HERKIMER -- Helen E. Harter, 84, of Francis Street, passed away Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, in Valley Health Services Inc., with her loving family at her bedside.
She was born Aug. 8, 1917, in Shenandoah, Pa., daughter of the late Daniel and Ethel Dziuben Mamrosch.
A lifelong Herkimer resident, she was educated in Herkimer schools.
On Nov. 26, 1936, she married Edward John Harter in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer, a blessed union of 56 years, until his passing May 8, 1993.
Helen was a loving homemaker.
She also worked outside the home, first at Folts Homes and, for 15 years with Mohawk Data Sciences, retiring in 1980.
A member of St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer, she had a strong belief in God and led a devoted Catholic life.
Surviving her are four children, Carolyn and Wallace Moshier of Herkimer, Edward and Mary Anne Harter of Endwell, Joan and Glenn Seifried of Herkimer, and James and Sharon Harter of Mohawk; seven grandchildren, the Honorable Deborah Jo Harter, Edward L. Harter, Jr., Steven P. Harter, Timothy Seifried, James D. Harter, II, Wayne Seifried, and David Harter; and two special great-grandchildren, Zachary and Dylan Harter; two sisters, Rose Reynolds of Little Falls, and Margaret Denefrio of St. Johnsville; several nieces and nephews.
Our mother was always dedicated to the happiness and love of her children.
She will always be remembered as a caring, helpful person and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Funeral from Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, on Monday at 9:30 a.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer.
The Rev. Mark Cunningham, pastor, will officiate.
Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
The family will present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Sunday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Valley Health Services, Inc., Palliative Care Unit, 690 W. German St., Herkimer 13350 or MOVAC.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Ruth V. Hawkins
Ilion - Ruth V. Hawkins, 83, formerly of McGowan Road, passed away on Wednesday morning, May 16, 2001 in Valley Heath Services Inc., Herkimer, where she had resided since 1998.
She was born on July 26, 1917, in Herkimer, a daughter of the late Howard C. and Evelyn M. Faulder Wicks.
A lifelong area resident, she was educated in Herkimer.
On November 28, 1940, she married George C. Hawkins in Christ Episcopal Church, Herkimer.
A loving and devoted union of 54 years, until his passing on December 20, 1994.
George and Ruth lived in Herkimer, until 1974, moving then to Ilion.
As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ruth dedicated her life to her family and her home.
She had a strong Christian belief and was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
She had served on the Church Altar Guild Society and was a member of the Herkimer Home Bureau.
Surviving her are four sons, William Bateman of Herkimer, George Hawkins, Jr. of Hayward, CA, Thomas Hawkins and his wife, Patricia, of New Hartford, Gary Hawkins of Herkimer; two daughters, Mary LaGase of Ilion, Carol Alexander and her husband, Robert, of Oneida; one brother, Melvin Wicks, and his wife, Josephine, of Syracuse, three sisters, Thelma Cameron, of Monroe, CT, Ella Johnson of Arlington, VA, Evelyn Matteson of Buffalo; fourteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by five grandchildren, Billy LaGase, Kim, Kelly and Kari Bateman, John Alexander, three brothers, Willard, Howard, and Henry Wicks two sisters, Winifred Munson and Virginia Fenton.
Funeral service will be on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, with the Reverend Brian Kellington, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and the Reverend George Greene, rector of St. Augustine Church, Ilion, officiating.
Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer, on Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Henry James Herkel
Herkimer- Henry James Herkel, age 86, of Mohawk Valley Nursing Home, and formerly of Main Road, East Herkimer, went to be with the Lord on Monday morning, August 27, 2001 in Faxton - Saint Luke's Medical Center, New Hartford, with his loving family at his side.
He was born on August 11, 1915, in Herkimer, a son of the late Joseph and Caroline Kafka Herkel.
Raised and educated in Herkimer, in April of 1936, he married Nathaleen Lockwood of Little Falls, in St. Francis deSales Church, Herkimer.
They shared a devoted bond of 64 years, until her passing on May 6th of this year.
For over 25 years, he worked for UNIVAC, retiring in the mid 1970's.
After his retirement, he and his wife enjoyed many years of travel together with his sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Joseph Keddell.
He was a volunteer with the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years.
Henry enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid gardener, however his life centered on his family.
A wise man, with firm teachings in a gentle manner, is how his family will remember him most.
Surviving are two sons, Lawrence and his wife, Sally Herkel, of Palm Bay, Fl, Henry James, Jr. and his wife, Vivian Herkel, of Frankfort; two daughters, Donna K. Herkel of Utica, Colleen VanVechten of Herkimer; fourteen grandchildren, Scott and his wife, Tracie, Lori and Bruce Bales, Lisa and Rex Frodge, Daniel and Carol Herkel, Brian and Jennifer Herkel, Timothy Herkel, John Patrick Herkel, Jamie Herkel, Noreen Herkel, Kristin Herkel, David and Sonia Hula VanVechten Erin and Kelly and Brian VanVechten, a brother, Joseph Herkel of Reedley, CA, four sisters, Mary Helmer of East Herkimer, Caroline McMahon of Herkimer, Betty and her husband, Joseph Keddell, of Oneonta, Anne and her husband, John Dietz, of New Jersey; several nieces and nephews, and Ellen Hoage, a special friend and resident of the Nursing Home, who was an inspiration to Henry.
Beside his wife, Nathaleen, he was preceded in death by a son, Colin (Ted) Herkel, on June 29, 1992, a brother, Charles Herkel, and a grandson, Joseph Shawn Herkel.
The family would like to thank Dr. Raj and Dr. Kohan for their many years of outstanding care and to Deanna and Claudia of Mohawk Valley Nursing Home for the love and compassion shown to their father.
Funeral service will be private and at the convenience of the family.
There are no calling hours,
Donations in memory of Henry may be made to the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department or MOVAC.
Funeral arrangements are with Fenner Funeral Home Inc., Herkimer, NY.
Claire Stella Hilts
Little Falls Claire Stella Hilts, age 57, of West End Road, passed away unexpectedly on Monday night, July 31, 2001, in Little Falls Hospital.
She was born on August 28, 1943 in Herkimer, daughter of Robert and Edna Lowell Reitz.
A lifelong area resident, she was a graduate of Herkimer High School, Class of 1962".
On October 22, 1965, she married Richard M. Hilts in Herkimer.
For over thirty years, she worked in the offices of the Chicago Pneumatic Company, Utica, retiring in 1994.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Herkimer, where she was treasurer of the First Baptist Church Christian Board.
Up until three years ago, she was in charge of the church nursery and was a leader of the Baptist Youth Fellowship.
She had served as secretary and treasurer of the union at Chicago Pneumatic.
Claire had a strong love for the outdoors, nature and camping.
She will be greatly missed by many, especially her family.
Surviving, besides her loving husband of thirty-five years, Richard, are one son, Richard M. Hilts, Jr. and his wife, Karen, of Little Falls; two daughters, Jennifer Hilts of Little Falls, Jill and her husband, Dennis Clark, of Mohawk; her parents, Robert and Edna Reitz of Herkimer; one brother, Wayne and his wife, Prapai Reitz, of Herkimer; four grandchildren, Kimberly, Courtney, Andrew and Kyle Hilts all of Little Falls; her mother-in-law, Winifred Hilts of Little Falls, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her son, John Hilts, in 1965, a brother, Robert Reitz, and a sister, Karen Ann Reitz.
A memorial service will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
The Reverend Ronald Fralich will officiate.
Interment will follow in Mountain View Memorial Gardens, town of Little Falls.
The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5:00 8:00 p.m.
Memorial donation may be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church Herkimer.
