U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentVerne VanOrden, 84
Owned Bowling Alley
Verne V. VanOrden of Gettysburg, Pa., a former resident of Jeffersonville and the former owner of the Jeff Bowling Alley, died Saturday, May 7, 2005, at the Gettysburg Hospital. He was 84 years of age.
The son of the late Fred and Jennie Pierce VanOrden, he was born on May 13, 1920, in White Lake.
The husband of the late Shirley Bernhardt VanOrden, who died April 9, 2001, he was also precedeased by a brother, Rex, and a sister, Beverly.
Burial will be made in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bethel at the convenience of the family.
John Demetry
Ret. DEP Laborer, 89
John Demetry of Neversink, a laborer for 19 years with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Supply in the Catskills until his retirement in 1979, died Thursday, May 5, 2005. He was 89 years of age.
The son of the late Alex (Dmytryszyn) and Tessie Humen Demetry, who came to America in 1912 from the Ukraine, he was born January 20, 1916, in New York City. He was the widower of Mary Liszak Demetry who died December 13, 1999, after 58 years of marriage.
During World War II, he worked as an airplane riveter for Gruman Aircraft in Bethpage, working on the Navy’s Hellcat F6F Fighter. Prior to residing in Neversink, Mr. Demetry worked for his father in four family restaurants, “Mike’s Coffee Pot” at 14 Duane St., “Willis Restaurant” at 224 Barclay & Washington Streets, “Mike’s Restaurant” at Second Ave. and 60th St., and “Greenwich Restaurant” at 158 Reade St., all in New York City.
Mr Demetry was a pictorial photography student under the tutorship of famous photographer Adolph “Pappa” Fassbender and worked for a brief time as a still photographer for WPIX Channel 11 in New York City. He used his photographic talents in later years as a freelance commercial and wedding photographer in Sullivan County. He was also a ticket seller/cashier at Monticello Raceway, a bellhop at the former Grossinger’s Hotel, a short-order cook at the Liberty Triangle Diner and a laborer for the Town of Neversink Highway Department.
He was a member of the Neversink Fire Department, the Liberty Elks Lodge and the Professional Photogaphers of America, and St. Peter’s Church in Liberty.
Mr. Demetry is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and Frank Petrocelli of Liberty; two sons, Robert Demetry and his wife, Joan, of Warwick and dedicated caregiver Paul Demetry and his companion, Lori Kole, of Neversink; five grandchildren, Frank John Petrocelli of Middletown, Lisa Petrocelli of Astoria, Daniel Demetry of Newburgh, Jean Carrick and her husband, Joseph, of Fort Dix, N.J., and Sara Demetry of New Windsor; a great-granddaughter, Jenna Rose Carrick; a step-grandson, Michael Kornhoff of Greenville; and a special friend, Tyler Kole. He was predeceased by a brother, Peter Demetry and and sister, Marie Demetry.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Peter’s Church in Liberty with Monsignor Edward Straub officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neversink First Aid Squad, Neversink, N.Y. 12765.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay’s Funeral Home in Liberty.
Edwin A. Conway, 87
Owned Church Supply Co.
Edwin A. Conway of Narrowsburg, the owner of a church supply company and a longtime area resident, died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at the Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart, Pa. He was 87 years of age.
The son of the late William E. Sr. and Dolly Campbell Conway, he was born March 21, 1918, in the Bronx. He was the widower of Bette Frawley Conway and Margaret Gallagher Conway, who passed away in 1992.
A veteran of the U.S.. Army Air Corps, he served as a bombardier in the Pacific Theatre of War during World War II.
Mr. Conway is survived by a nephew and his wife, William E. III and Ann Conway and their son, Brendan; and many more nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, as well as his good friend, Bill W. He was predeceased by a brother, William E . Conway Jr. and a sister, Virginia Conway, a Sister of Charity.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Evan Greco, O.F.M. officiating.
Burial was made in St. Francis Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Rasmussen Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.
Elnora Barnum
Ret. Receptionist, 91
Elnora Mae “Bobbie” Barnum of Bridgeville, a retired receptionist who worked for Dr. Goldfarb, Dr. Kornblum and Dr. Gavis, all in Monticello, died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty. She was 91 years of age.
The daughter of the late Christopher and Neva Elnora Dutcher Van Dusen, she was born April 9, 1914, in Allaben. She was the widow of Leon “Barney” Barnum, who died December 27, 1967.
Mrs. Barnum was an avid gardener.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Robert Salisbury of Neversink; a step-son, Eugene Barnum, and his wife, Jeane, of Toledo, Ohio; a step-daughter, Louise MacFarland and her husband, Albert, of Joliet, Ill; two grandchildren, Theresa “Teri” Somers and William “Billy” Somers Jr.; four great-grandchildren, Christa, An-drew, Matthew and Christian; several nieces and nephews; and her many friends at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center. She was predeceased by a sister, Judith Mikelenas.
Funeral services were held Friday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello with the Rev. Robert Pinto officiating.
Burial was made in the Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Family Council of the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, P.O. Box 671, Liberty, N.Y. 12754 or to an animal shelter of one’s choice.
Raymond Sisco
Ret. Painter, 80
Raymond Sisco of Westbrookville, a self-employed retired painter, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at the Arden Hill campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Goshen. He was 80 years of age.
