Sullivan County Democrat
O n l i n e  E d i t i o n
www.sc-democrat.com National Award-winning, Family-run Newspaper info@sc-democrat.com
  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
home  |  archives
May 13, 2005

Ida Matri
Ret. Businesswoman, 81

Ida “Eda” R. Biagi Matri, a longtime resident of Lake Anawanda, Callicoon Center, and formerly of Upper Saddle River, N.J., a retired businesswoman who assisted her husband in his business, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Giulio and Virginia Triglia Biagi, she was born June 20, 1923, in Westchester.
Mrs. Matri attended Hunter College and worked as a secretary for Colliers Publishing Company in New York City prior to her marriage in 1943. During World War II she worked as a secretary for the Submarine Signal Company in New York City. After her marriage, she assisted her husband in his engineering and contracting business.
She was a member of St. Francis of Rome and Our Lady of Grace Church in New York City, the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, N.J., and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg. Mrs. Matri was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion.
In a family statement, it was said, “She treasured every moment she had with her family. She was especially devoted to her grandchildren as they were the center of her life, along with her husband, Mario. She was the true and loving matriarch of the Matri family and will be sadly missed and forever loved. She will be forever remembered for her generous spirit, infectious laugh, never endng supply of love, and being the #1 fan of the New York Yankees. Our memories of her and her love will see us through this difficlt tume.”
Mrs. Matri is survived by her husband of 62 years, Mario Matri, at home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Hank and Marie Matri of Upper Saddle River, N.J., Stephen and Anne Matri of Mahwah, N.J., and Richard and Karen Matri of Upper Saddle River, N.J.; two daughters, Marilyn Matri Verderame and her husband, Lance, of Livingston Manor, and Carolyn Matri Aiello and her fiance, Michael Fruchter of Lake Anawanda, Callicoon Center; 13 grandchldren, Dawn Sykes, Michael, Amy, Mark, Stephen Jr., Jessica, Paul and Charlotte Matri, Matthew and Kimberly Verderame, Alexandra, Raymond and Michael Aiello; a great-grandson, Jack Sykes; and a sister-like-cousin, Faye Petramale. She was predeceased by a sister, Julia Biagi Monastero, a nephew, Andrew Monastero, and a brother, Dolph Biagi.
A Funeral Mass was offered on Thursday at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Obernburg with Father John Richardson officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Church, Obernburg, N.Y. 12767.

Patrick Fitzgerald Sr.
Truck Driver, 45

Patrick J. Fitzgerald Sr. of Bloomingburg, a truck driver for P&G Distributors in Bloomingburg, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at the Horton campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. He was 45 years of age.
The son of Patrick and Joan Castiner Fitzgerald, he was born December 7, 1959, in New York City.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Offenheiser Fitzgerald, two sons, Patrick J. Jr. and Bryan Fitzgerald and two daughters, JoAnne Fitzgerald and Christine Fitzgerald, all at home; his parents of Daytona Beach, Fla.; two brothers, Robert Fitzgerald of Mount Morris and William Fitzgerald and his wife, Mary Anne, of Port Jervis; two sisters, Deborah Kagle of DeLeon Springs, Fla., and Tabitha Fitzgerald of Daytona Beach, Fla.
Friends may call at the Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with Deacon John Frohbose officiating.
A Eucharistic Liturgy will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Paul’s Catholic Chruch, Bullville, with Decon John Frohbose officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Marion Mangan
Ret. Court Steno, 93

