U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentAlice M. Hess, 80
Ret. BOCES Instructor
Alice M. Hess of the Town of Marbletown, a former longtime resident of Jeffersonville before moving to Ocala, Fla., died Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at the Benedictine Hospital in Kingston. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of Adolph and Mary Wagner Meschner, she was born January 20, 1923, in New York City. She was the widow of Warren William Hess who died January 17, 1985.
A graduate of New Paltz College with a BA in Education, Mrs. Hess was a vocational instructor at the Sullivan County BOCES in Liberty until she retired in 1985.
She was a member of St. Mark's Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla. and a member of the Love Circle of the church. She was also an active member of the United Methodist Church of Jeffersonville and a member of the New York State Teacher's Association.
Mrs. Hess is survived by two daughters, Doreen Sangaline of Kingston and Diane Hess of Jacksonville, Fla.; two sons, Thomas S. Hess of Raleigh, N.C., and David Hess of Albany; a granddaughter, Lauren Sangaline; and a grandson, Evan Sangaline. She was predeceased by a son, Randy Hess.
Friends may call at the Keyser & Hamilton Funeral Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Services will be held on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. William Hunter officiating.
Interment will be made in the United Methodist Church Cemetery in Jeffersonville at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, N.Y. 12401 or to the United Methodist Church of Jeffersonville, Maple Ave., Jeffersonville, N.Y. 12748.
Mary C. Cawley
Ret. LPN/Asst. Librarian
Mary Celeste Radle Cawley of Liberty, a 40-year assistant librarian in the Liberty Public Library and a longtime area resident, died Monday, January 12, 2004, at the home of her daughter in Rock Hill after a long illness.
The daughter of the late Francis and Beatrice Gallagher Radle, she was born in Scranton, Pa. She was the widow of Paul J. Cawley who died after 45 years of marriage.
Mrs. Cawley was a graduate of Scranton Central High School and Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. A licensed registered nurse in Pennsylvania and New York, she had moved to Liberty in 1955.
She was a member of St. Peter's Church.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was an avid walker and could be seen walking the hills of Liberty in all types of weather. She loved to read and enjoyed camping with her family and many friends."
Mrs. Cawley is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Patrice and Stewart Chester of Rock Hill, Mary Kay and Joseph Eckenrode of Lancaster, Pa., and Bridget and Brian Bidonde of Saratoga County; seven grandchildren, Madeline Celeste, Peter and John Eckenrode, Devon Chester, and Michael, Patrick and Thomas Bidonde; a sister and brother-in-law, Marietta and Joseph Forster of Fredericksburg, Va.; two nieces; and a nephew.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. on Friday at St. Peter's Church, 264 N. Main St., Liberty with the Rev. Ivan Csete officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20814 or to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.
Rev. Raymond Pontier
Social Activist, 89
Rev. Raymond J. Pontier, an 8-year resident of Lakeland, Fla., formerly of Narrowsburg, a Unitarian Universalist minister and an activist for peace and justice, died Monday, January 12, 2004, in Lakeland. He was 89 years of age.
The son of the late Jacob and Trina List Pontier, he was born December 6, 1914, in Clifton, N.J.
He served the cause of peace and justice throughout his life. During a testimonial dinner given by his friends on June 20, 1973, a quotation by Albert Einstein was used to recognize his contributions: "It is given to many men to see the problems of our day. It is given to very few to have the courage to do something about them."
A graduate of Central High School in Paterson, N.J., and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., he received his Masters of Divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1941.
During his ministry, he served the Reformed Church of America for 33 years in Berne, Kingston, Port Jervis and Clifton, N.J. He became a minister of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Association in 1975 and served in Wayne, N.J., where he was named Minister Emeritus in 1989. He founded the Upper Delaware UU Fellowship in Milanville, Pa., in 1987 and served as its minister until 1996. He continued to preach on a regular basis at UU fellowships in Florida through 2003.
Rev. Pontier served on the board of the Clifton Family Mental Health Clinic and was president of the Particular Synod of New Jersey RCA in 1966. From 1966 to 1969 he chaired the Christian Action Commission of RCA and served as statewide coordinator of the New Jersey Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights from 1975 to 1982.
He was a member of the Lake Region Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lakeland, Fla.; a lifelong member of the American Civil Liberties Union and served on the board of the New Jersey ACLU. He was a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Bertrand Russell Society, New Jersey SANE and numerous other organizations, working for peace and justice.
Among his awards were the Certificate of Merit from the B'nai B'rith Women Garden State Council in 1962, the Citizenship Citation for Meritorious Service from B'nai B'rith, the Maurice F. Karp Memorial Citizenship and Civic Award from the Greater Clifton Lodge B'nai B'rith in 1965, the Honored Alumnus Recognition from the Alumni Association of New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1969.
