U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentMartha Bracken
Library Aide, 64
Martha A. Horton Bracken of Montgomery, a library aide for the Orange-Ulster BOCES and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, May 28, 2001. She was 64 years of age.
The daughter of Anne Cawein Horton and the late Lester Horton, she was born October 2, 1936, in Goshen.
Mrs. Bracken was a member of Hamptonburgh Presbyterian Church and a past president and member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Otterkill Engine & Hose Company, both in Campbell Hall.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence J. Bracken Sr., at home; her mother of the state of Florida; three children, Patricia Borchert and her husband, Ernest of Marlboro, Lynda Bracken of Youngsville and Lawrence J. Bracken Jr. and his wife, April, of Grahamsville; three grandchildren, Ernest J. Borchert, Elizabeth Bracken and Lawrence J. Bracken III; a sister, Margaret DeLessio of Maybrook; and a brother, Charles Horton of the state of Florida.
Services were held Thursday at the Donovan Funeral Home in Goshen with the Rev. Dan O'Hare officiating.
Burial was made in the Hamptonburgh Cemetery in Campbell Hall.
Janina Szymczak
Retired Custodian, 86
Janina Szymczak of Liberty, a 42-year resident of Sullivan County, died Saturday, December 30, 2006 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was 86. She was the widow of Michal Szymczak.
The daughter of Stefan and Maria Adamska Pokrzywinski, she was born July 25, 1920 in Germany.
Janina was a retired custodian for the NYC School System at Horace Greeley Junior High School in Astoria, and a member of St. Peter’s Church in Liberty.
Survivors include a son, Tadeusz M. Szymczak and his wife Genia of Flushing; a daughter, Halina Szymczak of Liberty; a brother, Tadeusz Pokrzywinski of Lodz, Poland; four grandchildren, Barbara Bitjeman and her husband, Tony, Andrew Szymczak and his wife, Joanne, Mark Szymczak and his wife, Nancy and Celena Anello and her husband, Scott; six great-grandchildren, Heather, Rachel, Summer, Christopher, Nicky and Jared and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, January 3 at St. Peter’s Church in Liberty. Monsig-nor Edward Straub officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550.
Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes Inc., Liberty.
Genevieve DeGraw
Former Waitress, 71
Genevieve DeGraw, a lifelong resident of Port Jervis, died Monday, January 1, 2007 at her home.
The daughter of the late Ralph and Leona Crowell Teeple, she was born September 7, 1935 in Port Jervis. She was the widow of Gilbert DeGraw who died October 25, 1978.
She was employed at H & M Knitting Mills and was formerly a waitress at the Port Jervis Diner, and recently was delivering Meals on Wheels.
She was the loving mother of two sons, Otto “Butch” Melloh of Port Jervis and Ralph DeGraw of Westchester; and two daughters, Margaret Harshman of Pond Eddy and Mary Melloh of the state of Florida. She is also survived by her companion of 27 years, Peter Matthews at home; two brothers, Harold Teeple of Catskill and Foster Teeple of New York State; 11 grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family in the Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville.
Virginia Gartland
Ret. Hospital Worker, 71
Virginia "Ginny" Gartland of White Sulphur Springs, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2006 at St. Joseph's Place at Bon Secours Hospital. She was 71.
The daughter of Leon C. and Mabel Slawson McGar Sr., she was born Sept. 2, 1935 in Liberty.
Ginny was retired from the Dietary Department at Community General Hospital, and was a member of the White Sulphur Springs Seniors and the Order of the Eastern Star.
A family statement reads, "Ginny took great care of her family. Her whole life was her family and grandchildren. She will be missed greatly."
She is survived by her husband, Richard, who she married Dec. 10, 1955; two sons, James Gartland and his wife Leslie of Roscoe and John Gartland and his wife Hee Jung of Milford, Pa.; one sister, Joan Robinson of Livingston Manor; a grandson, Connor, and granddaughter, Soo; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one brother, Leon Bub McGar; and her parents.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 6 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor. Rev. Bridgette LeConey will officiate.
Burial of the cremains will be made in Laurel Hills Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Order of The Eastern Star.
Helen Mae Elliott
Ret. Food Service Emp., 69
Helen Mae Sullivan Elliott of Bloomingburg, a retired food service employee for Marriot Foods in Sloatsburg and the Quickway Diner in Bloomingburg, died Sunday, December 31, 2006 at ORMC-Horton Campus in Middletown with her family by her side, after a courageous battle with emphysema. She was 69.
The daughter of the late William A. Sullivan and Pearl D. Boyd Sullivan, she was born December 8, 1937 in Middletown.
A family statement read, “Mom had grace and courage like no other during her illness. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved her family very much and was our hero.”
