U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentHyman E. Benskie
U.S. Army Veteran, 86
Mr. Hyman Edward Benskie of Monticello, a lifelong resident of of Sullivan County, died Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY. He was 86.
He was born April 26, 1921 in Divine Corners, NY, the son of the the late Abraham Benskie and the late Ida Benskie.
He was a WWII Army Veteran having served in the Philippines, landing during the invasion of the Lingayen Gulf and supporting the Battle of Manila. Hy and the Benskie family owned and operated the Riverside Hotel in Divine Corners until 1967. In the years after he was a chief-kitchen steward at the Pines Hotel in South Fallsburg. He was a partner in the Hall of Fame Baseball Camp. He also was the head of maintenance at the Gilberts Hotel in Fallsburg and Kutsher’s Sports Camp in the Town of Thompson.
Hy Benskie was a man dedicated to his wife and family. He gave unselfishly of his time and experience to his friends. Hy was a loyal friend to many, a dependable employee, and a generous father and grandfather. He was self-taught in many construction trades and had a knack for creating one of a kind projects and came with a “can do” attitude.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Rubin Benskie; one daughter, Rita Savage of Chester; one son, Alan Benskie and his wife, Connie, of Monticello; four grandchildren, Chastin Savage of Lanoka Harbor, N.J.; Wyatt Savage of Harriman, Andrew Benskie and Shayna Benskie of Monticello; and one great-grandchild, Ashleigh Savage Colandro of Highlands, N.J. He was predeceased by a sister, Helen Ruth Benskie.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 30, 2007 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 55 St. John St., Monticello, N.Y.
Cremation will be at Cedar Hill Crematory, Newburgh, N.Y.
Arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes Inc., Monticello 845-794-2700.
Edward D. Gabriel
Self-employed mason, 26
Edward D. Gabriel, a lifetime area resident, passed away on December 25, 2007 in Callicoon, NY.
He was 26.
The son of Edward J. and Susan Covart Gabriel, he was born on December 12, 1981 in Harris, NY.
He was a self-employed mason.
Survivors include his parents, Edward and Susan Gabriel of Equinunk, Pa.; 3 sisters, Donna Miller and husband Jeffrey of White Lake, Lori Cavallo and husband James of Endicott, NY and Karen Borowski and husband Andrew of Cochecton; a brother, Robert “Jake” Gabriel of Eldred; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 3534 State Rt 55, Kauneonga Lake on Saturday December 29, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 1 p.m. with Rev. William Haggerty officiating.
Burial will be in the family plot in Fosterdale Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes, Inc., Kauneonga Lake, NY.
Ron Cushing
Retired Treatment Assistant, 71
Ron Cushing of Wurtsboro died Friday, December 21, 2007 at O.R.M.C., Arden Hill campus in Goshen, with his wife by his side. He was 71.
The son of the late Harold and Frances Cushing, he was born June 10, 1936.
Ron worked as a Security Treatment Assistant at the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center in New Hampton for 28 years before retiring in 1996. He enjoyed reading, writing, and acting, and has written hundreds of letters, poems and songs. Ron was an actor at heart. He had a small, small role in the CBS movie “Murder by Reason of Insanity” which was filmed partly at Mid-Hudson. After retiring, he acted in several local plays throughout the area where he met several people whom he enjoyed acting with.
He enjoyed watching his two sons grow up and doing things with them such as playing catch with David or practicing the trombone with Michael. He was very happy that he and Michael shared a love for music. Ron was very thankful for the love and support he received from his friends and family throughout the past year and for all the help that they gave to him and his wife. Ron was also very grateful for the love he shared with his wife, Betty, who through good times and bad times still remained his best girl. Ron was one of a kind and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Elizabeth, at home; his two sons: David and his fiancée, Stacey of Bloomingburg and Michael and his fiancée, Bridgette of Wurtsboro; two brothers: Harold and his wife, Ann of Middletown and Harvey and his wife, Bev of Otisville. Ron also leaves behind five grandchildren: Katrina, Leah, Justin, Courtney and Alexandra, and several nieces and nephews. Ron was very fond of his wife's family, especially her sister, Veronica and her husband, Jim of Piscataway, NJ, as well as Michael and Jill Ferrazzano of Brooklyn and Wurtsboro, and their two sons: Austin and Brady, whom he considered grandchildren as well.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, December 26, at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan St. in Wurtsboro. His funeral service was held on Thursday, December 27, at the funeral home, with Pastor Robert P. Meyer officiating. Burial followed in the Sylvan Cemetery in Wurtsboro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Community Church of Wurtsboro, P.O. Box 487, Wurtsboro, NY 12790 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home. For additional information, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com or call 845-888-2731.
Sr. Emily Katz, r.c., 96
Sister Emily Katz, r.c., of Chicago, Ill. and a resident of Resurrection Life Center Nursing Home, died on December 8, 2007. She was 96.
The daughter of Mary Kennedy Katz and Louis Katz, she was born July 10, 1911 in New York City.
She graduated from Fordham U, worked on Wall Street and entered religious life in the Cenacle in March 1937 where she became a nun.