Rev. Pontier was the author of two books, "On the Cutting Edge" in 1978 and "Rescuing Jesus From His Friends" in 1999. He wrote a monthly column for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson newspaper "The Beacon" for many years and was a regular contributor to other periodicals.
In a family statement, it was said, "Ray's sense of justice, fairness, devotion to the truth, his compassion for humanity, his love and joy for his family rang out throughout his life. He will be very much missed."
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Van Buskirk Pontier, at home; a daughter, Sharon Pontier of Newton, N.J.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Glenn Pontier and Elizabeth Bucar of Jeffersonville and Gregory Pontier and Deborah Mercer of Lambertville, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Aimee Frederick, Cecily Frederick and her husband, Steve Glinberg, Zachary Stuart-Pontier, Nathan Bucar, Daniel Patton, Jacob Mercer-Pontier and Peter Mercer-Pontier; a sister, Marguerite Pontier Glibert and her husband, Joseph, of Chatham, N.J.; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Ruth Pontier Brown, and two brothers, John Pontier and Robert Pontier.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship of Reconciliation (www.forusa.org) or the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (www.uua.org).
Clorinda Chajkowski
Homemaker, 46
Clorinda Lee Yelland Chajkowski of Bloomingburg, a longtime area resident, died Monday, January 12, 2004, at her home. She was 46 years of age.
The daughter of the late Frederick N. and Gene I. Dalrymple Yelland, she was born January 30, 1957, in Dover, N.J.
In a family statement, it was said, "Clorinda was full of spirit. She will be remembered for her beauty and strength, but most of all her generosity and forgiving nature."
She is survived by her husband and best friend, Joseph Chajkowski, at home; two daughters, Jennifer Blumberg and Melissa Chajkowski, both of Middletown; a brother, Frederick Yelland of Texas; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Kathleen Vinson, Jeannine and Ralph Roe and Onna Jean and Tim Votre, all of Marathon; three granddaughters, Jordan, Darian and Ariel; and several nieces and nephews.
A Service of Remembrance was held Wednesday evening at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Betty Beach officiating.
Cremation was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Craig Begbie
Systems Engr., 49
Craig Begbie of Lake Orion, Mich., a systems engineer and a former resident of Monticello, died December 20, 2003. He was 49 years of age.
A graduate of Monticello High School, he received his MBA from Michigan State University. He was a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin/ACS in Southfield, Mich.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Begbie; his parents, George Begbie of Campbell Hall and Maureen Sauter of Middletown; and two sisters, Joanne Drobysh of Middletown and Kathleen Begbie of Apalachin.
Interment was made in the Eastlawn Cemetery in Lake Orion.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, P.O. Box 356, 167 Myers Corners Rd., Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590.
Donald Vanatta Sr.
Chauffeur, 55
Donald W. Vanatta Sr. of Bloomingburg and a chauffeur with SCI at West Point Military Academy, died unexpectedly Sunday, January 11, 2004, at the Horton Campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. He was 55 years of age.
The son of the late Thomas J. and Mary Gladys Allen Vanatta, he was born October 9, 1948, in Smithfield, N. C.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he was the recipient of the Purple Heart. Mr. Vanatta was a member of the American Legion Post #521 in Montgomery.
In a family statement, it was said, "Donald was a loving, caring husband who will be greatly missed."
He is survived by his wife, Irene Lynn Labate Vanatta, at home; two sons, Donald W. Vanatta Jr. of Houston, Tex., and Raymond J. Vanatta of York, Pa.; three brothers, Thomas J. Vanatta of Phoenix, Ariz., Ronald Vanatta of Kenly, N.C ., and Eugene Vanatta of Stony Point; a sister, Debra Mastroeni of Monsey; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Morse Funeral Home, 33 Railroad Ave., Middletown, on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
American Legion services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Susan Faye Wonderland officiating.
Burial with military honors will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery in Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans' Fund, c/o Castle Point VA Hospital, Route 9D, Castle Point, N.Y. 12511.
Margaret Menges
Homemaker, 94
Margaret "Peggy" Menges of Youngsville, a homemaker and longtime area resident, died January 13, 2004, at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. She was 94 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Margaret Crane McKnight, she was born December 29, 1909, in Manhattan. She was the widow of James Rogler and Jacob Menges.
Mrs. Menges was a member of St. Francis R.C . Church in Youngsville.
She is survived by a son, Kevin Rogler of Youngsville; a nephew, Michael Foley of Hampton Bays; two grandchildren, Carey and Kara Beth Lavarney, both of Auburn; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Patricia Lavarney.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Francis Church in Youngsville with Father Ignatius Vu Thu officiating.
Burial will be made in the Greenhill Cemetery in Youngsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Church, Youngsville, N.Y. 12791.
