs. Bentley taught four years in the Colton and Wattlesburg one-room country schools in the 1930s. She spent 31 years (1944-1975) with the Ripley Central System, including 14 years as an elementary teacher. She retired in 1975 in her 17th year as principal of the elementary school.
Not only was she busy with school matters but was an active member of the community over the years. She was president of the board of directors of the Ripley Family Health Care Center, Inc. and treasurer of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society. She was a member of the Ripley Literary Club, the Ripley Beautification Committee, the Ripley School Belles, and a 60 year member of the Ripley Grange. She was a supporter of the Ripley Free Library and Ripley Hose Company No. 1 and a large benefactor to the Ripley Heritage Fund.
One of her proudest career accomplishments was to secure the only Federal Right-to-Read grant in New York State.
Mrs. Bentley was an avid gardener, family genealogist, and traveler, spending her summers touring the United States with her husband Wayne, and to Europe with teaching colleagues. She will be remembered for her hearty laugh, beautiful smile, sewing and crafts talent, generous spirit and her “can do” attitude. She loved to read, making frequent trips to all the area libraries.
She always looked forward to organizing Bentley/Kofoed/Testrake family reunions and visiting with brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
She faced adversity with strength and courage. She had a strong work ethic, exhibiting determination in every project she tackled.
Even today, Mrs. Bentley is remembered by a plaque hung in her honor in Ripley Central School’s elementary wing.
The plaque dedicated this part of the school as the “1980 Anna K. Bentley Wing” by the Ripley Education Association and the Ripley School Board of Education.
A Shakespearean quote completes the inscription: “If you look into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow and which grain will not — then speak ye to me.” Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years, Wayne E. Bentley, who died May 9, 1999, her brothers Stanley L. Kofoed, Howard S. Kofoed and sister Mildred Kofoed Testrake.
Mrs. Bentley is survived by many members of the Bentley, Kofoed and Testrake families. She will be sorely missed by all.
A graveside service and memorial luncheon is planned for the spring of 2007. Details will be announced at the appropriate time. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Ripley Heritage Fund, PO Box 562, Ripley, N.Y. 14775, or the charity of your choice.
Wilbur F. Loll
11/2/2006 - Wilbur F. Loll, 89, of Ripley, died Oct. 24, 2006 at the Waters of Westfield.
He was born June 29, 1917 in Erie, Pa., the son of the late Frank and Anna Hartle Loll.
Loll worked for Marx Toy Co. and General Electric. He also was a grape farmer and co-owner of Loll’s Market with his brother. In 1977, he retired from the New York State Thruway. A longstanding trustee of St. Thomas More Church, he enjoyed reading, cooking, gardening and being with his family.
Survivors include a son, Thomas Loll, of Ripley; a daughter, Karen Hetherington and her husband, Robert, of Ripley; grandchildren, Lisa Adams, John Adolina, Anthony Andolina, Robert Hetherington III, Peter Hetherington and Kathryn Hetherington; along with three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Ripley Food Pantry or Ripley Hose Co. No. 1.
Arrangements are by the Mathews Funeral Home in Ripley.
Marian J. Decker
11/2/2006 - Marian J. Decker, 72, of Waterman Road, Forestville, died October 25 2006 at TLC/HN-Lake Shore Hospital, Irving, following a lengthy illness.
Mrs. Decker was born in Jamestown, on February 5, 1934, the daughter of the late Clarence Roy and Doris Katherine (Ahlstrom) Griffith. She delivered newspapers for the Dunkirk Observer and was a Home Health Aide for Chautauqua Opportunities for several years. Mrs. Decker was also a member of the Forestville Baptist Church since 1964.
Survivors include her husband, Howard A. Decker of Forestville, whom she married October 27, 1951; five sons, Daniel Decker of Forestville, Robert (Karen) Decker of Dunkirk, Kenneth (Paula) Decker of Brocton, Carl Decker of Brocton, James (Christine) Decker of Fredonia; two daughters, Mrs. Randy (Dianna) Will of Forestville, Carol Murphy of Forestville; one sister, Joyce Burkewicz of Erie, Pa.; and one brother Roy Griffith of San Jose, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and four foster children.
Besides her parents she was predeceased by a sister, Suzanne Peck, and by a brother, Gerald Griffith.
Interment will be in Pioneer Cemetery, Forestville. The family suggests memorials be made to Forestville Baptist Church, PO Box 67, Forestville, N.Y. 14062. To send condolences go to http://www.rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome.com./
The Riles & Woolley Funeral Home in Forestville is in charge of arrangements.