Survivors include her nephews, Lawrence Katz of Liberty and Joseph Katz of Lake Worth, Fla.; nieces, Viola DiMarcio of Monticello and Lois Redmond of Baltimore, Md.
She was predeceased by a nephew, Edward Katz, Jr. and a niece, Carol Williams.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cenacle, 513 West Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614-6428.
Thomas J. Haney
LPN, 45
Thomas J. Haney of Wappingers Falls, a licensed practical nurse, died January 2, 2001, in Wappingers Falls. He was 45 years of age.
The son of Theresa Regan Haney Calkin and the late George V. Haney, he was born December 7, 1955, in Brooklyn.
Mr. Haney was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force.
He is survived by his mother and step-father, William Calkin of Youngsville; a brother, Robert Haney of Newburgh; two sisters, Deborah Hubbert of Honesdale, Pa., and Dee Moore of Jeffersonville; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
A Memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. George's Church in Jeffersonville with Father Robert Nee, O.F.M., officiating.
Cremation was made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Stacey A. Merklin
Homemaker, 46
Stacey Ann Merklin, a 20-year resident of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., died Thursday, December 28, 2000, at Baldwin Brothers Memorial Care Services in New Smyrna Beach. She was 46 years of age.
The daughter of the late John J. and Marion McCaffery "Skip" Knapp, she was born December 12, 1954, in Monticello and was Catholic by faith.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a wonderful mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece and soon-to-be grandmother. She filled her family's lives with love. She loved family and instilled values, morals and most of all, happiness into the hearts of many. She loved cooking and family gatherings. She was the matriarch of our clan, always strong and always present. Stacey Ann Merklin will be greatly missed and treasured as a strong woman, wonderful sister, wife, mother and an inspiration to all. You will remain in our hearts for eternity. Love you always and forever, your baby."
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, James Merklin, at home; a daughter, Johna Rose; a son, Ryan James; a sister, Rose Knapp Traub; a sister-in-law, Tracy Merklin; two brothers-in-law, Arnold Traub and Tim Merklin; four nephews, Justin and Brandon Traub and Jordan and Kristopher Merklin; a future son-in-law, Mark Norman; and many loving aunts, cousins and friends.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hospice of Volusia County in Florida.
Anthony J. Zuclich
Ret. Cook, 86
Anthony John Zuclich of Middletown, a retired cook at the Middletown Psychiatric Center, died Friday, December 29, 2000, at the Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. He was 86 years of age.
The son of the late Antonio and Maria Dundich Zuclich, he was born August 29, 1914, in Nercine, Italy. He was the widower of Grace Weden Zuclich who died February 23, 2000.
A veteran of the U. S. Army, he served during World War II.
Mr. Zuclich is survived by a son, John Zuclich, and a daughter, Mary Ann DellaPia, and five grandchildren, Jason, Eric and Andrew Zuclich and Jeremy and Leslie DellaPia, all of Middletown; a sister, Maria Bonich of Canada; a nephew, Fernando "Fred" Bonich of Monticello; and a niece, Maria Bonich of Canada.
Services were held Tuesday at the Morse Funeral Home in Middletown.
Burial was made in the Unionville Cemetery in Unionville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 419 East Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.
Paul L. Tuttle, 65
Owned T&R Const.
Paul L. Tuttle of Livingston Manor, the owner and operator of T&R Construction in Livingston Manor and a lifelong area resident, died Thursday, December 28, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. He was 65 years of age.
The son of the late Leo R. and Ivabelle Hotchkin Tuttle, he was born September 7, 1935, in Livingston Manor.
Mr. Tuttle is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Robert P. and Sheri Tuttle and George D. Tuttle, and a daughter and son-in-law, LuAnne P. and Jeff Roberts, all of Livingston Manor; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Services were held Sunday at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home in Livingston Manor with Pastor Dorothy Smith officiating.
Burial will be made in the Orchard Street Cemetery in Livingston Manor in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston Manor Rotary Club or the Livingston Manor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 1, both at Livingston Manor, N.Y. 12758.
Pauline R. Ambra
Ret. Laundry Mgr., 97
Pauline Rose Ambra of Liberty, a retired laundry manager for the former Liberty Maimonides Hospital, died Friday, December 29, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 97 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Mary Leskovsky Mraz, she was born December 27, 1903, in Czechoslovakia. She was the widow of the late Frank Ambra.
Mrs. Ambra was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Liberty.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen Peter and Carolyn Ambra of Bowling Green, Mo., and John Peter and Stephanie Ambra of Shrewsbury, Mass; two daughters, Mary Agnes Fanning of Lowell, Mass., and Helen A. Stuart of Liberty; two sisters, Mary Lafko and Margaret Mraz of Buffalo; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Betty A. Calkin; a son-in-law, Frank Joseph Stuart; two sisters, Agnes and Anne Mraz; and a grandson, Michael Calkin.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Tuesday at St. Peter's R.C. Church in Liberty with Monsignor Edward Straub officiating.
Interment was made in St. Peter's Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Church, 264 North Main St., Liberty, N.Y. 12754.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.
