U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentJoseph Pascoe
Painter, 57
Joseph Pascoe of Liberty, a painter for Patrick Murtaugh Construction and a longtime resident of the area, died on Monday, May 14, 2007 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 57.
The son of the late William and Anna Day Pascoe, he was born on March 28, 1950 in Brooklyn.
Survivors includes six sisters, Elaine Bolen, Anne Butterly, Cheryl Matalas, Nancy Tozzi, Jane Costanza and Theresa Colletta; four brothers, Frank, Robert, Donald and James Pascoe; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday, May 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harris Funeral Home West St. at Buckley, Liberty.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Drive, Kingston, NY 12401 or the Orange-Sullivan Hospice, 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home West St. at Buckley, Liberty.
Pastor Gene Smith
There will be a visitation and memorial service this Sunday, May 20 for Pastor Gene Smith of the United Methodist Church of Monticello, who died on May 16.
Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. and services will be held at 6 p.m. at the church.
Basil B. "Red" Emerson
Retired teacher, 92
The world lost a much loved and respected member of the Greatest Generation Sunday, December 2, 2007, when Basil B. “Red” Emerson of Forestburgh, NY, died after a brief stay at Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis. He was 92.
“Red,” who gained his nickname from a thick shock of auburn hair, was born on the family farm in Alfred Station, N.Y. on July 21, 1915, the eighth of nine children. Born to Marcus Henry Emerson and Lochie Pierce Emerson, he was the last surviving sibling of the family predeceased by three sisters and five brothers. He was also predeceased by his son-in-law, Kenneth Musso.
He graduated from Alfred University with a B.S. and later earned his M.Ed. from Syracuse University. Prior to his military service as a member of the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Europe during WWII from 1943 to 1946, he met and married the one true love of his life and his wife for more than 65 years, Nora Kathleen Caffrey, in Phoenix, NY.
He was a teacher and guidance counselor for much of his life and was awarded one of the first guidance certificates issued by the state Education Department. He was a member and past president of the Westchester, Rockland, Putnam Guidance Association and the Rockland County Counselors Association during the 21 years he lived in Rockland County. He moved to Forestburgh in 1973 following his retirement from education and lived there for the rest of his life.
He is survived his wife, his daughter, Lochie Emerson Musso, two sons, John Warren (Cathy) and Basil David Emerson. He is also survived by four grandsons, Kenneth Emerson Musso (Katrina) and Jason William Musso and Gregory John and Donald Caffrey Emerson.
His last act of generosity was to donate his body to Rochester Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Forestburgh Fire Department, P.O. Box 61, Forestburgh, NY 12777 or to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in care of Linda Minde, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Denise M. Fischer
Registered Nurse, 63
Denise M. Fischer of Deltona, Florida, formerly a lifelong resident of Cochecton, died Saturday, December 8, 2007 in Deltona. She was 63 years of age.
The daughter off the late Donald and Vivian Taylor DuBois, she was born April 26, 1944 in Bethel, NY. She was the widow of Joseph Fischer Sr.
She is survived by a daughter, Deborah Fischer; a son, Joseph Fischer Jr.; two sisters, Patricia DuBois and Deborah DuBois; and a brother, Michael DuBois; and one grandchild, Kira Fischer.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, December 13 at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 14 at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Fosterdale Cemetery, Fosterdale.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.
Poppy Chergotis
Ret. Dressmaker, 79
Poppy Chergotis of Andover, N.J., a retired dressmaker, a homemaker and a longtime former resident of Bayonne, N.J., died Tuesday, January 29, 2002 at the Andover Subacute and Rehab Center in Andover, N.J. She was 79 years of age.
The daughter of the late Arthur and Fotini Samios, she was born December 2, 1922, in Athens, Greece. She was the widow of William Chergotis who died in 1974.
A war bride, she was married to Mr. Chergotis February 6, 1944, in East Sydney, Australia, where she was then living.
Mrs. Chergotis was a former member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Jersey City, N.J. and its Ladies Philoptochos Society.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a gentle soul and a kind and affectionate mother who devoted her life to her family. She was a talented dressmaker and skilled in all crafts having to do with a needle, thread or yarn."
She is survived by a daughter, Pamela Chergotis, and a son-in-law, Thomas Pettinato of Barryville.
