Sullivan County Democrat
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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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April 18, 2003

Jean B. Tag
Homemaker, 74

Jean Blair Tag of Jeffersonville, a homemaker, died Saturday, April 12, 2003, while visiting relatives in De Bary, Fla., at the Fish Memorial Hospital in Orange City. She was 74 years of age.
The widow of Walter Blair to whom she was married 30 years, Mrs. Tag was a member of the United Methodist Church in Jeffersonville and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed a variety of craft making, traveling, gardening and loved to play golf.
She is survived by two brothers, W.T. Blair of De Bary Fla., James Blair of Orleans, Mass.; two sisters, Ella Elizabeth Mathews of Lake Luzerne and Jane Carnell of Haines City, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at a later date in Pleasantville.
Interment will be made at the Kensico Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant.

Robert W. DeGroot
Bus Driver, 70

Robert W. DeGroot of Ferndale, a bus driver for the Liberty Central School District and the Gershowitz Bus Company in Liberty and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, April 14, 2003, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 70 years of age.
The son of the late Roland and Ruth Fraser DeGroot, he was born May 18, 1932, in Monticello.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he was a life member of the Clarence Hoyt Post No. 9217, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Liberty and a member of the Liberty Elks Lodge #1545. Mr. DeGroot was a former member of the Swan Lake Fire Company in Swan Lake and a former member of the Corp. Russell D. Sprague Post #109 of the American Legion in Liberty.
He is survived by his wife, Madelin "Maggie" Tierney DeGroot, at home; a daughter, Edithann DeGroot, at home; a sister-in-law, Helen DeGroot of White Sulphur Springs; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Thursday at the Harris Funeral Home in Liberty with the Rev. Richard Gabriel officiating.
Burial with military honors was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.

Michael R. Dorn
Ret. Exec. Chef, 70

Michael R. "Pop" Dorn of Wurtsboro, a retired executive chef for the Sperry-Rand Corporation and a longtime area resident, died April 14, 2003, at his home. He was 70 years of age.
The son of the late Renaldo and Dorothy Herrera Dorn, he was born February 1, 1933, in Hoboken, N.J. He was the widower of Joan Dorn.
An associate member of the Wurtsboro Fire Company #1, Mr. Dorn was a veteran of the United States Army, serving as a paratrooper with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team "Rakkasans" during the Korean War. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman's badge, the Korean Conflict Ribbon with three campaign stars, the Purple Heart for wounds received in Chowan, Korea, the Army of Occupation Ribbon for his service in Occupied Japan, and many other medals and commendations.
He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Fonda and William Padgett of Wurtsboro and Decena and Mark Tanzman of Rock Hill; three sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Carol Dorn of Brooklyn, Perry and Janice Dorn of Monticello and Scott and Cheryl Dorn of Rock Hill; 11 grandchildren, Douglas, Cory, Tyla, Dara, Jessica, Michael, Amande, Samantha, Jordan, Jason and Jonas; three sisters, Nora Kolsin and her husband, Sheldon, of Dunnellon, Fla., Patricia Arca and Katherine Chiappone, both of Granbury, Tex.
A prayer service was held at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro on Wednesday with the Rev. Peter Madori officiating.
Burial was made with military honors at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, N.Y. 12401.

Carmella Staropoli
Dog Breeder, 81

Carmella Staropoli of Liberty, a dog breeder for many years in Sullivan County, died Monday, April 14, 2003, at the Stratton Veterans Administration Medical Center in Albany after a long illness. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Ciro and Angelina Comparato Staropoli, she was born September 6, 1921, in New York City.
A member of St. Peter's R.C. Church in Liberty, she was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, serving as a Staff Sergeant from 1951 to 1954. Miss Staropoli was a member of Corporal Russell D. Sprague Post #109, American Legion, in Liberty where she had served as commander and chaplain. She was a member of the Women's Army Corps Veterans Association, a charter member of the Monticello Kennel Club, a past president of the Sullivan County Italian-American Association and a member and treasurer of the Liberty Lioness Club. She was a volunteer with the Sullivan County Office for the Aging, a former member of the Livingston Manor Senior Citizens and a board member of the Liberty Rural Housing Agency. Serving as a foster grandmother for the Liberty Elementary School was dear to her heart.
She is survived by a niece, Frances Nocello of Massapequa; a nephew, Charles Staropoli of Newark, Del.; and five grand-nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Wednesday at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Liberty with the Rev. Ivan Csete officiating.
Interment with military honors was made at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's R.C. Church, 264 North Main St., Liberty, N.Y. 12754 or to the Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 105, Liberty, N.Y. 12754.

Winifred Kuhar
Ret. Chambermaid, 61

Winifred W. "Winnie" Kuhar of Ellenville, a retired chambermaid at the Tamarack Lodge in Greenfield Park and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at the Ellenville Regional Hospital. She was 61 years of age.
The daughter of the late Winifred and Mildred L. Briggs Brown, she was born December 21, 1941, in Greenfield Park.
A member of the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew in Ellenville, she was a former associate manager at the Ulster Heights Tavern.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Sgt. Maj. Scott and Luise Kuhar, with the United States Army, and Robert Kuhar Jr. of Ellenville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan M. and Bradley Snyder of Ellenville and Robin L. and Chief Warrant Officer 4th Class Thomas Somers with the United States Army; two brothers, Albert Brown of Woodbourne and Harold Brown of Greenfield Park; a sister, Gertrude Yerkes of Greenfield Park; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Tammy Jo Kuhar, and a brother, Robert Brown.
Friends may call at the Loucks Funeral Home on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated on Saturday at 9 a.m at the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew, Route 209, Ellenville.
Burial will be made in the Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, 208 N. Bedford Rd., #2-B, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. 10549.

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