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November 21, 2000

Memorial Service for Margaret Pecsi

Graveside memorial services and burial of the cremains of Margaret Pecsi will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Presbyterian Cemetery on Callicoon Center Road in Jeffersonville. The Rev. Robert McLeod will officiate.
Mrs. Pecsi, a former resident of Jeffersonville, died September 22, 2000, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville

Grace E. Coe, 93
Ret. Garage Co-owner

Grace E. Coe of Beach Lake, Pa., the retired co-owner of Coe's Garage and Bus Transporation in Damascus, Pa., and a lifelong area resident, died Friday, November 17, 2000, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. She was 93 years of age.
The daughter; of the late John and Ellen Frances McDavitt, she was born in Rutledgedale, Pa., on June 1, 1907. She was the widow of William Coe who died in 1981.
She is survived by two daughters, Betty Decker and her husband, Bob, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Luella Coe of Beach Lake Pa; two grandsons; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Phyllis Haynes officiating.
Interment will be made in the Glen Cove Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tusten Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764, the Damascus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Damascus, Pa. 18415 or to the American Heart Association, ORS Region, 407 East Main St., 2nd Floor, Middletown, N.Y. 10940.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

Ethel May Rogers
Ret. Cook, 86

Ethel May McAdams Rosenberger Rogers of Fremont Center, a former cook at Ted's Restaurant in Jeffersonville and a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, November 18, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 86 years of age.
The daughter of the late Charles and Leila Marble McAdams, she was born October 17, 1914, in Acidalia. She was the widow of Peter Rosenberger and Grant Rogers.
Mrs. Rogers is survived by a son, George Rosenberger of Fremont Center; two daughters, Betty Velastegui of Brooklyn and Carolyn Hubert of Fremont Center; a step-son, Howard Rogers of Millington, Tenn.; four brothers, Lawrence, Lucius, Grant and Bernard McAdams; a sister, Velma Strait; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two daughters, Helen Rosenberger and Emma Jean Hollenbeck, and a granddaughter, Lori Pepper.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.
Cremation was made at the Twin Tiers Crematory in Endicott.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fremont Center Fire Department or the Fremont Center Community Church, both at Fremont Center, N.Y. 12736.

Gladys H. Harris
Ret. Counselor, 75

Gladys Hyberger Harris of Monticello, a retired counselor for Crystal Run Village in Fallsburg and a longtime area resident, died Wednesday, November 15, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 75 years of age.
The daughter of the late Thomas and Daisy Ferguson Roach, she was born October 29, 1925, in Westmoreland, Jamaica. She was the widow of Robert Harris.
Mrs. Harris was a member of Cross Baptist Church in Monticello.
She is survived by three brothers, Frank Roach and Reginold Roach, both of Jamaica, and Rolston Roach of Monticello; three sisters, Hilda Arscott of Houston, Tex., Pearline Thompson of Philadelphia, Pa., and Praticia Watt of Jamaica; a grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday at the Cross Baptist Church in Monticello with Pastor Derrick Simms officiating.
Interment was made in the Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cross Baptist Church, 60 Lawrence Ave., Monticello, N.Y. 12701.

Helen Mottola
Homemaker, 77

Helen Mottola of Tuxedo, a 52-year area resident and a homemaker, died Thursday, November 16, 2000. She was 77 years of age.
Born in Baltimore, Md., she was the widow of Saverio "Sam" Mottola.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Mottola and his wife, Kim, of Bloomingburg, and Thomas Mottola of Tuxedo; a sister, Lottie Dubois, and a brother, John Kowalski, both of Mahwah, N.J.; and two grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel R.C. Church in Tuxedo.
Burial was made in the Mahwah Cemetery in Mahwah, N.J.

