HERKIMER - Eleanor L. Cross, age 80, of West Lake Avenue, passed away on Friday morning, March 16, 2001, in The Mohawk Homestead, Mohawk.
She was born on July 24, 1920, in Herkimer, daughter of the late George and Ida Lower.
A lifelong Herkimer resident, she was a graduate of Herkimer High School.
On April 12, 1946, she married George Cross in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer.
A blessed union of 30 years until his passing on October 18, 1976.
Mrs. Cross had worked for both UNIVAC and Ilion General Hospital, retiring in 1985.
She had a strong belief in God and was a devoted member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer, and many of the church's group activities.
She was a member of AARP and the Schuyler Senior Citizens.
Surviving her are a brother-in-law, Donald, and his wife, Betty Cross, of Tampa, FL; two sister-in-laws, Florence Smith of Racine, WI, Virginia and her husband, Babe Guyer, of Elmira; nine nieces and nephews, including her very close niece, Donna Rae Myer, of Valrico, FL, many cousins and dear friends, Kay Goppert, Jean Perra, Jeannette Smithson, Florence and Dan Reardon.
A brother-in-law, Walter Smith, and her very close friend, Mary Ann Curtis, preceded her in death.
Funeral service will be on Monday at 11:00a.m. in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer.
The Reverend Dale Dickerson, pastor, and the Reverend Norman Heid will officiate.
Interment in Oak Hill Cemetery will take place later this spring.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Elaine Culver
Herkimer - Elaine Culver, 67, of Creekside Courts, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2001 in St. Luke's Memorial Hospital Center, New Hartford.
She was born on December 31, 1933, in Herkimer, the daughter of the late Rozell L. and Alta Scanlon Cool.
She was raised and educated in Herkimer.
On May 21, 1966, she married Howard Culver in the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer.
A loving and devoted union of thirty-one years, until his passing on December 1, 1997.
She had worked as a nursing assistant in Herkimer Memorial Hospital until 1975.
Elaine was happiest when she was surrounded by her many friends and family, especially children.
She loved to sew quilts and had made a special quilt for each of her children and grandchildren.
She was member of the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer.
Surviving are four sons, David L. Wellington and his wife, Patricia, of Peperell, MA, Ralph E. Wellington, and his wife, Anna, of Cedarville, John K. "Butch" Wellington, Sr. and his wife, Elly, of Mohawk, Charles "Sonny" Culver of Herkimer; three daughters, Cissy Rando and her husband, Kirk, of Herkimer, Mary Farrington, of Utica, Bridget Malmstrom and her husband, Anthony, of Rennsselaer; 2 stepsons, Howard M. Culver, Jr., and his wife, Cindy, of Herkimer, David L. Culver and his wife, Cheryl, of Ilion, stepdaughter, Kathleen Wellington, of Mohawk, daughter-in-law, Cindy Wellington of Herkimer; two brothers and their wives, Leslie D. and Marie Cool of Mohawk, William F. and Sally Cool of Phoenix, AZ; many grand- and great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Besides her husband, Howard, she was preceded in death by a son, Robert L. Wellington, on June 7, 1997; three brothers, Douglas Cool, Louis Cool and Rozell Cool, who died on February 15, 2001.
Funeral service will take place on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
The Reverend William Otis, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer, will officiate.
Interment will be conducted later this spring in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
As an alternative to sending flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Sue Campagna Hospice of Herkimer County or the American Heart Association.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
The family expresses warm gratitude to Joan LaBianca, whom they loving called "Grandma Jo", for all the care and concern shown to Elaine during her illness.
Ward Cushman
Herkimer - Ward G. Cushman, age 85, formerly of 509 Church St., passed away on Wednesday, August 15, 2001, in his home at Acacia Village, Masonic Home, Utica.
He was born on October 21, 1915, in Ilion, son of the late Lee Vern and Maude D. Leitz Cushman.
A lifelong area resident, he was a graduate of Ilion High School and had attended Utica College.
For many years, he was an accountant for the Library Bureau in Herkimer, as well as a Professional Numismatist (coin dealer). .
Most of his life was spent in Herkimer, until 1997, when he moved to the Acacia Village.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer, a member of Herkimer Lodge #423 F & AM, a 32nd degree Mason with the Valley of Utica A.A.S.R. and a member of Ziyara Shrine A.A.N.M.O.S.
He was District Director of AARP and had written many articles and editorials that have appeared in local newspapers.
Ward will always be remembered as a caring person and was a friend to many.
Surviving him are three cousins, Michael Gessner, of Scottsdale, AZ, Mrs. E.C. Calvin Winn, of Watertown, and Charles Leitz, of California, and close friends, Douglas Bennett, of Cleveland, NY, and Joseph P. Zinicola, of Frankfort.
Funeral service will be on Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church, Herkimer, with the Rev. William Otis, Pastor, officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak View Cemetery, Frankfort.
Calling hours will be on Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer.
Members of Herkimer Lodge #423 F & AM are asked to assemble at the funeral home on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. for ritualistic services.
Memorial donations may be made to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund.
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Estella S. DeCoursey
HERKIMER - Estella DeCoursey, 85, of 690 West German St., formerly of Mohawk, passed away on Thursday morning, April 19, 2001, in Little Falls Hospital.
She was born on March 12, 1916 in Utica, daughter of the late Glenn and Bertha McCarthy Shedd.
Estella was raised and educated in Mohawk.
On April 19, 1937, she married William E. DeCoursey in Mohawk, a devoted union of 61 years, until his passing on May 3, 1998.
Besides caring for her home and family, she worked for the Towpath Inn, Sperry Rand and UNIVAC, retiring in 1970.
In 1974, she and her husband moved from Mohawk to Dunedin, Fla., where they remained until November of 1997, when they returned to this area.
While living in Mohawk, she was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Church and its' Rosary Society.
Surviving her a two sons; Arthur F. DeCoursey of Gloversville and William M. and his wife Carolyn J. DeCoursey of Herkimer; a brother, Alan Shedd and his wife, Elizabeth, of Mohawk; two sisters and their husbands, Anne and Lewis Watson of Ilion, and Rosemary and Morris Kane of Mohawk; seven grandchildren, William DeCoursey of Gloversville, Todd, Michelle, Melissa, Jill, Kate and Erin DeCoursey of Herkimer; two great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her parents and husband, a brother, Leon Shedd, preceded her in death.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer, with the Rev. Mark Cunningham, pastor, officiating.
Interment will follow in Mohawk Cemetery.
The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, on Monday from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Francis de Sales School.
