MOHAWK - Alberta VanDyke Coats Walrath, age 86, of Church Street, passed away on Wednesday morning, November 21, 2001 in the Eastern Star Home, Oriskany.
She was born on October 26, 1915 in Cherry Valley, daughter of the late Harry S. and Ruth Haith Coats.
Alberta was raised in Cherry Valley and was a graduate of Cherry Valley High School, where she attained a college entrance degree.
In 1940, she married James W. Walrath in Canajoharie, a loving and devoted union of forty-three years until his passing on June 20, 1983.
Mrs. Walrath worked for five years with the Al Leaf Soda Fountain in Mohawk until 1943, when she retired to care for her husband and family.
For relaxation, she loved to garden in her yard.
An avid bowler, she bowled with both the Herkimer Ladies Nite League and Ilion Bowling Leagues.
She was a member of the Mohawk United Methodist Church and a former member of the Cherry Valley Presbyterian Church.
She was also a member of the Mohawk Chapter # 319 of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she was a past matron and had served as the chapter secretary.
Surviving are two sons; Master Sergeant David J. Walrath USAF retired and his wife, Martha, of Gulfport, MS, George R.S. Walrath and his wife, Susan, of Mohawk, four grandchildren; Tina R. Huntoon of Illinois, James S. Walrath, Robert T. Walrath and Kimberly Walrath all of Mohawk, two great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her parents and husband, James, she was preceded in death by one son, James "Wally" Walrath, in 1968, a sister, Chloris Coats, in 1985 and her faithful pet dog Sandy.
Funeral service will be on Wednesday at 3:30 PM in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
The Reverend Deborah Wollaber, pastor of the Mohawk United Methodist Church will officiate.
Interment will follow in Mohawk Cemetery.
The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 until 3:30 PM.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of the Eastern Star Home for all the care, concern and compassion shown to Alberta during her stay at the home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Herkimer County Humane Society.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home
Frances E. Hess
Mohawk - Frances E. Hess, 80, of 62 East Main Street, The Mohawk Homestead, formerly of 3100 Chatham Road Endwell, NY, died peacefully on Saturday evening, January 29, 2000, in Little Falls Hospital.
She was born on April 28, 1919, in Syracuse, a daughter of the late Fred and Jenny Pocentyluk Spaulding.
She was raised and educated in Little Falls and Syracuse, graduating from North High School, Syracuse.
Moving back to Little Falls in 1937, she met Paul F. Hess.
On August 26, 1939, they were married in Syracuse.
A loving and devoted union of 52 years until his passing on February 4, 1991.
From 1943, she resided in Endwell, moving to Mohawk in October of 1998.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church Endwell.
Frances took pride in being a homemaker.
She enjoyed baking, knitting, gardening and caring for her family, neighbors and friends.
Her activities always involved her family, as a Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout den mother, or in school PTA programs.
Surviving are three sons, Ronald P. Hess and his wife, Pamela C. of Herkimer, Neil P. Hess and his fianc e, Irene Pecylak, of Hastings-on-Hudson, Alan C. Hess and his wife, Pamela H., of Endicott; seven grandchildren, Ronald Hess, Jr., of Herkimer, Amy Hess of Yonkers, Brian Hess, Aaron Hess and their mother, Linda Hess, all of Pleasantville, Cheryl Flaherty of Yonkers, Sharon Nacewicz of Marcy and Sheila Barbieri of Hartsdale; five great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Jean Gramlich; 4 nephews, Thomas and Michael Schneider, Francis and James Gramlich.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Alice Schneider, in 1956.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, with the Reverend William Otis, pastor of the First United Methodist Church Herkimer officiating.
Interment will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery later this spring.
The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Tuesday evening from 4-7 p.m.
Memorial donation may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Mohawk Homestead.
Envelopes will be available in the funeral home.
Alfred Wekelo
HERKIMER - Alfred Wekelo, age 79, of Pleasant Avenue, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, October 31, 2001, in Little Falls Hospital after a long illness.
He was born on August 22, 1922 in Passaic, NJ, son of the late Joseph and Mary Marinaro Wekelo.
Alfred was raised and educated in Passaic.
In World War II, he answered the call of his country by joining the United States Navy in 1940.
During those years, he served overseas in Pearl Harbor, during the Japanese attack and at Dutch Harbor aboard such ships as the U.S.S. San Francisco, U.S.S. U.S. Grant, U.S.S, Pinola, U.S.S. YMS-18 and the US Naval Hospital St. Albins, Long Island, NY.
He was honorably discharged with buttons and campaign ribbons on April 6, 1945, attaining the rank of Machinist Mate Second Class.
He was first married to Margaret Schneider, from that union, were three sons, Joseph Wekelo, Rocky Wekelo and Alfred Wekelo, Jr.
In 1969, he married Laurette Royer in Utica.
They had a son, Wendall Wekelo.
For over thirty years, he was a warehouseman at Griffiss Air Force Base, retiring in 1979 to take care of his ailing wife until her passing in 1981.
He came to live in Herkimer in 1984 and has resided here since.
Alfred had a strong love for the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.
He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
Surviving him are his four sons, Joseph and his wife, Diane of Salisbury Beach, MA, Rocky of Fort Myers, FL, Alfred, Jr. and his companion, Shirley, of Richmond, VA, Wendall and his companion, Laurie, of Herkimer, one sister, Alice and her husband, Carl Abate, of North Haledon, NJ, three grandchildren, Christopher Wekelo of Salisbury Beach, MA, Kerry and Chad Wekelo of Richmond, VA and Washington D.C. area, a niece, Delores and nephew, Richard Abate, of New Jersey.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday November 8, 2001 at 11:00 AM in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
Memorial donations may be made to the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, 7 Mill Brook Road, Wilton, NH 03086-0928.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Marion A. Hall
HERKIMER - On October 22, 2000, the gates of heaven opened and Marion Hall, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed gently through.
Born in the Town of Stark on November 1, 1921, Marion was the daughter of the late Albert and Ada Moore Countryman.
In 1947, she became the wife of Earl Dunn of Middleville.
Earl passed away in January of 1967.
In October of 1967, she was united in marriage with Frank Hall of Herkimer.
Frank passed away in 1990.
Marion is survived by a daughter, Maxine Harodecki, one son, Patrick Dunn, three step-sons; Steven, Frank and John Hall, three step-daughters; Marie Maine, Kathy Hall and Barbara Green, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brother, Albert Countryman, sister-in-law, Eva Chambers, a brother-in-law, James Hall, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She will be missed by all that knew her and especially by those who loved her.
Waiting in heaven, are her beloved son, Michael, and her grandchildren; David Harodecki and Kimberly Dunn, whom she missed so very much here on earth.
Marion, for many years, was a nurse's aide, working until her retirement at the Mohawk Homestead.
She had been a faithful RSVP volunteer for many years.
She was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and a charter member of the Valley Baptist Church.
Her faith was her strength, for she loved God.
Calling hours will be on Monday (today) from 4:00 to 8:00 PM in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
A celebration of Marion's faith and life will commence at 8:15 PM with her long-time friend in faith, the Reverend Jack Cogar, and her pastor, the Reverend William G. DePierro, of the Valley Baptist Church officiating.
Marion's deepest wish is that donations to the Valley Baptist Church be considered in lieu of flowers.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
The family is grateful to Ronald and Zoraida Abeling for their loving care and to the Sue Campagna Herkimer County Hospice for their attendance in Marion's final days.