Rose Sekuler
Rt. Offc. Mgr., 95

Rose Schmilowitz Sekuler, a 2 1/2-year resident of Willowood, Woldenberg Living Center in Gretna, La., a retired office manager and former 93-year resident of Brooklyn and Monticello, died Wednesday, October 25, 2000, at the center. She was 95 years of age.
The daughter of the late Israel and Bertha Heitner Schmilowitz, she was born in Austria. She was the widow of Mack A. Sekuler.
A graduate of a business school, she had worked as a bookkeeper, dental assistant and office manager. She was recognized for her participation in the war effort during World War II and for volunteer work at the Jewish Community Center in Monticello.
Mrs. Sekuler was a member of the Forton Club of New York City.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was giving, loving and caring in life as well as in death. She will forever hold a special place in all of our hearts."
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn (Sekuler) and Bruce Okun and Bernice (Sekuler) and Gayle Ward; and nine grandchildren, Frank and Athena Fontaine, Sue and Bryan Crochet, Miriam and John Hook, Eric Okun, Bernard and Laurey Fontaine, Wendy and Jay Haydel, Jeff and Nancy Okun, Anna and Chuck Simpson and Paul and Tina Fontaine; step-grandmother to Diane and John Spinks and John and Nath Ward; seven great-grandchildren Adam Crochet, Luke Crochet, Arianne Rose Hook, Dave Hook, Rachel Fontaine, Lexi Simpson and Nadia Fontaine; 10 great-step-grandchildren Jennifer Folse, Rebecca Brown, Rebecca Williams, Sebio Trevino, Eric Stockard, Tyler Haydel, Nate Spinks, Charlotte Ward, Holden Fontaine and Isabelle Ward; two great-great-step-grandchildren Nick Folse and Austin Anthony Brown; and a brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law, Felix and Florence Sekuler, Mary Sekuler and Rhoda Sekuler.
Mrs. Sekuler requested that her body be donated to the Tulane University Anatomical Board.
A memorial service was held October 29 at Woldenberg Village in Gretna, La.
Memorial contributions may be made to Woldenberg Village, 3701 Behrman Place, Gretna, La. 70053 or to Oydessy Hospice.

Richard Branning
Ret. A&P Mgr., 83

Richard Branning of Monticello died Thursday, November 16, 2000, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 83 years of age.
The son of the late Minard and Anna McCullogh Branning, he was born January 25, 1917, in Manhattan.
A graduate of Roscoe Central School, Mr. Branning was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was a member and past deacon of the First Church of Monticello-Presbyterian. Following his retirement as store manager of the Monticello A & P Store, he worked as a dispatcher for the Village of Monticello Police Department.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Blanche Merritt Branning, at home; a daughter, Patricia Diuguid of Monticello; a brother, Minard Branning of Livingston Manor; three grandchildren, Todd Duiguid of Culloden, W. Va., Allison Diuguid of Monticello and Samantha Diuguid of Norwich, Conn.; and a grandson, Jordan Diuguid of Norwich, Conn. He was predeceased by a sister, Ruth Branning, and a brother, Howard Branning.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Monticello with the Rev. Alex McLean officiating.
Interment was made in Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice, or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, N.Y. 13220-3049.

Ada A. Osburn
Ret. Supervisor, 77

Ada Amy Osburn of Yankee Lake, a retired supervisor for Esquire Shoe Polish in Valley Stream and a longtime area resident, died Friday, November 17, 2000, at the Middletown Park Manor in Middletown. She was 77 years of age.
The daughter of the late Elias and Ada Woods Lester, she was born June 26, 1923, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Joseph E. Osburn.
Mrs. Osburn was a member of the Mamakating Senior Citizens and the Mamakating Lionesses and had worked in Green's Department Store in Orange Plaza in Middletown.
She is survived by two sons, Michael Osburn and Joseph Osburn, both of Brooklyn; a sister, Elsie Carlin of Yankee Lake; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro with the Rev. Robert Hoag officiating.
Burial was made in the Westbrookville Cemetery in Westbrookville.

Robert W. Hadley
Owned Walt's TV, 64

Robert W. Hadley of Long Eddy, the owner of Walt's Television in Callicoon for 21 years and a forklift operator for Yellow Freight in Maybrook, died Friday, November 17, 2000, at the Grover M. Hermann Division of Community General Hospital in Callicoon. He was 64 years of age.
The son of the late Carl and Doris Deck Hadley, he was born November 9, 1936, in Bovina Center
Mr. Hadley was a member of the Hankins United Methodist Church and the Allan Milk Memorial Post #7276, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Long Eddy.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Oestrich Hadley, at home; a son, Rickey Hadley of Long Eddy; three daughters, Sharri Komatz of Bethel, Melissa Dauch of Roscoe and Alicia Hadley of Smallwood; four brothers, Edwin Hadley of Walker Valley, Theodore Hadley of Newport News, Va., Stanley Hadley of Lake Como, Pa., and Gary Hadley of Monticello; four sisters, Dolores Emerich of Pickens, S.C., Kathy Nelson of Holmen, Wisc., Helen Woods of Sidney and Barbara Morris of Hancock; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Fremont Center Community Church in Fremont Center with the Rev. James O'Rourke officiating.
Burial was made in Halsey Cemetery in Long Eddy.
Memorial contributions may be made to Make-a-Wish Foundation, 280 North Bedford Rd., Suite 2B, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. 10549; the Allan Milk Memorial Post #7276, VFW, Long Eddy, NY. 12760; or to the Hankins United Methodist Church, Hankins, N.Y. 12741.

