Roy D. Phillips, 84, of Cranes Hollow Road, Amsterdam, passed away Sunday morning at his home. He was born on Sept. 18, 1917 in Cranesville, a son of George W. and Ethel DeForest Phillips. He was a graduate of Wilbur H. Lynch High School and the Albany Business College. For 48 years he was employed as secretary-treasurer of the Standard Engineering Corp. of Albany before he retired. During World War II, he served with the Army Air Corps, And the 11th Bombardment group in the Hawaiian Islands. He was an active member, elder and treasurer of the Cranesville Reformed Church and at one time was superintendent of the Sunday School and a teacher. Mr. Phillips was a charter member and past chief of the Cranesville Volunteer Fire Department. He served as treasurer of the Camp Fowler & Retreat Center in Speculator and was treasurer of the Albany Bridge Corp. and the Amsterdam Clergy Association. He was a member of the Johnstown Eagles and Moose Lodge, and the BPO Elks Lodge of Guilderland. Mr. Phillips was a well known "master of ceremonies" for many area organizations for many years. He married the former Marie E. Lamphier on Jan. 12, 1946. In addition to his wife of 55 years, he is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Boersma of Sturgis, Mich. and Lisa Flaherty of Gloversville; four grandchildren also survive, Jeffery Boersma of Toledo, Ohio, O. Jeanne Miller of San Marcos, Calif., Megan Morrison of Gloversville and Conor Flaherty who is completing his basic training at the Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois; five great-grandchildren; two nephews and one niece. Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home Inc., 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam. Services will be held at noon Tuesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Jake Marvel will officiate. Interment will take place in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill. Contributions may be made to the Cranesville Reformed Church, the Volunteer Fire Department, Camp Fowler, or the Community Hospice of Amsterdam, all in care of the funeral home.

Dorcas Jean Shaw Shelters
November 5, 2001

Dorcas Jean Shaw Shelters, age 82, of Mayfield, N.Y., died Friday morning at home while attending to daily activities. She suffered a cardiac arrest. Mrs. Shelters was born on May 30, 1919 in Broadalbin, N.Y., the daughter of James and Ethel Van Derwerker Shaw. She graduated from the Nathan Littauer School of Nursing, and enjoyed a long and dedicated career as a registered nurse. She worked at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, and Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh. She retired as charge nurse from the Wells House in Johnstown. Jean was an avid gardener and spent many hours beautifying the yard at her home. She is survived by her son, Robert W. Shelters of Mayfield, as well as three nephews and many friends. She was married to Francis C. Shelters, who died in 1989. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Broadalbin Mayfield Rural Cemetery, Broadalbin. The Rev. Paul Moyer will officiate. Arrangements are by Jeffords & Stewart Funeral Home, Broadalbin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nathan Littauer Nurses Alumni Association, c/o 13 Academy Place, Gloversville, NY 12078. A private visitation will take place at the convenience of the family.

Betty Ann Ratajczak
June 18, 2001

Betty Ann Ratajczak, 66, of County Highway 126, Broadalbin, died this morning at home. She was born on June 12, 1935 in Amsterdam, the daughter of George and Marguerite Normandin La Mothe. She graduated from St. Mary's School and was a 1953 graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School, Amsterdam. Mrs. Ratajczak had resided in Broadalbin since 1972. She was employed as a food service coordinator for the Fulton County Office For Aging and worked at the site in Broadalbin for 12 years. She retired due to disability in 1996. Mrs. Ratajczak was a communicant of St. Joseph's Church, Broadalbin, a former member of its choir and was very active in the Altar Rosary Society, serving as its president at one time. Survivors include her husband, Raymond J. Ratajczak Sr., whom she married on Sept. 6, 1953; two sons, Raymond J. Ratajczak Jr. of Broadalbin and Robert J. Ratajczak of Ballston Spa; two daughters, Bernadette Spooner of Broadalbin and Mary Jane Darling of Mayfield; a brother, George La Mothe of Saratoga Springs; a sister, Marguerite Sawicki of Owensboro, Ky.; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Robert M. Halgas Funeral Home Inc., 38 W. Main St., Broadalbin. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home; a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 2 North St., Broadalbin. Burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Fort Johnson. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Peter F. Romano
June 18, 2001

Mr. Peter F. Romano, 90, of Saratoga Road, East Glenville, died June 15 in St. Clare's Hospital, Schenectady, following a long illness. He was born in Amsterdam and was a graduate of Amsterdam High School. Following his education Mr. Romano served in the Navy as chief machinist's mate during World War II. He was employed for a total of 25 years as a toolmaker for General Electric Co., 12 years in Schenectady and 13 years at the Syracuse plant, where he was transferred in 1960. Mr. Romano retired in 1973. He was a member of St. Margaret's Church, Syracuse. He returned to the area in 1984 from Syracuse and settled in Glenville. Survivors include one son, Anthony F. Romano of Gloversville; two daughters, Leilani C. Wright of Glenville and April Mulherin of Chesterville, Maine; one sister, Carmella Rukstinat of Amsterdam; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He married the former Clara Kohout on July 3, 1948. Mrs. Romano died on Jan. 22, 1997. Relatives and friends are cordially invited and may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, Glenville. A funeral Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Friday, June 22, at St. Helen's Roman Catholic Church, Union Street, Schenectady. The Rev. Joseph Romano, nephew, will officiate. Interment will take place at Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions may be made to United Cerebral Palsy of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, 22 N. Perry St., Johnstown, NY 12095 or St. Anne's Institute, 160 N. Main St., Albany, NY 12206.

