U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentSERIANNI - Geraldine 8/5/2002
NIAGARA FALLS - Geraldine Serianni, 87, a homemaker, died Saturday (Aug. 3, 2002) in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after a brief illness.
She was born Geraldine DeLelio in Niagara Falls and graduated from Niagara Falls High School.
She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, reading and cooking.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, Baptist J. "Buddy;" three daughters, Rose Morgan of Lithonia, Ga., Nina D'Anna of Williamsville and Margaret George of Niagara Falls; two sisters, Jennie Faiola and Mary Huff, both of Niagara Falls; and two grandsons.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1413 Pine Ave., after prayers at 10 a.m. in M.J. Colucci and Son Funeral Chapel, 468 19th St. Entombment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
SIEFKER - Phyllis K., newspaper worker 8/5/2002
Phyllis K. Siefker, 60, a former resident of Orchard Park who worked in the production departments of several area newspapers, died Friday (Aug. 2, 2002) in Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo., from lung and brain cancer and pneumonia.
Born in Indianapolis, she earned a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from Indiana University and a master's degree in communications studies from the University of Kansas.
She lived in Orchard Park from 1971 to 1974. As a member of the International Typographical Union, she worked as a substitute in the typesetting and composing rooms of The Buffalo Evening News, the Buffalo Courier-Express and the Amherst Bee.
She held many positions in the communications field. Most recently, she worked as director of communications for the University of Kansas School of Business from 2000 to 2002. She lived in Lawrence, Kan., at the time of her death.
She spent 20 years researching a book on the history of Santa Claus. "Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men" was published in 1997.
She was a board member of the Kansas City American Society for Quality and a longtime member of the League of Women Voters.
She married Scott R. Nesbitt, a former reporter and editor with the Courier-Express, in 1969. After a divorce, they were remarried in 1996.
Other survivors include two sons, Brandt Nesbitt and Kurt Nesbitt, both of Lawrence; two sisters, Barbara Neff of Lawrence and Carol Smith of Greenburg, Ind.; and a brother, Bob Siefker of Greenwood, Ind.
Services were private.
TOVEN - Ronald E. 8/5/2002
Ronald E. Toven, 66, of the City of Tonawanda, died Saturday (Aug. 3, 2002) in Hospice Buffalo, Cheektowaga, after a year-and-a-half battle with cancer. He was 66.
Toven was born in Reynoldsville, Pa., and graduated from Reynoldsville Winslow Joint High School.
In 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked with a medic crew for four years. After the service, he moved to Buffalo and went to work for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. as an operator until the plant closed. He worked at the Ashland Oil refinery for 19 years. For 10 years, he worked at Durez Plastics in North Tonawanda. He retired after the plant closed. Survivors include his wife of 39 years, the former Eleanor M. Boetcher; a daughter, Michelle Armstrong of Akron; a brother, Jere of Brookville, Pa.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at noon Tuesday in John O. Roth Funeral Home, 25 William St., City of Tonawanda.
WITKOWSKI - Stephen J. 8/5/2002
NIAGARA FALLS - Stephen J. Witkowski, 79, a supervisor at Hooker Chemical Co., died Saturday (Aug. 3, 2002) in his home after a brief illness, during which he received the care of Niagara Hospice.
Witkowski was born in Bridgeville, Pa., and moved here as a child, attending Niagara Falls schools.
He worked for 38 years at Hooker Chemical, retiring as a supervisor in 1976.
He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, the former Helen Guzdek; three sons, Thomas and Stephen, both of Lewiston, and Richard of Wheatfield; a brother, Leo of North Carolina; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 24th and Niagara streets, after prayers at 11:15 in Zajac Funeral Home, 319 24th St. Entombment will be in Gate of Heaven Mausoleum, Lewiston.
ZOELLER - Betty Jane 8/5/2002
FRIENDSHIP - Betty Jane Zoeller, 79, a retired bakery chef, died Friday (Aug. 2, 2002) in her Friendship home after a long illness.
Born in Alden, she attended schools in Clarence and worked for Neisner's in Rochester until 1970.
She then became a bakery chef for Belmont Hotel under the ownership of Marie and Manny Paxhia, her sister and brother-in-law, of Friendship. She retired in 1979.
Miss Zoeller enjoyed playing cards, working puzzle books, visiting with friends and baking.
Besides her sister, she is survived by a brother, Leon of Batavia.
A service will be private.
ALEX - Stella J., active in church organizations 9/7/2002
NIAGARA FALLS - Stella J. Alex, 90, who was active in Polish-American and church organizations, died Tuesday (Sept. 3, 2002) in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after an illness of about six months.
Mrs. Alex was born Stella Kapelka in Niagara Falls and attended local schools.
She worked for two years at the Spirella Co. and for three years at the Hinds Paper Box Co., both located in the same Main Street building.
Mrs. Alex worked for many years as a housekeeper at the Cataract House and also was a clerk at Lincoln Liquor Store on 24th Street, which was owned by her brother, Walter Kapelka, now deceased.
Mrs. Alex was a member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church and belonged to senior citizens groups in that parish and at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church. She was also a member of the Holy Rosary Society at St. Stan's.
Mrs. Alex belonged to the Ad Astra Society, Polish Women's Alliance; the Echo Club and its credit union and pinochle club; Our Lady of Angels Association of Niagara University; Golden Age Club of Niagara Falls; and the ladies auxiliary of Portage Post 1465, American Legion.
She was a former member of the ladies auxiliary of the Pulaski Civic League; the mothers' club at St. Stan's; and the St. Jude and Polish Service League.
She enjoyed music and pinochle.
Her husband, William, died in 1974.
She is survived by four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 24th and Niagara streets, following prayers at 9 in Zajac Funeral Home, 319 24th St. Entombment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery's Holy Angels Mausoleum, Lewiston.
ALFORD - Mary-Louise, active in community 9/7/2002
Mary-Louise K. Alford, a lifelong Buffalo resident active in community life, died Thursday (Sept. 5, 2002) at home. She was 89.
She was the daughter of Irvine J. Kittinger, founder of Kittinger Furniture Co., and Gertrude C. Kittinger, and the wife of Dr. J. Edwin Alford, who died in 1990.
In her youth, Mrs. Alford pursued her love of horses, participating in many driving and riding events throughout the Eastern United States. She attended Elmwood School and was a 1931 graduate of Buffalo Seminary. She also attended Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Conn., and Sarah Lawrence College.
She and her husband traveled to many parts of the world, and for many years cruised the Great Lakes on their boat.
She was on the board of the Frontier Club of Republican Women, a member of the junior board of Buffalo General Hospital and a board member and treasurer of the Garret Club, where she was a 50-year member. She also belonged to the Saturn Club.
Mrs. Alford was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Gail A. Gundlah of Newton, Iowa; two sons, J. Keith of Snyder and Bryant K. of Summit, N.J.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 14 in First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle.
