NORTH NORWICH - Niles A. Pope, 66, of Galena Manor, North Norwich, passed away unexpectedly Thursday morning, Feb. 1, 2001 at his home.

Born in Mt. Upton, Niles was the son of Glenn and Fannie E. (Sherwood) Pope. Following his schooling, Niles spent two years in the military, serving his country in Germany from October of 1957 through September of 1359. Returning home from the military, Niles became employed as a pattern maker by the Una Lam Company of Unadilla, working from 1961-1969, then as a finish carpenter for Olsen Construction from 1969-1972. From 1972 until 1992, Niles worked as a lineman for the former C&U Telephone Co., which later became GTE, retiring after 20 years of service. But it was as a carpenter and cabinet maker that Niles was best known by the people of the area. He had a talent for working with wood and made many fine pieces. Throughout his life, Niles was also known to be an easy-going type of guy, never saying a bad word about anybody. Niles was a member of the Iroquois Rod and Gun Club, the Norwich Elks Club #1222, and the Norwich American Legion. He was also a former member of the Borden Hose Co. of Mt. Upton, Norwich (Ontario Hose Company), and North Norwich Fire Departments.

Niles is survived by his loving companion of many years, Evelyn Palmer of North Norwich; his son, Michael Pope and his companion Carrie Mitchell of McGraw; his sisters: Alberta Ives of Bainbridge, Eleanor and Lester Winfield of Ocala, Fla., and Kathleen and Steve Brown of Bradley, Ill.; and by his brothers: Elsor and Minnie Pope, South New Berlin, and Albert and Linda Pope of Mt. Upton. He is also survived by six grandchildren, and by Evelyn's children: Larry Palmer and companion Donna Jaquay, Sherburne; Tracy and Randy Hull, Sherburne; Robin Tucker, Smyrna; and Cassie Palmer, Norwich; by his former wife, Carol Pope of Norwich. Also surviving are his former wife's children: Tina Tedder of Florida, Debra Fuller of Norwich, and Alix (Cindi) Chenard of San Diego, Calif., and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services for Niles were held on Sunday at 1 p.m. from the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Rebekah Sweet, pastor of the Broad St. United Methodist Church, officiated. Interment will be in the spring in the North Norwich Cemetery, Friends called at the R. J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and members of the Ontario Hose Company of the Norwich Fire Dept. paid their respects as a group at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Norwich Fire Dept., North Norwich, NY, 13814.

JOSEPHINE BENEDICTO

NORWICH - Josephine B. Benedicto, 71, of 22 Griffin Street, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001 at Chenango Memorial Hospital.

Born May 9, 1929 in Norwich, she was the daughter of Michael and Angela (Elia) Ocello. She was a 1947 graduate of Norwich High School and subsequently received her Registered Nurse degree from Flower Fifth Avenue School of Nursing in New York City. Josephine worked at Chenango Memorial Hospital for several years as well as for Drs. Tom Flanagan and Richard Foster. She then joined the staff of Chenango County Social Services, first as a nurse and then as a supervisor. She retired in 1992.

She was a member of St. Bartholomew's Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed knitting, but her true love and talent was in her cooking. Josephine had a library of cookbooks and loved to try new recipes.

On July 14, 1951, in St. Bartholomew's Church, she married Frank J. Benedicto who survives. She is also survived by a daughter, Frances Reitano and her husband John of Cohoes; a son, Michael Benedicto and his wife, Heather, of Oxford; five grandchildren, Kate and Justin Reitano - of Cohoes and Gregory, Lauren and Abigail Benedicto of Oxford and a sister, Mary Barbarossa and her husband, Ralph of Norwich. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was predeceased by a brother Frank Ocello.

Funeral services for Josephine will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Bartholomew's Church. Friends are invited to call at the Devine-Wilson Memorial Home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Burial will take place in the spring in St. Paul's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions in memory of Mrs. Benedicto be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 810 Seventh Ave., Binghamton, NY 13902.

ANGELINA MIRABITO

NORWICH - Funeral services for Angelina Mirabito were held on Saturday at St. Bartholomew's Church. Rev. Douglas Cunningham, pastor, officiated at the Mass of Resurrection. Concelebrating the Mass was Rev. John DeLorenzo, a former assistant at St. Bartholomew's.

Mass began with Mrs. Mirabito's children, JoAnn Testani, Kate Turner, Salvatore Mirabito and R.J. Mirabito placing the baptismal pall upon the casket. The readings were proclaimed by Angie's grandchildren, Salvatore and Joseph Testani. Her granddaughters, Maria Meccariello, Angie Levesque and Elizabeth Tumer presented offertory gifts. Father DeLorenzo spoke in remembrance of Angie.

The organist and vocalist for the service was Sister Rose Marie Caravaglio and the altar servers were Angelo and Anthony Testani. Dave Gale and Joe Maiurano were the ushers. Angelo, Anthony and Salvatore Testani and Leo Meccariello and Scott McLaughlin served as casket bearers.

