U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentHenry H. Witulski
Member of St. Francis Parish
Henry H. Witulski, age 85, of Tonawanda, died Tuesday, July 31, 2007, at Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home in Lewiston, after a long illness. Born in Buffalo, he was the son of the late John and Martha (nee Kaminski) Witulski and was a Navy Veteran of WWII. A resident of Tonawanda for the greater part of his life, he was a very active member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish. He was the husband of the late Mary Witulski, who died July 20, 1995, and brother of the late Bernard Witulski.
He is survived by his son, James (Mary) Witulski of Rochester, NY; three daughters, Patricia Witulski of Tonawanda, Joan (Daniel) Kohler of Tonawanda, and Joyce (Kelly) Miller of Wheatfield; and two sisters, Sophie Lacki and Irene Nowotarski, both of Cheektowaga. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Friday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Broad Street at Clinton Park in Tonawanda; the Rev. Michael Uebler officiating. Friends invited. Interment at Acacia Park Cemetery, Town of Pendleton. If desired, memorials may be made to St. Francis Church, 73 Adam Street, Tonawanda, NY 14150.
Shirley I. Kagelmacher
Receptionist for Riverside Chemical Co.
Shirley (nee Weaver) Kagelmacher, age 71, of West Valley, NY, formerly of North Tonawanda, died unexpectedly, Thursday, August 2, 2007, at Millard Fillmore Hospital. Born in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late James and Velma (nee Huffman) Weaver and had been a resident of North Tonawanda for the greater part of her life before moving to West Valley several years ago. She was a graduate of North Tonawanda High School and had been employed at Riverside Chemical Company on North Tonawanda before retiring in 2005. Mrs. Kagelmacher was a member and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 1411, in North Tonawanda, and was the sister of the late Eleanor Carbello.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Harold Kagelmacher; her daughter, Margaret (Robert) Adamski of Amherst; her son, Harold “Howie” (Lynn) Kagelmacher of West Valley; and a sister, Pauline (Duane) Chase of Westfield. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Christopher, Nicole, Robert, Jayson, and Macie, and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Sunday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 11 AM Monday; the Rev. Lane Verschoor officiating. Friends invited. Interment will be at Elmlawn Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda. If desired, memorials to St. Paul’s Church of the Nazarene, 3520 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY 14132, are preferred by the family.
Alexander Lee Kearly
Alexander Lee Kearly, age 19 months, of Tonawanda, died unexpectedly, Saturday, August 4, 2007 at DeGraff Memorial Hospital. He was born December 7, 2005 at Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo.
He is survived by his mother, Kathleen (nee Kearly) Joyce; two sisters, Shannon and Kelly Joyce; his father, Michael DeLong; his grandparents, Jack (Susan) Kearly of Tonawanda, and Penne (William) Thomas of State College, Pennsylvania; an aunt, Terri (Boyd) Sponaugle of Falls Church, Virginia; and an uncle, Lee Kearly of Dover, Delaware. Also surviving are the Clarence Joyce and McLaughlin Families, who are dear and beloved friends.
There is no visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM on Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Broad Street at Clinton Park in Tonawanda. Interment will be at Elmlawn Cemetery. If desired, memorials to St. JudeÂ’s ChildrenÂ’s Research Hospital, One St. Jude Place Bldg., PO Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148-0552, or Upstate New York Transplant Services, 110 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14203, are preferred. Arrangements entrusted to Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Tonawanda.
Rudolph L. Costantino
Retired from Harrison Radiator
Rudolph "Rudi" Costantino, age 84, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, August 9, 2007 at DeGraff Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness. Born in Buffalo, he was the son of the late Anthony and Pauline (nee Occhiocupo) Costantino, and had been a resident of Tonawanda for more than 40 years. Mr. Costantino was an Army Air Corps Veteran of WWII and was employed at Harrison Radiator in Lockport, until retiring in 1987.
He is survived by his wife, Rose (nee Zarbo) Costantino; four sons, Glenn Costantino of Derby, New York, Rev. David (Sandy) Costantino of North Tonawanda, New York, Gary (Barbara) Costantino of Cattaraugus, New York, and Michael (Patti) Costantino of Niagara Falls, New York; a daughter, Janice (Ozzie) Kariman of Lockport, New York; a sister, Winifred Zarbo of Grand Island, New York; and a step-brother, Raymond (Jeanette) Nola of Buffalo, New York. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-5 PM on Sunday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets in Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Monday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Broad Street at Clinton Park, in Tonawanda; the Rev. Michael Uebler officiating.. Friends invited. Entombment with military honors will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Town of Tonawanda, the Rev. David Costantino officiating.
