U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentMonte Riefler
Monte Riefler, Riefler Concrete president and Hamburg architect, dies at age 67
A memorial service will he held on Sunday, March 30 at 4 p.m. from Trinity Episcopal Church in Hamburg for Monte P. Riefler, 67, of Hamburg, who died Thursday, March 20, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Janis Murphy Riefler; daughter, Lynn (Daniel) Logel; son, Christopher (Jennifer) Riefler; brother, Grover (Elizabeth) Riefler; and seven grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joy Richards.
Mr. Riefler was a lifelong Hamburg resident who graduated from Hamburg High School. He designed hundreds of commercial, residential and industrial buildings over the years, including building his first house at the age of 16.
He attended the University of Buffalo and received a degree in architecture and engineering from Cornell University and later graduated from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at UB’s School of Management. He also served in the Marine Corps and became the base architect at Quantico, Virginia.
As president of Reifler Concrete Products, the company employed more than 200 people under Riefler’s watch. He sold the company to a group of investors in 1997 and then founded Advanced Materials Technologies in 1999. Mr. Riefler was also part-owner of the Buffalo Southern, a short-line railroad company that served the Southtowns area.
He served on the Town of Hamburg’s Industrial Development Committee and the Village of Hamburg’s Planning Commission. He was a member of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Fraternal Lodge and the Hamburg Rotary Club and was the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church and the board of Forest Lawn.
His architectural developments included Ravenwood Park, Ravenwood Park East, Ravenwood Park North and Holiday Village.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were made through the Loomis, Offers & Loomis Funeral Home.
Steven Brillhart Sr.
Funeral services were held Tuesday (March 25) from the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home for Steven R. Brillhart Sr., 43, of Blasdell, who died Friday, March 21, 2003.
He is survived by his son, Steven R. Brillhart Jr.; daughter, Amanda R. Brillhart; parents, Cecil and Mary Russell Brillhart; brothers, Bradley, Brian, Barry, Dale and Daryl Brillhart; sisters, Cathy (Craig) Stephens and Debra (Paul) Grzybowski; nieces and nephews and other family members.
Mr. Brillhart Sr. was employed as a toll collector for the New York State Thruway.
Albert Steff
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Falls for Albert H. Steff of Gowanda, who died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003.
Husband of the late Lorena Steff, he is survived by his son, Paul C. (Betty) Steff; daughter, Anna Jean (Carl) Thordahl; three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were made through the Wentland Funeral Home.
Sister Frances Anne
Sister Frances Anne dies at 92 served religiously for 78 years
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday (May 20) from Immaculate Conception Convent Chapel in Hamburg for Sister Frances Anne Remijan, FSSJ, who died Saturday, May 17, 2003.
She is survived by her sister, Jean (John) Banicky; brother, Leo (Audrey) Remijan; and nieces and nephews.
Sister Frances Anne was born in Alderson, Oklahoma and grew up in Detroit, Michigan where she attended St. Hedwig School. She entered the postulancy of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Hedwig Parish, professing her final vows on May 29, 1932.
She received a degree in Education from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania and later ministered in the field of education for 64 years as a teacher in several areas including Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania and at Most Precious Blood in Angola. She also served as a principal at St. Theresa in Rochester and St. Columba in Buffalo.
Upon retiring from teaching, she helped students at Most Precious Blood School with remedial work and with household tasks in the convent. She later joined the community of Sisters in Colette Hilbert Health Center.
Burial was at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga.
Adin Rich
A memorial service was held Tuesday (May 21) from Eden United Methodist Church for Adin Partridge Rich, 89, of Ithaca and formerly of Eden and Derby, who died Sunday, May 18, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Harwood Rich; sons, Bruce (Lynn), Robert (Janice) and Douglas (Frances) Rich; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Mr. Rich was born in Landsdowne, PA and grew up in Buffalo. He graduate from Bennett High School in 1931 and from Lehigh University in 1935 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He was a sales manager for Potter Associates before retiring in 1980 after 16 years of service. Prior to that he worked for 26 years as a sales representative for Garlock Packing Company.
He was a longtime member of Boy Scouts of America and also served as a First Church of Evans trustee and treasurer and an Eden Methodist Church trustee. He was a Red Cross volunteer and delivered Meals On Wheels.
Memorials may be made to the Eden United Methodist Church.
Burial was at Lakeside Memorial Park and arrangements were made through the Laing Funeral Home.
Charles Privitera
Funeral services will be held Tuesday (May 27) from Wentland Funeral Home for Charles J. Privitera, 77, of North Collins, who died Saturday, May 24, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Vera Empringham Privitera; children, Charles (Cathy) Privitera and Gail (Stephen) Ellsworth; brother, Giro Privitera; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was predeceased by his sister, Grace Golden.
Mr. Privitera was a graduate of North Collins High School and was a charter life member of the William R. Dils VFW Post No. 199 and a charter member of the North Collins Emergency Squad. He was also an exempt member of the North Collins Volunteer Fire Department, a former member of the North Collins Police Department, a retiree of the New York State Department of Transportation and a decorated World War II veteran.
Thomas Kirk
Word has been received on the death of Thomas Kirk, 87, of Sylmar, California and formerly of Hamburg, who died Saturday, May 17, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Osborne Kirk; daughters, Barbara and Deborah; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister, Lenore Forbush.
Mr. Kirk grew up in Hamburg and was a 1933 graduate of Hamburg High School. A 1937 graduate of the University of Alabama, he served in World War II from 1943 to 1946. He was a member of the Orchard Park Symphony and was a retired employee of American Optical.
Joseph Ziobro
Funeral services were held Wednesday (May 28) from St. Michael the Archangel Church for Joseph R. Ziobro, 66, of Hamburg, who died Saturday, May 24, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara A. Fik Ziobro; children, Cheryl Barnes and Deborah, Roger (Lori), Alan and Jeffrey Ziobro; brothers, Stanley (Jean), John (Marcia) and Robert (Louise) Ziobro; seven grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Mr. Ziobro was employed as a supervisor at Moog, Inc. He was a member of the American Legion Matthew Glab Post No. 1477.
Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery and arrangements were made through the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home.