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, James F. Elliott, at home; two daughters, Debra Johnson and her husband James and Rosemary J. Joy and her husband Richmond, all of Bloomingburg; six grandchildren, Richmond Joy Jr. (Jennifer), James Joy (Jeanine), William Joy, Jesse Joy, Gary Mann Jr. (Danielle) and Diana Johnson; three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Alyssa and Adrianna Joy; five brothers, John Sullivan of Florida, William Sullivan of New Hampton, Thomas Sullivan of Middletown, Donald Sullivan of Pueblo, Colo. and Robert Sullivan of Callicoon; six sisters, Gene Griffiths, Patricia House, and Eleanor Williams, all of Middletown, Pearl Diener of Pecola, Okla., Arlene Moulton of Middletown and Kathleen Brown of Sparta, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home of Wurtsboro.
Kathryn J. Keene
School Nurse, 55
Kathryn J. Keene of Middletown died Monday, January 1, 2007 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Arden Hill Campus in Goshen, with her family by her side. She was 55.
The daughter of the late Albert and Hazel Towers, she was born August 13, 1951 in Jamaica, Queens. She was employed as a School Nurse at Monhagen Middle School.
A wife, mother and grandmother; a daughter, sister and friend, Kathy attacked each role with love, compassion and generosity. Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed. Loved always; Forgotten never.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Alfred, at home; loving son, Jeffrey, his wife, Heather, and their daughter, Victoria Hazel, all of Butler, N.J.; sisters, Tina Rivera, her husband, Robert, of Wurtsboro, and Jean Marie Siebert, her husband, Jay, of Middletown; brothers, Albert Towers, his wife, Kathleen, of Pine Bush, James Towers, his wife, Rina, of Middletown, and John Towers of Middletown, Jackie and Thomas Yablonsky, their daughters, Heather Labowski, her husband, Kristopher, and Melissa Lippert, her husband, James, and family; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Middletown, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday with Father Frank Dixon officiating.
Mausoleum Encryptment at St. Joseph Cemetery in Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 419 E. Main St., Middletown, NY 10940.
Arrangements are under the supervision of the Morse Funeral Home, Inc.
Robert A. Kracht, Jr.
Peace Corps Worker, 56
Robert Avery Kracht Jr. of New Hampshire, formerly of Hurleyville, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2006 at Memorial Hospital in North Conway, New Hampshire. He was 56.
He was the son of Robert A. and Bertha Kinne Kracht Sr. He was born February 4, 1950 in Monticello.
He attended Orange County Community College and New Haven University and then joined the Peace Corp in 1975 and went to Nairobi and Kenya, Africa.
He is survived by his son, Robert W. Kracht and his wife Janet of Elmira; two grandchildren, Nathanial and Natalie; his mother, Bertha Cleveland and her husband, Bill, of Utah. He was predeceased by his father, and one brother, James.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 at the Grahamsville Rural Cemetery.
Erma Slatus
Retired Teacher, 86
Erma Slatus of Wurtsboro, a retired New York City Public School teacher, and the widow of Marton Slatus, died Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at ORMC-Horton campus. She was 80.
The daughter of Isidore and Ruth Levine Lutsky, she was born March 22, 1926 in Brooklyn.
She is survived by her son, Gary Slatus and his wife Shelley of Mass.; her daughter, Lisa Justus and her husband Robert of Wurtsboro; two sisters, Rita Newman and Estelle Witt; and three grandchildren, Jennifer, Kathryn and Arielle.
A graveside service was held Thursday at Temple Sholom Cemetery, Monticello. Rabbi M. Medwin officiated.
Funeral arrangements were by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello.
Linda K. Kutschera
Cosmetologist, 61
Linda Katharine Kutschera of Callicoon was called home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 30, 2006 after a long and courageous battle with AML leukemia. She was surrounded by her family and beloved Labrador Retrievers, Chocko and Tracer. She was 61.
She was born to Mary and Walter Oestrich of Long Eddy on May 2, 1945.
Linda was a graduate of Delaware Valley Central School in Callicoon, Syracuse Secretarial School, and Middletown School of Cosmetology. She was a member of Church on the Rock in Jeffersonville where she participated in the praise and worship team and was a past member of the United Methodist Church of Callicoon, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Church choir and Liberty Aglow. Linda was a gifted hairdresser, as well as a helpmate in her husband’s business, Delaware Valley Cropdusters. Mostly, however, she was a dedicated wife and mother and will long be remembered and forever missed for her love of family, friends and grandchildren, her persistent witnessing for the Lord Jesus, her approachability and willingness to always listen to her children and her infectious laugh. We will also miss her incredible cooking, especially chicken paprikash, which none of us have been quite able to master.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 42 years, Theodore C. Kutschera; her mother, Mary Oestrich; her daughter and son-in-law, Sondra and Jay Brooks of Callicoon and their children, Amelia and Curtis Brooks; a son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Alison Kutschera of Somerset, N.J.; son and daughter-in-law, Theodore III and Ashley Kutschera of Ellenburg Depot and their soon to be born baby; her sisters, Alice Fredo of Hankins and Ethel Miller of Jeffersonville; aunts, Mabel Oestrich of West Hempstead and Katharine Lindberg of Hankins; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved friends.
She was predeceased by her father, Walter Oestrich; and sisters, Eleanor Clark and Phyllis Schaefer.
A memorial service to celebrate Linda’s life was held on Monday, January 1, 2007 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital of Memphis, Tenn.
