U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentMary Opera Wilke
Lifelong Resident of Tonawanda
Mary Opera Wilke, age 87, of Tonawanda, died Friday, May 14, 2004, at Crestwood Health Care Facility after a long illness. Born September 1, 1916, in Erie, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late John and Marie (nee Hedes) Pacurari and had been a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Rescue Fire Company in North Tonawanda. She was the wife of the late John Opera and Franklin Wilke, and sister of the late Sam Pacurari.
She is survived by two sons, Michael (Sharon) Opera of Tonawanda and John (Kathy) Opera of Pendleton; a brother, Leo Pacurari of Kissimmee, Florida; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were cared for privately at the convenience of the family, followed by interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc. in Tonawanda.
Edna C. Kramer
Retired from Spaulding Fibre
Edna (nee Belling) Kramer, age 87, of Tonawanda, died Tuesday, May 18, 2004, at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Born October 18, 1916, in North Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late Gregor and Mathilda (nee Broecker) Belling and was a lifelong resident of the Tonawandas. Mrs. Kramer had been employed at Spaulding Fibre Company in Tonawanda, before retiring, and was a member of the Tonawanda Senior Citizens. She was the wife of the late Willis E. Kramer, mother of the late Gary Wilke, and step-mother of the late Allen Kramer.
She is survived by three sons, John (Mary Anne) Wilke, David (Judy) Wilke, and Thomas (Rosemary) Kramer; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM Thursday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 10 AM Friday. Friends invited. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery. If desired, memorials to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd, Cheektowaga, NY 14227-1480, are preferred by the family.
Richard J. Evans
Navy Veteran of Korean War
Richard J. Evans, age 74, of Tonawanda, died Friday, May 21, 2004, at the McAuley Residence after a long illness. Born on June 24, 1929 in Bennington, NY, he was the son of the late Harry and Harriet (nee Rociecki) Evans and had been a resident of Tonawanda for 40 years. A Navy Veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Evans owned and operated Larco Manufacturing in Tonawanda for 20 years and then was employed at Keller Technology in the Town of Tonawanda, before retiring. He was a member of the Erie County Sheriff's Marine Division for more than 25 years, and was a member of the Badge and Shield Club.
He was the beloved husband of Theresa (nee Prentki) Evans; dearest father of Debra (James) Hayden, Richard J. Evans and Lisa (James) Barry; beloved papa of Sarah, Molly, Samantha, Daniel, and Amy; dearest brother of Florence Cwikliski, Bernard (Frances) Evans and Robert (Natalie) Evans; and brother-in-law of Adam (Susan) Prentki, Henry (Susan) Prentki and Rosemary (Jerome) Kozacki. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Saturday and Sunday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets in Tonawanda, where prayers will be said at 9 AM Monday morning, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM Monday at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in the Town of Tonawanda.
Ralph D. Vitthuhn
Active at St. Christopher Parish
Ralph D. Vitthuhn, age 40, of Tonawanda, died Monday, May 24, 2004, at Kenmore Mercy Hospital following a long illness. A lifelong resident of the Tonawandas, he was a 1981 graduate of Sweet Home High School. He attended Buffalo State College, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Mr. Vitthuhn was employed by the New York State Insurance Fund and also worked as an assistant manager for Eckerd Drugs. He was active in many parish activities at St. Christopher R.C. Church in Tonawanda, including Parish Council, CYO, and as a Eucharistic Minister. Mr. Vitthuhn was a benevolent member and former officer of the Ellicott Creek Volunteer Fire Company. He was currently the vice-president and chairperson for the Regional Planning Committee for CSEA, Local 003, State Employee Union.
He was the beloved son of Ralph H. and Margaret (nee Donovan) Vitthuhn of the Town of Tonawanda; brother of Joseph (Patricia) Vitthuhn of Clarence, Kathy Vitthuhn of North Tonawanda, James (Twila) Vitthuhn of Tonawanda, Maureen (David) Reed of the Town of Tonawanda, and the late John (Victoria) Vitthuhn; uncle of Rob, Joanne, Sandra, Joseph Jr., and Gary. Ralph will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.
