U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentDr. Ernest C. Passaretti
MENANDS - Dr. Ernest C. ‘Doc’ Passaretti, 81, a retired dentist, died Tuesday. He was the husband of the late Dr. Irene ‘Renee’ Oyen Passaretti, Ph.D; the father of Teresa V. Passaretti, Charlotte L. (Mark T.) Berard and Ernest Michael Passaretti; and grandfather of Sarah and Rachel Berard. The funeral will be Friday at 8:15 a.m. from Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway in Watervliet, and at 9 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Church in Menands. Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Kenneth J. Reckner
CLIFTON PARK - Kenneth J. Reckner, 84, of Oak Brook Commons, died Tuesday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy. Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St. in Waterford. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Waterford. Calling hours are at the funeral home Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Laura I. Murphy
WATERVLIET - Laura I. Murphy died on Wednesday morning, December 3, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Albany.
Born in Watervliet, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Eliza Ayers Baisden.
She was a life long area resident and a member of Jermain Memorial Presbyterian Church in Watervliet.
Laura was employed for many years as a buyer of hats and jewelry for Flah’s before she retired. In her free time she enjoyed being in her own home and crocheting.
She was predeceased by her husband Francis Murphy who died in 1982 and her brother Joseph Baisden who died in 2004.
Survivors include her sister Lois (Harold) Jackson of Watervliet and her loving brother Lewis (Norma) Baisden of Watervliet and Florida; her nieces, Tracey Block, Elizabeth Block, Sister Joan Lewis, O.Carm., Faith Eagan, Sister Jo Mary CSJ and Sister Marguerite Lewis, SBS; her nephews, Jeffrey Jackson, Benjamin Block, Ryan Block and John Hartigan; and her dear friend, Mildred Krage.
Laura’s family would like to extend a special thanks to Neil and Debbie Silverman and Dr. Miller for the extra love and care they showed Laura during her time of need.
Funeral services will be on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Cummings Funeral Home, 643 Third Ave. in Watervliet. Burial will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands. Relatives and friends may call on Friday from noon to 1 p.m.
Ethel O’Brien
GREEN ISLAND - Ethel Wagner O’Brien, 88, of Green Island, died Tuesday, December 2, 2008, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. She was wife of the late James J. O’Brien.
A native and lifelong resident of Green Island, she was the daughter of the late Louis Wagner Sr. and Ethel Barnhart Wagner Groat.
Ethel had been employed for 39 years by the Mohawk Paper Mill in Cohoes, retiring in 1982.
She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Green Island, a member of the Paper Makers Union Local 390 and a former member of the Green Island Senior Citizens.
Ethel enjoyed traveling in her retirement.
Survivors include her best friend and caregiver, Renie Simmons of Brunswick, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Melvin, Louis, William and Charles Wagner.
Funeral from the McNulty Funeral Home, 147 Hudson Ave. in Green Island, on Friday at 9 a.m., thence to St. Joseph’s Church in Green Island, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Troy.
Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary E. Sciacco
GRAFTON - Mary Ethel Simmons Sciacco entered eternal peace on December 2, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy with her loving and adoring family by her side.
Born in Grafton on December 28, 1918, she was the daughter of Mary Ethel Newton and Charles E. Simmons.
She was educated in a one- room schoolhouse, taught by her mother. She then attended Troy High School and was the in the first graduating class from Berlin Central High School in 1937.
Betty was active in 4-H from her early years under her mother’s guidance and became a 4-H leader herself for many years.
She was also a talented seamstress and cook. She won many ribbons at the Schaghticoke Fair for her skills and had the honor of attending the Chicago Fair in 1934, taking along a family heirloom cherry table that she had refinished.
Betty was the longest active member in the Grafton Board of Elections, holding her post for over 60 years and only retiring before this past general election. She was fair and honest and ran a ‘tight ship’ at the polls as many candidates can attest. Although she did not work at the polls in the past election, she did accompany the town clerk to deliver the election results that evening to the County Board of Elections.
A member of the Grafton United Methodist Church for over 80 years, and treasurer for over 30, she worked diligently on the famous church suppers for decades. She was also a member of the Grafton Fire Department Auxiliary and the Grafton Trail Riders.
Betty was a caring, generous and loving person and was adored by all that met her.
Betty was predeceased by her husband Joseph M. Sciacco Sr. and her daughter Nancy Moore Morgan.
She is survived by her daughter Suzanne Putnam; son Joseph M. Sciacco Jr. and wife Patty; granddaughter Allison Kirchner and husband Matthew; grandsons Seth Putnam and Ryan Sciacco; granddaughter Nicole Sciacco; and great-grandson, Scott Hallenbeck. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc., 276 Pawling Ave. in Troy. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4-8 p.m. Interment will be in Eagle Mills Cemetery.
Due to Betty’s concern for the future of the Grafton United Methodist Church, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Grafton United Methodist Church, Current Expense Fund, PO Box 67, Grafton, NY 12082.