BRUCE HADLOCK

SHERBURNE - Bruce A. Hadlock, 66, of East Street North, passed away Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001 at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.

Born July 15, 1934 in Sherburne, he was the son of Lewis and Bernice Andrews Hadlock, and was a graduate of Sherburne Central School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On Jan. 11, 1958 Bruce was married to the former Janet Shannon in Norwich. He was a heavy equipment operator with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local #545 of Syracuse, until his retirement.

Mr. Hadlock was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sherburne, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the Sherburne Fire Dept., and a member and past captain of the Sherburne Emergency Squad.

Surviving are his wife, Janet of Sherburne; a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Thomas Darling of Concord, N.C.; a son and his fiancee, William Hadlock and Mary Ann Bergeron of Moira; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Norma and Sherman Record, and Susan Hadlock, all of Sherburne; one granddaughter, Heather Marie Darling; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Services were held yesterday at 2 p.m. from the First United Methodist Church, Chapel St., Sherburne. Spring interment will be in the West Hill Cemetery, Sherburne.

Friends were invited to call at the Burgess Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Contributions may be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 556, Sherburne, N.Y. 13460.

WILLIAM HORTON SR.

PITCHER - William Moore Horton, Sr., 63, of Oak Hill Rd., Pitcher, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001.

Bill was born in Norwich on March 11, 1937, the son of the late Paul Case Horton and Grace Moore Horton. His childhood years were spent in Pitcher where he attended Cincinnatus and S. Otselic schools. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1953 and served as a plane captain aboard the USS Coral Sea. Finishing his duty in 1957, he continued in the Naval Reserves until 1962. His mechanical experiences led to a lifetime hobby of repairing and painting automobiles. Settling in the Sherburne-N. Norwich area, Bill worked with his father as a carpenter and house painter. He was a volunteer for the N. Norwich Fire Dept. for many years. Over the years he was employed by GLA in Norwich, was Supervisor of University Printing at Colgate University in Hamilton, and was a Manufacturing Engineer at Simmonds Precision until his retirement on Sept. 1, 1992. Bill married Mary Loomis on June 21, 1984 and they made their home on Oak Hill Rd. in Pitcher. He enjoyed his home in the country, birds, wildlife and his pets, Sergeant, Benjamin, Meme and MK.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Loomis Horton; his children and stepchildren: Kathleen Armitage of Norwich, William (Kyoko-Pitcher) Horton, Jr. of Atsugi, Japan, Kelley Horton of Cooperstown, Patrick Horton of McGraw, Kimberlee (Craig) Roberts of Hamilton, Daniel (Jackie Brunschmid) Horton of N. Norwich, Jody Blanchard of Norfolk, Va., and Charles (Tammy) Loomis of Cincinnatus. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Andrea and Michelle Armitage of Norwich, Yuki Horton of Monterrey, Calif., Diane Horton of Pitcher, Thomas Horton of McGraw, Erik, Sara, Kristyn and Craig Roberts of Hamilton, Alan, Brienna, Cameron and Devon Blanchard of Norfolk, Va., and Kyle Loomis of Cincinnatus. He is also survived by a brother, Paul (Jean) Horton of Seneca Falls, and a sister, Lillian Hicks Ryan of New Port Richey, Fla., the mother of his children, June Tuttle of N. Norwich, and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Pitcher Federated Church in Pitcher. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Bill's memory may be made to the Chenango County Hospice, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, N.Y. 13815.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Black Funeral Home, Cincinnatus.

GEORGE MABIE

SOUTH OTSELIC - George V. Mabie, 81, of Churchill Road, South Otselic, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001 at the Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich.

Mr. Mabie was born in Hoboken, N.J. on Oct. 15, 1919, the son of the late William and Christina Bartelmes Mabie. He was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the U.S. Army and spent much of his time in Germany. He was a member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post 57, Waldwick, N.J.; a member of the VFW Post 2782, Norwich; and a member of the Elks Lodge 1222, Norwich. He was also a member of the South Otselic Fire Police and remained active with them for several years. He was predeceased by his sister, Irene Blasko, and two brothers, Edward and Charles Mabie.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Jeffer Mabie of South Otselic; and two sons, George V. (Jan) Mabie Jr. of Englewood, Fla. and Charles H. (Charlene) Mabie of Ramsey, N.J. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family will be present to receive friends at the Black Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m., where members of the Elks Lodge 122 will conduct a prayer service at 8 p.m. Funeral and committal services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 11 a.m. with Jeanne Angell officiating. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations in George's memory may be made to the South Otselic Fire Police, c/o South Otselic Fire Department, South Otselic, NY 13155.

WILLIE BUXTON

NORWICH - Memorial services for Willie James Buxton were held on Monday evening at 5 p.m. from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. Dr. Duane Golden, representing the Jehovah's Witness of Norwich, officiated.

Interment will be at a later date.