Jorge Aquino
June 19, 2001

Mr. Jorge Aquino, 44, of Fremont Street, Gloversville, died Monday June 18, at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a long illness. He was born on March 10, 1957 in Manhattan, the son of Victor and Clemencia Aponte Aquino. Mr. Aquino was a 1976 graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School, the Bronx, N.Y.; a 1980 graduate of Fredonia State College; a 1997 graduate of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, and at the time of his death was working on a bachelor's degree from Empire State College. He served in the Army. Mr. Aquino was employed as a New York City police officer until his retirement due to illness. He attended St. Anthony's Church, Johnstown; was a member of the Johnstown Loyal Order of Moose; the Police Benevolent Association, and involved in student government at FMCC. Survivors include his wife, Tammy Hayes Aquino, whom he married on Dec. 24, 1998; two sons, Nicholas Aquino of Gloversville and Gilbert Aquino of California; two brothers, Federico Aquino of Portland, Ore., and Victor Aquino of Florida; one sister, Christine Costello of Toms River, N.J.; one sister-in-law, Ramona Hayes of Rome, N.Y.; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at A.G. Cole Funeral Home Inc., 215 E. Main St., Johnstown. Friends and family are invited to attend funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. James Fitzmaurice will officiate. Cremation will take place at Vale Crematory, Schenectady. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or American Diabetes Association.

Eleanor N. Bacon
June 19, 2001

Mrs. Eleanor N. Bacon, 72, of County Highway 126, town of Perth, died suddenly Saturday at her home. She was born on May 25, 1929 in Amsterdam, the daughter of Joseph and Clara Przelom Novak. She was a 1947 graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School, Amsterdam, and a lifelong area resident of the town of Perth since 1951. Mrs. Bacon co-owned and operated Bacon's Tree Farm with her husband George. She was a member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton County, and was a member of various tree growing associations in the Northeast. Survivors include her husband, George B. Bacon, whom she married on July 10, 1949; a son, Doug Bacon of Westminster, Colo.; a daughter, Kathryn B. Harrington of Griswold, Conn.; three grandchildren, Meredith K. and Rebecca C. Bacon and Shauna L. Harrington; two aunts and several cousins. There will be no calling hours. Burial will take place in the Pachaug Cemetery in New London County, Conn. at a later date. Arrangements are by Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home Inc., 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home. Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Ruth V. Sweeney
June 19, 2001

Ruth V. Sweeney, 87, a former resident of Petoff Garden Apartments, Gloversville, died Monday morning at the home of her daughter, Patricia A. Scafariello of Progress Road, Gloversville, after a long illness. She was born on July 24, 1913 in Amsterdam and was a lifelong Gloversville area resident. Mrs. Sweeney attended Gloversville schools. Mrs. Sweeney was employed as a glove worker for the former J. Myers and Sons Glove Shop, Gloversville, from 1929 until her retirement in 1974. Mrs. Sweeney was a communicant of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church and its Catholic Daughters. She was an officer of the Parent Teacher Association of the former McKinley Elementary School, Gloversville. She is survived by one son, John M. Sweeney of Middleville, N.Y.; two daughters, Rosemarie I. Mancini and Patricia A. Scafariello, both of Gloversville; one sister, Mary R. Petrillo of Gloversville; four grandchildren, Sheila M. Sacks and husband, Wayne, of Queens, N.Y., Sean M. Sweeney and wife, Lynn, of Bloomingburg, N.Y., Richard M. Mancini and wife, Nancy, and Kiersty M. Person and husband, John of Gloversville; six great-grandchildren, John F. Person, Brett P. Owen and Morgan J. Owen, all of Gloversville, Aidan M. Sweeney of Bloomingburg, N.Y., and Elizabeth M. Sacks and Paul J. Sacks, both of Queens, N.Y.; one cousin, William Keefe of Niskayuna; one niece, Kathleen A. La Rowe of Gloversville; nine great-nieces and great-nephews. She married John M. Sweeney on May 18, 1934, and he died in 1984. She was also predeceased by her parents, Genaro and Rose Salino Sweeney; one sister, Nicolena A. Sweeney; and one brother, James Petrillo. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at John W. Finocan Funeral Home Inc., 13 Prospect Ave., Gloversville. A prayer service will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Gloversville. Interment will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 73 N. Main St., Gloversville, NY 12078.