The son of the late Bert and Violet Mae Montanion Sisco, he was born August 1, 1924, in Warwick.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Morse Sisco, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Daniel Waterman of Brooksville, Fla.; two step-sons, Steven Wisniewski of Port Jervis and Harold Morse of Westbrookville; a step-daughter, Barbara Boyd and her husband, Roy, of Slate Hill; three grandchildren, Jessica Waterman, Branden Waterman and Christopher Waterman, all of Brooksville, Fla.; three sisters, Alice Smith and Laura Burns of Smithfield, N.C., and Geraldine Joslin of Moosic, Pa; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers, Fred Sisco and Walt Sisco.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Morse Funeral Home in Middletown.
Cremation was made at the Oxford Hills Crematory in Chester.
Bruce Wilson
Bus Manager, 73
Bruce “Boots” Wilson of Gardiner, a manager of the Wallkill Valley School Bus Co. for 35 years, a retired Operational Engineer for Local #137, and a lifelong area resident, died May 5, 2005, at his home. He was 73 years of age.
The son of the late Thomas and Sophie Jacquemin Wilson, he was born April 7, 1932, in Brooklyn.
A Navy veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of the Wallkill Rod and Gun Club and a member of Patton Gun Club of Neversink.
He is survived by his wife, Terri-Lynne Greer Wilson, at home; five children, Michele Dewar of Suffern, Bruce Wilson of Cleveland, Ohio, Misty Ismail of Stewartsville, N.J., and Jenna Miller and Jade Greer, both, at home; a granddaughter, Arwen Dewar of Suffern; three grandsons, Thomas, Christopher and Nicholas Wilson of Cleveland, Ohio; two sisters, Carol Miles of Arkansas and Dorothea Ely of the State of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home, 1525 Burlingham Rd., Pine Bush, with Pastor Robert B. Hewitt officiating.
Burial will be made in the Bruynswick Cemetery in Wallkill.
Dolores DiRusso
Ret. Legal Secy., 72
Dolores M. DiRusso of Middletown, a retired legal secretary and a longtime area resident, died Saturday, May 7, 2005, at the Horton campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. She was 72 years of age.
The daughter of the late Vincent and Lillian Carlisle Dino, she was born September 12, 1932, in Cedarhurst, L.I.
Mrs. DiRusso was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and a past member of the Lenten Sewing Club.
She is survived by her husband of over 50 years, James DiRusso; two daughters and sons-in-law, Wendy and Dale Cosner of Middletown and Anne and Tom Klein of North Branch; two sons, James DiRusso III and his fiancee, Debbie, of Danbury, Conn., and Gary Mark and Doris DiRusso of Colorado Springs, Colo; a sister, Barbara Whitby; 10 grandchildren, Gary, Jessi, Melanie, Laura, Tatiana, Robyn, Alyssa, Ryan, Jacob and Quintin; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Deanne Klein.
Friends may call at the Ralston-Lippincott-Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home, 72 West Main St., Middletown, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Middletown.
Burial will be made at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 200 White Plains Rd., Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591.
Dominick Fiore Jr.
Ret. Therapy Aide, 81
Dominick E. Fiore Jr. of Bethlehem, Pa., a former resident of Middletown and a retired therapy aide at the Middletown Psychiatric Center, died Thursday, May 5, 2005 at the VNA Hospice at St. Luke’s in Fountain Hill, Pa. He was 81 years of age.
The son of the late Dominick E. Sr. and Ersilia Proia Fiore, he was born March 28, 1924, in Middletown.
A World War II Army veteran, he served with the 101st Airborne Division and was the recipient of the American Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Mr. Fiore was a member of the Washington Heights Fire Company, C.S.E.A, and president of the Residents Council at Holy Family Manor Nursing Home in Bethlehem, Pa. He was an accomplished bowler and avid fan of NASCAR and the New York Yankees. Mr. Fiore was a former member of St. Joseph’s Church in Middletown.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Grace V. Gates Fiore of Bethlehem, Pa.; three sons, Richard A. Williams of Bethlehem, Pa., Robert E. Fiore of Wurtsboro and Paul Fiore of Bethlehem, Pa.; a brother, Albert Fiore of New Paltz; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
There was no public visitation.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 am. on Tuesday at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown.
Interment will be made in the Wallkill Cemetery in Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Manor, 1200 Spring St., Bethlehem, Pa. 18018 or to VNA Hospice at St. Luke’s, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, Pa. 18017.
Alevtina Tcherkassova
Artist-Technician, 50
Alevtina Tcherkassova of Grahamsville, an artist-technician, died Friday, May 6, 2005, at the Horton campus of Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, after a bout with cancer. She was 50 years of age.
The daughter of the late Ivan and Zinaida Shevrygin, she was born April 15, 1955, in Lgovo Ryazanskaya, Russia. She moved to America in 1994 with her husband and son.
In a family statement, it was said, “She was a kind and wise woman who has always helped the people around her. She will be greatly missed.”
She is survived by her husband, Oleg Tcherkassova, at home; a son, Dimitri; a daughter, Svetlana; a granddaughter, Sveta; her friends and co-workers of Livingskin and P&O Associates; and her wonderful, helping boss and friend, Thomas Passero and his family.
Interment will be made in Russia.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.