Christine R.V. Epps
Nursing Assistant, 40

Christine R. VanDunk Epps of Port Jervis, a nursing assistant and longtime area resident, died Friday, November 17, 2000, at her home. She was 40 years of age.
The daughter of Florence Williams VanDunk and the late Rudolph J. VanDunk Sr., she was born November 29, 1959, in Hillburn.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a loving mother. She loved her granddaughter and enjoyed walks in the outdoors."
She is survived by her mother of Otisville; two sons, Herbert Epps Jr. of Beacon and Nicholas A. Epps of Milford, Pa.; a daughter Yvonne Epps of Otisville; a brother, Rudolph J. VanDunk of Otisville; three sisters, Patricia Hall of Rego Park, Trudy Ramos of Roscoe and Rebecca VanDunk of Otisville; a granddaughter, Jada Epps of Otisville; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main St., Port Jervis.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Duane McPherson officiating.
Burial will be made in Hillside Cemetery in Middletown.

Agnes L. King
Ret. from NY Tel

Agnes Lord King of Monticello died Saturday, November 18, 2000, at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty.
The daughter of the late Sidney and Pearl Breen Lord Rice, she was born November 22, 1909, in Rock Hill. She was the widow of Aleck King.
Mrs. King was retired from the New York Telephone Company and was a member of the Pioneers. She was a lifetime member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Monticello and had served on the Vestry and Guild.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Sandra King; a daughter-in-law, Margaret King; seven grandchildren, Thomas, William, Robert, Constance, Dennis, Judith and Gary; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Thomas King.
Friends may call at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 195 Broadway, Monticello, on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m.
Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 15 St. John St., Monticello, N.Y. 12701.

Marie O'Reilly
Ret. Personnel Dir.

Marie O'Reilly of Glen Spey, a retired personnel director of Pollak Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, November 16, 2000, at the home of her son in Hackensack, N.J.
The daughter of the late John and Marion Duggan Cassidy, she was born in Jersey City, N.J. She was the widow of Peter O'Reilly, who died September 7, 1971.
Mrs. O'Reilly was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Pond Eddy.
She is survived by a son, Aidan O'Reilly of Hackensack, N.J.; a daughter, Margaret M. Hirsh of Tiburon, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, John Peter Reilly, and a grandson, Edward Peter Hirsh.
Services were held Monday at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home in Port Jervis, followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Anthony's Church in Yulan with the Rev. Anthony McGuire officiating.
Burial was made in St. Anthony's Cemetery in Eldred.

Haydee Perez
Homemaker, 72

Haydee Perez of Middletown died Thursday, November 16, 2000, at her home. She was 72 years of age.
The daughter of the late Dolores Perez-Colon and Inez Gonzalez Colon, she was born January 27, 1928, in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. She was the widow of Casiano Rosa who died in 1972.
Mrs. Perez is survived by four children, Casiano Rosa Jr. of Bloomingburg, and Sonia Rosa, Diane Rosa Selimoski and Edward Rosa, all of Middletown; three sisters, Segunda Figueroa, Inez Diaz and Maria Diaz, all of Puerto Rico; two brothers, Jose Perez of Texas and Anibal Perez of New Jersey; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Richard Rosa.
A Service of Remembrance was held Monday at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Kenneth Wonderland officiating.
Interment was made in the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery in Bloomingburg.

Louis Blumberg
Ret. School Supt., 86

Louis Blumberg of Pompano Beach, Fla., a retired superintendent of schools for the Fallsburg Central and Levittown Central Schools and a former longtime Sullivan County resident, died Sunday, November 12, 2000, in Broward Medical Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He was 86 years of age.
The son of the late Jack and Frieda Goldman Blumberg, he was born March 10, 1914, in Woodridge. He was the widower of Betty Blumberg.
Mr. Blumberg was a former principal at the Woodridge High School. He was one of the moving spirits behind the formation of Sullivan County Community College.
In a family statement, it was said, "He affected the lives of thousands of students and will never be forgotten."
He is survived by two sons, Charles and Fred Blumberg, both of the state of Florida; a brother, Peter Blumberg of the state of Florida; a sister-in-law, Esterita "Cissie" Blumberg of Liberty; two nephews, Paul Blumberg of Ohio and Fred Blumberg of the state of Florida; and two nieces, Amy Goldbas of Connecticut and Judy Amerine of Ohio; and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Larry Blumberg.
Graveside services were held Friday at the Woodridge Synagogue Cemetery in Glen Wild with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

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