ANGELINA MIRABITO

NORWICH - Committal services for Angelina Mirabito, who passed away on Jan. 31, 2001, will be held on Friday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Cemetery, Norwich.

Arrangements are by the Devine-Wilson Memorial Home of Norwich.

GEORGE PALAMARO

NORWICH - Committal services for George Palamaro, who passed away on Dec. 15, 2000, will be held on Friday, June 8 at 10:45 a.m. at St. Paul's Cemetery, Norwich.

Arrangements are by the Devine-Wilson Memorial Home of Norwich.

RUSSELL SAMPSON

GREENE - Russell Sampson, 83, of Centerville, Ga., died at his home on Saturday, June 2, 2001. Mr. Sampson was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor E. Sampson; father, John H. Sampson; mother, Hazel E. Sampson; sisters: Hazel Dietrich, Charlotte Button, and Ruth Davis; brothers: Charles Sampson, John R. Sampson, and Ira Sampson; great grandson, Tyler S. Eddy; and son-in-law, Dale K. Wackford.

Mr. Sampson was born and raised in Greene, where he lived until 1957 at which time he moved to Monrovia, Calif. In 1937, he married Eleanor E. Peterson, by whom he was later predeceased. While living in New York he was a welder for many years with the former Lyon Raymond Corporation, which later became Raymond Corporation. Once in California, Mr. Sampson was the manager of the machine shop department of Western Gear. Mr. Sampson was married again in 1968 to Maxine Banfield. He retired and traveled for several years until health reasons forced him to settle in Aguila, Arizona, where he was a resident for 18 years before moving to Centerville, Ga. in November of 2000. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Sampson served in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine Sampson of Centerville, GA; daughters: Sally Wackford of Oxford, Judy Rivenburgh of Norwich, Susan Rogers of Englewood, Fla.; a son, Tom Sampson of Eagle River, Alaska.; and one sister, Doris Huntley of Loganville, Ga. Also surviving him are 10 grandchildren: Ronald S. Street of Warner Robins, Ga.; Cynthia Wackford Hansen of Oxford; Megan Wackford Eddy of Norwich; Kirsten Wackford Clement of Mt. Upton; Dale R. Wackford of W. Oneonta; Debra Rivenburgh Randolph of St. Mary's, Ga.; Neil S. Rivenburgh of Liverpool; Dawn M. Sampson of California; Michael S. Sampson and John H. Sampson, both of Anchorage Alaska, and 19 great grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Houston County, 2066 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins, GA 31093. McCullough Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.

HELEN AUSTIN

SOUTH NEW BERLIN - Helen J. Austin, 85, life-long resident of South New Berlin, passed away June 1, 2001, in the NYS Veterans' Home, where she had been a resident since August of last year.

Born and raised in South New Berlin, Helen attended the local schools, furthering her education at Cortland State Teacher's College and at Washington University in St. Louis. Returning to the Chenango County area, Helen began teaching, first in a one room schoolhouse in New Lisbon and later in North Pharsalia for a year. She taught at Gilbertsville Central for three years; and it was at that time, during World War II, that Helen decided to enter the United States Army, serving as a WAC in the medical division.

At the end of her service to her country, Helen began her long career with the State of New York, working in the rehabilitation service field. She worked in the Binghamton psychiatric hospital and also worked in Utica and Rome in the occupational therapy field. In 1972, Helen retired after 27 years with New York State. Very active in her home town, she was a 50-year member of the South New Berlin Fireman's Auxiliary, and a 52-year member of the American Legion Post #1289 of South New Berlin.

Born Aug. 29, 1915, Helen was the daughter of Millard and C. Ina (Bisbee) Austin. She is survived by her sister, Mildred Elizabeth Sillman of Sidney, and by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Memorial services for Helen will be held on Saturday, June 23 at 11 a.m., from the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles Taylor, rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church of South New Berlin, will officiate. Friends may call at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the South New Berlin Fire Dept., c/o Florence Warner, Treasurer, Box 164, South New Berlin, NY, 13843.