Friends may call from 7-9 PM Tuesday and 2-4 & 7-9 PM Wednesday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM at St. Christopher R.C. Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd. in Tonawanda; Mass will be concelebrated by Rev. Lynn Shumway, Msgr. Albert Clody and Msgr. Ernest Daley. Friends invited. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in the Town of Lockport. If desired, memorials to the St. Christopher Education Fund, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd, Town of Tonawanda, NY 14150, are preferred by the family.
Crescentia N. Townsend
Lifelong Tonawanda Resident
Crescentia (nee Farrell) Townsend, age 98, of Tonawanda, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, after a brief illness. Born September 11, 1905, in Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late John and Frances (nee Peuquet) Farrell and had been a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. She had been a member of the Buttons Shoe String Club, the National Hose Company Auxiliary and the Tonawanda Senior Center. Crescentia enjoyed sewing and needlework, playing cards and singing, especially at family gatherings. She remembered the birthdays and anniversaries of many persons and was noted for sending greeting cards which brought sunshine into their lives. She was the wife of the late William J. Townsend, who died in 1971, and mother of the late Constance Ruth Townsend.
She is survived by two daughters, Joy (Philip) Internicola and Cheri N. Koepsell; six grandchildren, Philip (Susan) Internicola, Gary (Shawn) Internicola, Susanne Internicola, Cindy (Rick) Aldridge, Karen (Ed Schmidt) Johnson, and Jeffrey (Suzanne) Koepsell; and great-grandchildren, David, Ryan (Susanna), Jeffrey, Marissa (Ken), Ashley, Elizabeth, Matt, Taylor, Anthony, Kathleen, Chelsea, Kenneth, Billy, Tyler, Josh, Halle Rose, and forever in our hearts, Samantha and Shane. Also surviving are a great, great-granddaughter, Ember Lane, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM 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 Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. If desired, memorials to St. Francis Church, 73 Adam Street, Tonawanda, NY 14150, are preferred by the family.
Michael A. Eberwein
Member of St. Francis Parish
Michael A. Eberwein, age 91, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, May 27, 2004, at DeGraff Skilled Nursing Facility, after a long illness. Born February 7, 1913 in North Tonawanda, he was the son of the late John and Catherine (nee Wekerle) Eberwein and had been a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. Mr. Eberwein had worked for the Kittinger Furniture Company before retiring, and had been a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the Tonawanda Senior Citizens, the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Columbus Bowling League. He was the husband of the late Margaret E. Eberwein, who died in 1994.
He is survived by three sons, Michael (Susan) Eberwein, James (Carole) Eberwein and Thomas (Beatrice) Eberwein; and a brother, Joseph Eberwein. Also surviving are many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM Friday and 11 AM - 12:30 PM Saturday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where prayers will be said at 12:30 PM Saturday, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1 PM Saturday at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Huntington's Disease Society, 115 Hardwood Lane, Rochester, NY 14616 [(585)341-7400], are preferred by the family.
Immaculate Brannan
Formerly of Buffalo
Immaculate "Mac" (nee Borrelli) Brannan, age 86, of Wheatfield, formerly of Buffalo, died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at her residence, after a long illness. Born December 10, 1917, in Rochester, NY, she was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Lucy (nee Maio) Borrelli of Pignataro Maggiore in the Province of Naples, Italy. She resided in Buffalo until 1990, when she moved to Wheatfield. Immaculate loved reading and the outdoors, and enjoyed her family and friends and her beloved cat, Patrick. Before retiring, she worked for the Colonial House Restaurant in Buffalo. She was the wife of the late Arthur Brannan, who died July 22, 1972.
She is survived by two sons, William Roger (Marie) Brannan and James (Georgia) Brannan; a daughter Lucille (Vincent) Vara; two brothers, Richard (Angie) Borrelli and George Borrelli; a sister, Rose Agusta; and seven grandchildren, Gregory (Cassandra) Brannan, Scott Brannan, Laurel (John) Willis, Jill (Heath) Kinney, Melissa Vara, Danielle Brannan, and Dana (Josh) Oder. Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Brannan, Catherine "Kate" Brannan, Nicholas (Sarah) Brannan, Samantha Brannan, Jack Willis, Jason Willis, and Kaitlin Kinney, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM Wednesday only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets in Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM Thursday at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery in Amherst. Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, memorials to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive, Lockport, NY 14094, or to the DeGraff Adult Daycare, 445 Tremont Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120, are preferred by the family.
