System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Gary N. Park
7/5/2007 - Gary Norman Park passed away June 25, 2007 in Mercy Hospital.
He was born Feb. 5, 1938, the son of Patrick and Marion (Oakes) Park.
He graduated from Westfield Schools in 1956 and Erie Tech. He was a self-employed plastic mold designer.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Anne Park; two sons, Patrick C. Park of Blasdell and Gary Michael (Becky) Park of Savannah, Ga.; a daughter, Theresa (Kirk) Fretz of Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada; seven grandchildren, Brandan and Christian Park, Brittany and Lauren Fretz, and Tyler, Shawn and Christopher Park; one brother, Robert (Phyllis) Park of Mesa, Ariz.; and one sister, Marilyn (the late Robert) Casler.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald Park.
The Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home on Lake Shore Road, Hamburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph W. ‘‘Bill’’ Moore
7/5/2007 - Ralph W. ‘‘Bill’’ Moore, 95, of Chautauqua in the summer, and Sanibel Island, Fla. in the winter, died June 11, 2007 in Johnstown, Pa.
He was born Jan. 27, 1912, in Elora, Ontario, Canada, the son of the late George J. and Alice May Moore. Bill was a veteran of the US Army, as a Staff Sgt., serving in Europe and was in the Battle of the Bulge. Bill started his working career in New York and New Jersey and retired from Chubb & Son where he was an underwriter. Following retirement Bill enjoyed traveling all over the world with his friend Cecil Barr. He was an avid collector, reader and enjoyed life to the fullest. Bill had a love of seashells, and was a docent at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum in Sanibel, a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, living at the Spanish Cay Condominium, of which he had been the secretary and historian for a number of years.
During his summers at Chautauqua, he worked at the Chatham House in Chautauqua Institution. He was a member of the CLSC, taught classes on coins and stamps and helped during the Chautauqua Women’s club annual flea market.
He is survived by his good friend Cecil Barr, cousins Richard F. Moore (wife Vera), Kenneth P. Moore (wife Louise) and Robert J. Moore.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Moore.
Burial was in the Chautauqua cemetery.
The Freay Funeral Home, Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
Robert W. Smith
7/5/2007 - Robert W. “Smitty” Smith, age 76, of North Gale St., Westfield died Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at Waters of Westfield following an extended illness.
Bob was born on October 31, 1930 in Irving, NY the son of the late Henry W. and Florence (Cross) Smith.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, July 7th at 11 a.m. in the United Methodist Church of Westfield, with Rev. Matthew Golibersuch officiating. Private burial will be in Portland Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Smith Field Monument Maintenance Fund, c/o Village of Westfield Recreation Dept., 23 Elm St., Westfield, NY 14787.
Arrangements are by the MASON Funeral Home on Clinton Street, Westfield.
Stephen George Planty
7/12/2007 - Stephen George Planty, 60 of 3520 Jackson King Road, Willow Spring, N,C,, formerly of Brocton and Stow, passed away unexpectedly, June 28, 2007.
Steve was born June 16, 1947, to the late Charles and Shirley Tucker Planty. Steve was a graduate of Brocton Central School, after which he served in the U.S. Navy. He was employed with Guardsmark at Lord Corporation where he was loved by many. Steve loved his pug, Bill, and fishing and horseshoes.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Harper Planty of the home; daughter, LeAnne White Traub and husband, Timothy of Raleigh, N.C.; son, Stephen Charles and wife, Tina of St. Pauls, N.C.; grandchildren: Tyler, Allison and Heather Traub, Dalton and Dakota Planty and Johnathon and Christian Griffes; brothers, Gary of Brocton and Charles of Somerville, Tenn; sister, Sharon of Lima, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society or The American Legion Post 434. Arrangements by Bryan- Lee Funeral Home, Garner N.C.
Maxine L. Seekings
7/12/2007 - Maxine L. Seekings, 83 years old died July 3, 2007 at The Waters of Dunkirk. She was formerly of Ripley and Portland.
She was born Aug. 2, 1923 the daughter of the late Roscoe and Mary Basterfelt Finland. She had been a resident of Portland most of her life and lived several years in Ripley. She had worked 25 years at the Fredonia Star Laundry and was a former employee of the Fredonia Seed Company. Her hobbies were gardening and growing a variety of flowers and raising many different breeds of goats.
She is survived by one son, Gilbert (Edith) H. Seekings Jr. of Portland; two daughters, Margaret (David) Szumigala of Fredonia, Lucinda (Michael) Laver of Ripley; three sisters, Catherine Spinks of Georgia, Onnolee Brown and Beunah Maring of Ripley; five grandsons and one great-grandson.