CATHERINE SPENCER

NORWICH - Funeral and committal services for Catherine Spencer were held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Beverly Butler, chaplain of the Gilmour Health Care Facility, officiated. Interment will be at the convenience of the family.

ROBERT COLLIER SMYRNA - Robert L. Collier, 63, of German Hollow Road, Smyrna, former Town of Plymouth Highway Superintendent, passed away unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, July 19, 2001.

Born in Norwich, Bob had lived his entire life in the area, making his home on the German Hollow Road for the past 30 years. Bob started his working years in the Brown Ave. bowling alley as a pin setter and mechanic for the machines. Following this, he worked for GLA for a period of three years, and also had been employed by Sheffields. In 1969, Bob began his own business, The Robert L. Collier Septic and Excavation Co., which he owned and operated until 1983. From 1985 through 1988, he worked for Robert Adsit Septic and Grading. Then, in October of 1994, he became Town of Plymouth Highway Superintendent, from which he retired in 1997. Bob was also current President of the South Side Cemetery Association of Plymouth, a position he had held for many years.

Devoted to his family, Bob especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren; and quite often, later in the afternoon, could be found in the Smyrna Market having coffee with the guys. Always ready to "tinker," Bob could be called the Fix-it Man, ready to tackle any job no matter how big or small. He could also often be found cutting wood or enjoying his O scale train collector.

Born January 24, 1938, in Norwich, Bob was the son of Robert M. and Eleanor M. (Wilkes) Collier. On Sept. 23, 1961, in Norwich, he married Dawn Shedd, who survives. Beside his wife Dawn, Bob his survived by his children: Dawn Louise Pfeiffer and her husband Norbert, Dianna Lynne Conley, and Donald Lawrence Collier, all of Smyrna; his parents, Robert and Eleanor Collier of Norwich; his sister, Barbara Redenback and her husband Dennis of East McDonough; two brothers: Charles Collier and his wife Judy of Unadilla, and David Jerry Collier and his wife Patricia of Norwich. Four grandchildren: Nathaniel, Jonathon, and Abigail Pfeiffer all of Smyrna, and Andrew Smith of Smyrna, plus many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins, also survive.

Funeral services for Bob will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. from the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Roland Romig, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sayre, Pa., and the Rev. Douglas Cunningham, Pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church, will officiate. Interment will follow in the South Side Cemetery of Plymouth.

Friends may call at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Plymouth Fire Dept., Box 112, Plymouth, NY, or to the Norwich Fire Dept., marked "Emergency Medical" and sent c/o Fire Chief, One City Plaza, Norwich, NY.

PAUL RICE

NORWICH - A Memorial Mass of Resurrection for Paul Rice was held on Friday morning at 10 a.m. from St. Paul's Catholic Church. The Rev. Douglas Cunningham, pastor, officiated. The readings were given by John Tiquin, and the gifts were presented by Sandy and Brian Rice. The Eucharistic Minister was Bridget Hannan. Organist for the service was Tom Kennedy.

The flag was presented to Paul's widow, Ruth Rice, by Paul's grandson, Robert Rice, with Joe Benenati and Harry Gibson representing local veterans organizations.

Interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery, with Rev. Cunningham offering the committal prayers.

Arrangements were by the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home.

PAULINE VALENTINE

NORWICH - Funeral services for Pauline Anderson Valentine were held on Friday at 1 p.m. from the Calvary Baptist Church of Norwich. The Rev. Brian Conover, Pastor, officiated. Organist for the service was Pat Nauman, with the pianist for the service being Lisa Conover.

Interment followed in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, with Pastor Conover offering the committal prayers.

Pallbearers were: Robert Ryerse, Mark Law, Matt Carpenter, Scott Anderson, Wade Yocum, Mason Cree, Kurt Brown and Kevin Brown.

Arrangements were by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.