Ilion - Julia Bruska, 93 formerly of 374 East Main Street, died peacefully on Monday night, February 14, 2000, in the Heritage Health Care Center, Utica
She was born on January 19, 1907, in Austria, a daughter to late Michael and Anna Fistick.
Julia was 6 1/2 years old when her family immigrated to America.
Raised and educated in the valley she attended schools in Herkimer.
It was on May 20, 1923, that she married George Bruska in Sts. Peters & Paul’s Russian Orthodox Church, Herkimer, and for 47 years, they shared a loving and devoted marriage until his passing on September 13, 1970.
She had been employed with the Mohawk Central School System for 20 years until her retiring in 1964 as the cafeteria manager.
Julia was an active member of her church as well as her community.
A member of Sts. Peters & Paul’s Russian Orthodox Church, East Herkimer, the Saint Ann’s Altar Society, a charter member of the Federated Orthodox Club of Sts. Peters & Paul’s and sang with the church choir.
She was also a member of Mohawk Chapter No. 319 O.E.S., the Minnow brook Garden Club, and a former member of the Home Bureau involved with adult education.
Her enjoyment was always her family for she was a loving mother, grandmother, great- and great-great-grandmother and will be remembered most for her sparkle in her eyes, her winning smile and her genuine love and compassion she had shown all the people she met.
Her interests included gardening and sewing.
Surviving are her son Walter of Shelburn, VT; a daughter, Betty Brown of Ilion with whom she has resided since 1970; one brother Walter "Duke" Fistick of Mohawk; 6 grandchildren, Charlotte Bruska Gardener of Colchester, VT, Rodney A. Brown of Mohawk, Judith Brown Baker of Attleboro, MA, Nancy Bruska Bristein of Rutland, VT, Beth Brown Shellard of North Attleboro, MA and William E. Brown, Jr. of Mohawk; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Stanley age 19, Joseph, Alexander and Stanley; 2 sisters, Celia Polulech Gramadsky, Mary Wood, and a cherished grandson Walter Bruska, Jr.
Calling Hours will be on Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc. 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Parastas will be said on Tuesday evening in the Funeral Home at 8 PM.
Funeral Service will be on Wednesday at 10 AM in the Church of Sts. Peters and Paul’s Orthodox Church East Herkimer with the V. Rev. James M. Jadick officiating.
Interment will take place later this spring in Sts. Peters & Paul’s Orthodox Cemetery.
Members of Mohawk Chapter No. 319 O.E.S. are asked to meet in the funeral home at 6:45 PM for ritualistic service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sts. Peters & Paul’s Orthodox Church or Mohawk Chapter No. 319 O.E.S..
Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
J. Franklin Young
HERKIMER - J. Franklin Young, age 81, of North Bellinger St., passed away early Thursday morning, August 2, 2001, in his home.
He was born on April 9, 1920, in Norwood, Ohio, son of the late Rhea and Anna Vinison Young.
After the unexpected death of his mother in 1935, he moved with his father to Ilion in 1936 and graduated from Ilion High School in 1938.
On April 12, 1957, he married Heidy Wetterwald of Dornach, Switzerland, in Ilion.
In 1963, they moved to Herkimer coming from Ilion.
They had resided at 412 N. Main St. until this last year.
Mr. Young was a banker for over 45 years.
He began his career with the former Ilion National Bank where he attained the position of cashier.
After the merger of Ilion National and Marine Midland Trust Company, he was assigned to the Herkimer office as assistant vice president.
In 1969, he joined GFM Machines, Inc., at the Oneida County Airport, where he served as treasurer and director.
He retired in 1986 as the Manager of the Norstar (Oneida National) Bank, Frankfort Branch.
Mr. Young was deeply involved in volunteer organizations for 40 years, believing that whoever lives on this earth should strive to leave things better than they found them.
He was a founder and first campaign co-chair of the Valley United Way (formerly the United Way of Frankfort, Herkimer, Ilion and Mohawk) in 1960 and was treasurer from 1960 to 1987.
He was a founder and the first president of the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce in 1968 and continued for many years as a director.