Marion Gerow Mangan of Liberty, a retired Supreme Court stenographer for Sullivan County Courts in Monticello, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at the Loudoun Nursing and Rehab Center in Leesburg, Va. She was 93 years of age.
The daughter of the late Benjamin R. and Angeline Wheeler Gerow, she was born December 17, 1911, in Liberty. She was the widow of Thomas Mangan who died in 1979.
Mrs. Gerow worked later in her life as an LPN at the Walnut Mt. Nursing Home in Liberty,
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Gerow “Muggs” and Michelena Mangan of Liberty; a daughter, Mary Ann Bradley of Leesburg, Va.; three brothers, William Gerow of Tenessee, Henry Gerow and his wife, Louise, of Winter Park, Fla., and Robert Gerow and his wife, Anne, of Liberty; a sister, Elsie Norris of South Carolina; three grandchildren, Kyle Mangan, Melanie Bendy and Chelsea Ann Bradley; a great-grandson, Andrew Bendy; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by six brothers, Ralph, Benjamin, Irving, Herbert, Louis and Arthur Gerow; five sisters, Anna Allen, Ella Ball, Helen Bradford, Harriet Wright and Frances Gerow; a step-son, Thomas Mangan, Commander U.S. Army; and a grandson, Gary.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 S. Main Street, Liberty, with the Rev. Bridgette LeConey officiating.
Burial will be made in the Liberty Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tia Hernlen College Fund, c/o Hank Gerow, 128 Benmore Dr., Winter Park, Fla. 32792-4101 or to the Loudoun Nursing & Rehab Center, Resident Activities, Attn: Resident Activities Dept. 235 Old Waterford Rd., N.W. Leesburg, Va. 20176.

Samo Magolie
Ret. Interior Designer, 89

Samo John Magolie of New York City and Callicoon, died Monday, April 25, 2005, at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. He was 89 years of age, just four months shy of his 90th birthday.
The son of the late Ludwig and Emma Magolie, he was born August 12, 1915, in that part of Oesterreich which is now Slovenia.
Mr. Magolie was an established actor and musical comedy star in his country before coming to the United States. Being multi-lingual and multi-talented, his life took a completely new direction, turning towards interior design and building. In Callicoon he became known as a legendary trout fisherman. As a lover of nature, a hunter and a fisherman, he spent most of his leisure time in Sullivan County, which he called his life-line.
He is survived by his wife, Johanna Eleonore Wohlenberg Magolie of New York City; a son, Alexander Samo Magolie, presently with the Police Headquarters Administration Division in New York City; two married nieces, Mija and Adalbert Weinbach and their family in Germany, and Martha and Vinko Peterlin and family in Slovenia; and several grand-nieces, great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews.
Cremation was arranged by the John Krtil Funeral Home in New York City.
A Memorial Mass will be offered at 10 a.m on Saturday at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon with Father Ignatius Smith officiating,
Memorial contributions may be made to the Auxiliary of Grover Hermann Hospital or Holy Cross Church, both at Callicoon, N.Y. 12723.

Robert A. Carieri
Ret. G.E. Salesman, 64

Robert Anthony Carieri, a 41-year resident of Bloomingburg and a retired General Electric regional salesman with 37 years service, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 7, 2005. He was 64 years of age.
The son of the late James and Amelia Cammarota Carieri, he was born October 15, 1940, in New York City.
Mr. Carieri received his business degree from Fordham University and retired from G.E. in 2001.
He was a member of the Wurtsboro H.O.G. and chaired many cancer runs benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In a family statement, it was said, “In whatever he did, he gave all of himself, leaving a lasting impression all who met him.”
Mr. Carieri is survived by his wife, Lynne Langion Carieri, at home; five daughters and four sons-in-law, Lisa Roveto of Middletown, Lori and Marc Colantuono of Greenville, Susan and Brian Seeley of Mt. Hope, Donna and Stephen Wise of Jacksonville, Tex., and Nancy and Jim Price of Monticello; four brothers, Carl Carieri and his wife, Rosemarie, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Richard Carieri and his fiancé, Jan Broman, of California and John Carieri and his wife, Peg, of Sugarloaf; seven grandchildren, Kyle Seeley, Caitlyn Wise, Jillian Seeley, Spencer Roveto, Nicole and Joey Colantuono, and Dylan Price; andmany nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Middletown with Father Dennis Nikolic and Deacon Carl Carieri officiating.
Burial was made in the family plot in the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.