Chief William P. Miller, 61
Troy - Troy Police Department Chief William P. Miller, 61, died Wednesday at his residence after a three year illness.
Born in Troy, he was son of the late Carl Miller Sr. and Mary Barnes Miller and husband of Shirley A. Giuliano Miller. He was a lifelong resident of Troy and a 1958 graduate of Catholic Central High School.
Chief Miller began his exemplary career with the Troy Police Department on May 28, 1966. After serving as a patrol officer for 6 years, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on June 17, 1972. As a newly- appointed sergeant he worked in the Patrol Division in charge of a squad of patrol officers. He later became a member of the then new Special Operations Section, a narcotics investigation unit.
On August 6, 1979, Chief Miller was promoted to the rank of Captain. As a captain, Chief Miller worked in both the Patrol and the Professional Standards Division.
He served in the capacity of Captain until the untimely death of his predecessor, Chief John Givney, in 1983. On July 18, 1983, he was promoted to Chief of Police.
During his career, Chief Miller has completed numerous advanced police training courses offered by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In June 15, 1984. Chief Miller graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He was a member of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates and was a lifetime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
During his lengthy tenure as chief. Chief Miller is most credited with organizing the Community Policing Unit, the Emergency Response Team, the Troy Police K-9 Unit, the computerization of the department's records management system and the department's recent achievement of earning New York State Accreditation. Additionally, he is a founding member of the NYS Zone 5 Police Training Academy Advisory Board. More importantly, Chief Miller was known for his uncompromising sense of fairness and a deep commitment to City of Troy and the men and women of the Troy Police Department. He was well-respected and will be sorely missed.
He was also a member of the school board of CCHS, the board of Rensselaer County ARC, GRUMPS retired police officers, a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Troy and a US Army veteran.
Survivors in addition to his wife include a daughter, Heidi Wittchen (Scott) of Mechanicville; two sons, Kevin McClune (Debbie) of Orlando, FL and Kyle Miller of Boston, MA; a sister, Mary Jane Brehm of Bethlehem, PA; six grandchildren, Casey and Kip Wittchen of Mechanicville, Savina McClune of Latham and Austin McClune of Orlando, Fl and Ryan and Darren Miller of Poestenkill; his father and mother-in-law, Francis and Shirley Giuliano of Wynantskill and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, William Paul Miller Jr. and a brother, Carl Miller Jr.
Funeral service will be held Saturday at 9:30am from Sacred Heart Church in Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc. corner of Pawling at Maple Avenues in Troy on Friday from 4-8pm. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery in Troy.
Contributions may be made in memory of Chief Miller to the The Institute for Vascular Health and Disease at Albany Medical Center 47 New Scotland Ave. Mail Code 157 Albany, NY 12208 or the American Cancer Society 260 Osborne Road Loudonville, NY 12211.
Edward J. Morrell Jr., 74
North Greenbush - Edward J. Morrell Jr., 74, formerly of Brian Court Speigletown, died Wednesday at the Van Rensselaer Manor after a long illness.
Born in Albany, he was son of the late Edward J. Morrell Sr. and Agnes Jones Morrell and husband of the late Adelaide Shellard Morrell. He was raised in Albany and had resided in Speigletown since 1954 and attended Albany schools.
Mr. Morrell was a salesman for McCasland Motors in Albany retiring in 1982 and formerly Reo Motors and White Motors.
He was a member of the Speigletown Volunteer Fire Company and a former director of the Elmwood Hill Cemetery Association. Mr. Morrell was active in youth sports in Brunswick Pop Warner, Brunswick Little League, the Lansingburgh Independent Baseball League and helped start youth bowling at Hilltop Bowl in Speigletown He served as Commissioner of the Eastern New York Mickey Mantle Baseball League in the mid 80's. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the North Albany American Legion Post 1610.
Survivors include three daughters, Candice M. Garvin (Gary) of Contoocook, NH; Janice O'Malley (Patrick) of Troy and Tammy Fruscio (Marc) of Troy; a son, Edward J. Morrell III (Sylvia) of North Carolina; a brother, Richard Morrell (Toni) of Florida; ten grandchildren, Jeff and Kelly Garvin, Patrick and Riley O'Malley, Marc, Anthony and Dominic Fruscio and Lindsey, Jenna and Hunter Morrell and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers James and John Morrell.
Funeral service will be held Saturday at 10:15am from the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. corner of Pawling at Maple Avenue Troy and at 11:00am from Faith Lutheran Church Leversee Road with Rev. Stephen L. Cordes, Pastor, officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 3-5 and 7-9PM. Interment Elmwood Hill Cemetery in Troy.
Contributions may be made in memory of Ed Morrell Jr. to the Lansingburgh Royals or Lansingburgh Pop Warner c/o Bryce Funeral Home Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy, NY 12180.