He was also very involved with the General Herkimer Council (Boy Scouts) Stamp Committee, where he served as treasurer and co-chairman.
The committee, organized by George Sehring in the early 1970's, initiated the issuance of a postage stamp to honor General Nicholas Herkimer and other patriots who fought at the Battle of Oriskany in 1777.
The committee was successful in getting the stamp issued with the first Day Ceremony held at Herkimer County Community College on August 6, 1977, the 200th anniversary of the battle.
He was also a past president of the Herkimer Rotary Club and a member of the Folts Homes Board of Directors, where he had served as secretary of the board; he was a past president of the Ilion Conservation Club and of the now-defunct Herkimer County Arts Council.
He was a member of Ilion Lodge #591 F & AM, where he was a past Master and had the distinction of being the youngest Master to serve the lodge at the age of 27, a 32nd degree Mason with the Valley of Utica AASR and also a member of the Ziyara Shrine AAONMS.
He was a member of the American Philatelic Society and treasurer of the American Allvetio Society.
A community spirited man, he was a friend to many and will never be forgotten.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Heidy Young; two sons and their wives, Christopher and Janice Young, of Wrentham, MA, and Steven and Mary Lourdes Young, of Portland, OR; five grandchildren, Madeleine and Charlotte, in Massachusetts, and Catherine, Maria and Heidy, in Oregon.
He also leaves his stepmother, Ann Young, of Merritt Island, FL; along with a half-sister, Barbara, and a stepbrother, John, both of Florida.
A celebration of Frank's life will take place on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in the Herkimer Reformed Church, N. Main St., Herkimer.
The Rev. Donald Battjes, Pastor, will officiate.
A reception will follow the service in the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Valley United Way or the charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are with Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., Herkimer.
Joan S. Comstock
HERKIMER - Joan S. Comstock, age 77, of Park Lane Drive, passed away April 1, 2002 in St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, New Hartford.
She was born on January 12, 1925, in Birmingham, England, the daughter of the late Alfred and Ivy Baxter.
She was raised and educated in Birmingham.
During WW II, she met Bartow Comstock.
They were married in Birmingham, England, on August 18, 1945.
In April of 1946, she moved to the United States making her home in Herkimer.
A dedicated wife and loving mother, her home and family were the center of her life.
Joan was a caring person and will be greatly missed.
She was a member of the Mohawk Reformed Church and the Daughters of the Nile, in Utica.
Surviving besides her husband of 56 years, Bart, are two daughters, Gail Ivy Oakley and her husband, Richard, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and Lynn Ann Barnhart and her husband, Christopher, of Seattle, WA; and three grandchildren, Shauna, Peter and Trevor Walchenbach, of Seattle, WA.
Funeral service and interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
There are no calling hours.
Memorial donations may be made to the Ziyara Temple AAONMS, 251 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501.
Funeral arrangements are with Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., Herkimer.
Mary E. Collis
EAST HERKIMER - Mary Elizabeth Collis, 71, of 105 Willard Street, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 14, 2000 in St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Utica.
She was born on January 29, 1928, in Herkimer, daughter of the late Charles A. and Bertha Hastings Davis.
A lifelong Herkimer resident, she was educated in Herkimer Schools.
On April 23, 1949, she married Donald E. Collis in the First Baptist Church Herkimer.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church Herkimer, the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Crowley Barnum American Legion Post #25 Ladies Auxiliary.
Mary loved her family, enjoyed crocheting and traveling with her husband in their recreation vehicle.
Surviving besides her husband of fifty years, Donald; are 2 daughters and their husbands, Pamela and David McManus of East Herkimer, Cynthia and Richard Jones of Homer; 5 grandchildren, Richard and Daniel Jones, David, Chad, and James McManus; 3 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A brother, Charles A. Davis, Jr., preceded her in death.
Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM in First Baptist Church, Herkimer, with the Rev. Jeremy Spencer, pastor, officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visiting hours are on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer.
Members of the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary are asked to meet at the funeral home Monday evening at 7 PM for services.
Memorial donations may be made to the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department.