Graveside services and burial were held Friday at the Bayview Cemetery in Jersey City, N.J., with the Very Rev. Kyrillos Markopoulous of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mid-Hudson Valley AIDS Task Force, Inc. (checks payable to ARCS or MHVATF), Development Dept., AIDS-Related Community Services, 2269 Sawmill River Rd., Bldg. 1, South Elmsford, N.Y. 10523.
Gertrude Curtis
Homemaker, 92
Gertrude Curtis, a 52-year resident of Monticello and a homemaker, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 92 years of age.
The daughter of the late Jerry and Celia Hawkins, she was born September 21, 1911, in Bay Minette, Ala. She was the widow of Elizea Curtis.
In a family statement, it was said, "Gertrude was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Monticello and lived a Christian life every day by caring for her friends and family."
She is survived by three nieces, Claretha York of New York City, Elizabeth Woodard and her husband, Artrice, of Monticello, and Margaret York of Buffalo; four nephews, Jesse York and his wife, Sandy, and Melvin York, all of Monticello, Steven York of New York City and George York of Albany; and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by a sister, Elvira York, a cousin, Ernestine Lymon, and a niece, Ruth Ann York.
Services will be held on Tuesday at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Hurricane, Ala., with the Rev. Bruce Armstead officiating.
Burial will be made in the Crossroads Cemetery in Hurricane, Ala.
Memorial contributions may be made to Baldwin Community Chapel, Highway 138, Hurricane Road, Bay Minette, Ala. 36507.
Local arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Monticello.
Bohdan Hirniak
Ret. Chemist, 88
Bohdan Hirniak of Glen Spey, a retired chemist for Hoffman-La Roache in Nutley, N.J., and a longtime area resident, died Sunday, May 23, 2004, at his home. He was 88 years of age.
The son of the late Nikephor and Maria Stebnycky Hirniak, he was born June 2, 1915, in Ukraine.
Mr. Hirniak was a member of St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Glen Spey and was active in the Ukrainian community. For 60 years, he entertained many by adapting Ukrainian folk music to his beloved tangos and led a popular orchestra whose members included his wife, brother and son. He shared his love of music and life.
He is survived by his wife, Herta Pautsch Hirniak, at home; two daughters, Tetiana Cymbal and her husband, Victor, of Kerhonkson, and Ulana Semeniuk of Glen Spey; a son and daughter-in-law, Jurij and Joann Hirniak of Franklin, N.J.; a god-daughter, Zirka Hirniak Cronin; a sister, Luba Cholhan of Passaic, N.J.; a brother, Alexander Hirniak of Clifton, N.J; a nephew, Dr. George Saj and his wife, Martha; and six grandchildren, Romana, Melanie, Jurij Jr., Jayde, Victoria and Andrew.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Tuesday at St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Glen Spey with the Rev. Mark Hirniak officiating.
Burial was made in the Glen Spey Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Michael Freiser
MR Blacksmith, 55
Michael Freiser of Liberty, a self-employed blacksmith at the Monticello Raceway and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, May 20, 2004, at the Achieve Nursing and Rehab Center in Liberty. He was 55 years of age.
The son of Marion Goldstein Freiser and the late Charles Freiser, he was born March 16, 1949, in the Bronx.
Mr. Freiser is survived by his mother of Liberty; a sister, Leslie Moses of Wantagh; his companion, Judy Rosenberg of Liberty; five nieces and nephews, Robert Moses, Shari Stalter, Eileen Contino and her husband, Jeffrey, and Charlie Freiser; and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A memorial service was held Sunday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irwin Tanenbaum officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation.
Catherine Evanski
Homemaker, 80
Catherine Geiszler Evanski of Equinunk, Pa., a former resident of Jersey City, N.J., and a homemaker, died Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at the home of her son, following a lengthy illness. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of the late Michael and Barbara Hantz Geiszler, she was born October 22, 1923, in the Bronx.
Mrs. Evanski is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, with whom she lived, Dennis G. and Arlene Evanski of Equinunk, Pa.; a granddaughter, Lisa Marie Evanski; and a great-granddaughter, Monica. She was predeceased by two sons, Michael and Joseph Evanski.
Graveside services and burial will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale with the Rev. Thomas McCarthy officiating.