She was predeceased by her husband Gilbert H. Seekings Sr., who she married April 28, 1946 and preceded her in death in 2002; one daughter, Louise M. Will; one granddaughter, Elyce M. Farnham; one grandson, Thomas S. Przytula; one sister, Janet D. Drake and one brother, Roscoe Finalnd.
Interment will be in the Portland Evergreen Cemetery
The Morse Funeral Home in Brocton is in charge of arrangements.
Alice J. Spann
7/12/2007 - Alice J. ( Polta ) Spann, age 80, of East Main Street, Westfield died July 5, 2007 following a brief stay at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Alice was born on September 4, 1926 in Cleveland, OH a daughter of the late Henry and Hilda (Klein) Roth and stepdaughter of Sylvan Polta.
Growing up she was part of a fun-loving German immigrant family, whose men were skilled cabinet makers. She was preceded in death by her only sibling,Barbara. Over the years she worked at a variety of places in Westfield including Sterns department store, Grants/Ben Franklin, the school cafeteria andWest’s shoe store. Alice, and her late husband John, loved nature and never stopped reading and learning about it. John would bring home injured wildlife and she would nurse them back to health. She faithfully tended her bird feeder for years and years and was rewarded by seeing a very wide variety of birds. Alice had a green thumb, enjoying her collection of African violets and cacti. She loved classical music especially opera and taught her children to appreciate music and all the arts. She also inspired her children to go on to higher education. An avid reader, she enjoyed the Patterson library. Her family was blessed by her excellent cooking and baking, some of which she had learned from her own mother who had been a caterer. Many of her children’s friends have fond memories of eating at her table. She also had a wonderful sense of humor. Remarkably artistic, over the years she learned a variety of crafts from chair caning, to knitting, to needlepoint. Although her main focus was her family, she was a friend to many people who appreciated her kindness and sense of humor. Mrs. Spann was a member of St. James Major Roman Catholic Church.
She is survived by her daughter: Hilda A. Spann and her husband Gene Barry of Westfield and her two sons, John A. Spann and his wife Reva of Perry, N.Y., and Joseph S. Spann and his wife Gwen of Minnetonka, Minn., and her two grandsons Cody and Ben Kuester.
She is predeceased by her infant daughter, Martha Spann, her sister, Barbara Mayer, as well as by her loving husband of 60 years, John Spann whom she married on March 2, 1946 and who died on December 12, 2006.
Funeral services and burial will be private in St. James Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Patterson Library, 40 So. Portage Street, Westfield, NY 14787.
Funeral Arrangements are by the MASON FUNERAL HOME, 37 Clinton St., Westfield
Richard C. Gustafson
7/12/2007 - Area Restaurant Owner Richard C. “Lefty” Gustafson, 67, of 6361 Centralia Hartfield Road, Mayville, died peacefully at his home July 9, 2007, with his family at his side after a 23-year courageous struggle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
He was born November 26, 1939 in Jamestown, , the son of the late Carl Walter and Esther Florence Rogers Gustafson.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sheryl Dowd Gustafson, whom he married November 22, 1965; daughters, Lori J. (Bill) Lisa of Fredonia, Lynda J. (Tony) Sheckles of Fennimore, Wisc., Rebecca C. (Doug) Bottomley of Fort Worth, Texas and his son LT; Richard C. (Glenda) Gustafson, Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla.; Granddaughters, Megan (Steven) Sawyer of Hudson Falls, N.Y., Aarika and Lauren Ayrault of Fredonia, Adrianna Lisa of Fredonia, Kayla Sheckles of Fennimore, Wisc., Emily and Stephanie Bottomley of Fort Worth, Texas and Sofia Gustafson of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandsons, Matthew Chapman of Mayville, Logan Sheckles of Fennimore, Wisc., Andrew Bottomley of Fort Worth, Texas; Step-granddaughters, Jackie Ayrault of Athens, Ga., Jessica Ayrault of Atlanta, Ga., and Amy Bottomley of Oshkosh, Wisc.; Step-grandsons, Dale and Bryan Bottomley of Oshkosh, Wisc.; Great-grandchildren, Emma and Jacob Sawyer of Hudson Falls, and Hayden Jones of Atlanta, Ga.; Two sisters, Joann (Chester) Appleton of Knoxville, Tenn., and Roberta (Michael) Nichols of Jamestown; one brother, Alan (Joan) Gustafson of Trinity, N.C. and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Erin Elizabeth Ayrault in 1995, and a step-grandson, Lawrence Vincent Ayrault in 2003.