Nicholas W. Abbata
Retired from GM Engine Plant
Nicholas W. Abbata, age 54, of North Tonawanda, died unexpectedly, Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at DeGraff Memorial Hospital. Born in Buffalo, he was the son of the late Carmelo and Gloria (nee Rathke) Abbata and had been a resident of North Tonawanda for the past 23 years. Mr. Abbata was employed at the General Motors Engine Plant in Tonawanda before retiring in August 2006. He was a member and past governor of the Tonawanda Moose Lodge No. 2163, the Sons of the American Legion at Tonawandas Post No. 264, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 1411, and the Gastown Sportsmen’s Club.
He is survived by his wife, Michele (nee Scheer) Abbata; a son, Jeremy (Sandra) Abbata of Cheektowaga; a daughter, Nicole (Jacob Brush) Abbata of North Tonawanda; four grandchildren, Aurora, Isabella, Aaron, and Owen; and two sisters, Sandra Demler of Gilbert, Arizona, and Melanie Horton of Cheektowaga. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4-7 PM on Saturday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 7 PM Saturday. Friends invited. If desired, memorials to a charity of your choice are preferred by the family.
Donald W. Gillies
Korean War Veteran
Donald W. Gillies, age 76, of Tonawanda, formerly of Clarence Center, died Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at Hospice Buffalo, after a long illness. Born in Buffalo, he was the son of the late O. Donald and Marian (nee Williamson) Gillies and received the Eagle Scout award at the age of 14. Mr. Gillies was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War and was an English Teacher at Clarence High School before retiring in 1988. He was the husband of the late Dolores (nee Hembert) Gillies, who died in 1989, and dear friend of the late Virginia Melbourne. Mr. Gillies had a lifelong affinity for nature and the arts.
He is survived by two daughters, Sherryl (Vincent) Dominesey of Tonawanda, and Diane (Christopher) Kelly of Richmond, Virginia; a son, Scott (Mary Beth) Gillies of Akron; a sister, Elaine (Norman) Fry of Williamsville; and seven grandchildren, Jason, Jessica, Brendon, Daniel, Lucas, Nicole, and Michael. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Friday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Broad Street at Clinton Park in Tonawanda; the Rev. Michael Uebler officiating. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at Clarence Fillmore Cemetery. If desired, memorials to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14227, are preferred by the family.
Julia A. Vanderheite
Lifelong resident of Linwood Avenue in N.T.
Julia (nee Prohaska) Vanderheite, age 92, of Linwood Avenue, North Tonawanda, died Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at her home under the loving care of her family, after a long illness. Born April 10, 1915 on Linwood Avenue in North Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late Peter Prohaska and Anna (nee Kresch) Prohaska Nachreiner and step-daughter of the late John Nachreiner. She was married to Franklin Vanderheite in 1934 at Ascension Church, and the couple chose to build a home on Linwood Avenue, just down the street from Julia's mother and step-father. Their children attended Gratwick School, as had Julia. She had been a president of the former Gratwick School PTA and was a member of the North Tonawanda Garden Club and the Home Bureau. She was also a volunteer in the Gift Shop at DeGraff Memorial Hospital and loved caring for and being with her grandchildren. Mrs. Vanderheite loved gardening and artistic activities. In later years, Julia and Franklin spent winters on the west coast of Florida, with lively visits from their children and grandchildren. Her husband, Franklin Vanderheite, died in 1992; she was the mother of the late Donald Vanderheite, who died in 1944, and Richard Vanderheite, who died in 1995. She was the sister of the late Joseph Prescott, Mary Green, Anne Bullard, Alice Bellis and Katherine Palmros.
She is survived by two daughters, Lynn (Carl) Olsen and Karen (Lester) Shiesley; two sons, Gerald (Sheila Flanagan) Vanderheite and David (Joanne) Vanderheite; a sister, Helen (William) Bowman; and a special sister-in-law, Lillian (Clyde) Schulte. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
There will be no visitation. Family and friends are invited to join for a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at 10 AM Friday at Ascension R.C. Church on Robinson Street in North Tonawanda. Interment will be cared for privately at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. If desired, memorials to Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, P.O. Box 444, North Tonawanda, NY 14120-0444, are preferred by the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Tonawanda.