Dick, known as “Lefty” or “Gus” to many of his teammates, played for many fast pitch softball teams, including Stravato’s and the American Quarter. He also played for Security People’s Trust Company traveling fast pitch team. As a child, he lived to play baseball and spent all of his time at the Stadium in Jamestown. In his late teen years, he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies and traveled to Johnson City, Tenn. for tryouts. He especially liked to tell his grandchildren of his adventures. He was a very skillful racquetball player, playing in several “A” leagues throughout the county. He was an avid sports enthusiast and especially enjoyed the Yankees and the Buffalo Bills. Dick previously owned and operated Dick’s Harbor House in Mayville, Four Season’s Family Restaurant in Westfield, and Four Season’s Family Restaurant in Dunkirk. He was a gentle, giving and compassionate man who loved his family above everything else. He also thought very highly of his many employees throughout the years, and they were treated like family.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 12th in the Freay Funeral Home, Mayville. Rev. Kathy Basile, Chaplain with Hospice will officiate. Burial will be in the Mayville Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to HOSPICE Chautauqua County, 4840 West Lake Rd, Mayville, NY or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Western New York, 4053 Maple Road, Suite 110, Amherst, NY 14226, earmarked for CLL research.
The Freay Funeral Home in Mayville is in charge of arrangements.
Nancy Miller Arnn
6/21/2007 - Nancy Miller Arnn, 84, died June 13, 2007 in the WCA Hospital, Jamestown.
She was a remarkable woman and pioneer of her time. She was a true naturalist and artist. Born in 1922, in New York City, she was the daughter of John and Florence Miller. She was the last surviving granddaughter of Lewis Miller, inventor and co-founder of Chautauqua Institution, New York, the niece of Thomas A. and Mina Miller Edison, and the cousin of E.E. Nichols founder of the Cliff House Hotel in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Nancy graduated magna cum laude from Radcliff College (now part of Harvard University) in 1943, in geology and then worked for Gulf Oil in New York City.
She was an involved and active member in every community in which she lived. She was president, secretary or treasurer in most of the following organizations: Akin Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Ladies Medical Auxiliary, Natural History Society, Junior League, PEO, DAR, Ikebana, Skyway Garden Club, Portia Club, St. Chrisastom, and Society of Women Geographers. She worked as a kindergarten teacher in Louisville, Kentucky, and she served on the Charles Edison Fund board for over 30 years. At Chautauqua Institution, she was a board member of the Athenaeum Hotel for 25 years and also served on the board of the Chautauqua Foundation. A past president of the Bird and Tree Garden Club, she was also a member of the Library Friends, CLSC, Opera Guild, Chautauqua Women’s club, and Chautauqua Water Shed. She was assistant head of the Children’s School for many years.
Nancy Miller Arnn is survived by her three children, E. Thomas “Ted” Arnn (Mary Boyle), Mina Miller Weiler and Nancy Kim Arnn, and by four grandchildren: Grace Weiler, Ben Weiler, Molly Arnn, and Anna Arnn.
A private burial will be held at the convenience of the family at Chautauqua Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua Foundation in her memory. Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY 14722.
The Freay Funeral Home, Mayville, is in charge of arrangements.
Richard A. Rubner
Richard A. Rubner, 79, of Westfield, died June 14, 2007 at St. Vincent’s Health Care Center in Erie, Pa., with his wife and children at his side.
He was born in Erie, on January 14, 1928, son of the late Elmer & Bertha (Salchli) Rubner Sr.
A World War II veteran of the US Navy from 1946-49, he served aboard the USS Oakland and received the WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Navy Occupation Medal, and again served with the US Navy aboard the USS Stormes from 1950-51, and received the Korean Medal with 1 Star.
Retired from Welch Foods in Westfield, and member of St. James Major R.C. Church, The Moose Lodge, and active participant in Cardiac Rehab at Westfield Memorial Hospital.
Richard was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was a family oriented man who was always there to lend a helping hand to his family and friends to do anything that needed to be done.
Surviving is his wife of 40 years Irene F. (Wojnarowski) Rubner of Westfield, whom he married December 10, 1966; children Beverly (Russ) Johnson of Burlington Mich., Michael (Cheryl) Rubner of Terrell, Texas, John Masiker of Salt Lake City, Utah, Marilyn (Brian Boone) Masiker of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Susan (Robert) Cline of Quincy, Mich., Laura (David Galofaro) Masiker of Brocton, Gail (Greg Smith) of Westfield; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister Charlotte Boyd or Erie, Pa. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by a brother Elmer Rubner Jr.
No prior visitation will be observed and interment will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to be made to the Cardiac Rehab Unit c/c Westfield Memorial Hospital.
Arrangements are by the R. Mackowiak Funeral Home Inc., 56 East Doughty Street in Dunkirk.