Lisa Ruiz
Waitress, 40

Lisa Ruiz, a 20-year resident of Newburgh and a waitress for Applebee’s in Monroe, died Saturday, May 7, 2005, in St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh due to asthma complications.
She was born October 7, 1964, in Los Angeles, Calif.
In a family statement, it was said, “Lisa was a fun and loving person and an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She will be greatly missed by all.”
She is survived by her mother, Carmen Fernandez Totten of Ellenville; a sister and brother-in-law, Rochelle and Christopher Gallo of Wurtsboro; two daughters, Rhiannon Haugen of Newburgh and Jordanna Alanna Martinez of Newburgh; two sons, Danny Haugen Jr. and Brennan Haugen, both of Ellenville; her companion, Santos Martinez of Newburgh; several nieces and nephews, including Joseph Ruiz, Christopher Gallo, Louis, Michael, Nakisha and Jason Fernandez; several grand-nieces and grand-nephews, aunts and uncles. She was predeceased by a brother, Louis Fernandez, and her step-father, Perry Totten.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Thursday at the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew in Ellen-ville.
Cremation was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rochelle Gallo, 21 Sunset Dr., Wurtboro, N.Y. 12790.

Chadwick Hulse Sr.
Laborer, 31

Chadwick Neil Hulse Sr. of Ellenville, a former resident of Newburgh and a laborer in shipping and receiving at Scenic Technologies in New Windsor, died Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Ulster County. He was 31 years of age.
The son of Robert Allen Sr. and Christina L. Moore Hulse, he was born July 8, 1973, in Newburgh.
He is survived by his wife, Eminette Hulse, at home; four children, Chadwick Neil Hulse Jr., Amber Lily Hulse, Nicholas Ryan Hulse and Rubia Isabela Hulse, all of Ellenville; his father of Newburgh; his mother of Liberty; two brothers, Robert A. Hulse Jr. of New Windsor and Harold Stevens Hulse of Beacon; a sister, Jennifer Lynn Stevens of South Fallsburg; his maternal grandparents, Harold and Pauline Stevens; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Wednesday at the Hudson Valley Funeral Home in New Windsor.
Burial was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Carl Bennett Sr.
Ret. Brakeman, 87

Carl G. Bennett Sr. of Gardiner, a retired brakeman for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at the Montgomery Nursing Home. He was 87 years of age.
The son of the late Floyd and Clarabelle Brown Bennett, he was born September 21, 1917, in East Branch. He was the widower of Eva Bennett.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Carl G. Jr. and Judy Bennett of Fallsburg, and William F. Sr. and Sue Bennett of Montgomery; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lora and Jim Carlew of Montgomery and Joan and Phil Kratochwil of Wallkill; a son-in-law, Bruce Carlew of Wallkill; a daughter-in-law, Louise Bennett of Bloomingburg; a brother, Harry Bennett of Watertown; two sisters, Marion Romer of Montgomery and Bertha DeMao of Walden; 20 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Leon Bennett, a daughter, Eva Carlew, and two brothers, Douglas and Leon Bennett.
Friends may call at the Gridley-Horan Funeral Home, 39 Orchard St., Walden, on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Wall-kill Valley Cemetery in Walden.

Walter McConnell
Businessman, 72

Walter L. “Mudcat” McConnell of Milford, Pa., the owner of Walt’s Auto Sales in Port Jervis and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at the Newton Memorial Hospital in Newton, N.J. He was 72 years of age.
He was born October 10, 1932, in Port Jervis.
Mr. McConnell was a member of the Port Jervis Country Club and was an avid golfer. He was also a bowler and sponsored several leagues as well as playing and sponsoring softball teams.
A graduate of Matamoras High School, he was a former owner of the West End Tavern and former manager of the Colonial Inn.
In a family statement, it was said, “Walt was a great person. . . all class. He never thought of himself. He would always put everyone else first.”
He is survived by his wife, Theresa McConnell, at home; her children, Joseph Senese of Dingman’s Ferry, Pa., Anne Mabee of Sparrowbush and Ralph Senese of Pine Bush; four grandchildren, Joseph Senese Jr. of Milford, Pa., Ralph Senese of Pine Bush, Zachery Roach of Port Jervis and Jonie Senese of Glen Spey. He also leaves his cats, Little Cat and Snowball.
Friends may call at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 East Main St., Port Jervis, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saurday at the funeral home.
Cremation will be made by the H.G.. Smith Crematory in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark, Inc., 202 Route 209, Port Jervis, N.Y. 12771.

Camillus O’Connell
Ret. Financial Advisor, 82

Camillus “Commander” O’Connell of Haverstraw, a former 22-year resident of New City, died Tuesday, May 10, 2005, at the Nyack Hospital. He was 82 years of age.
The son of the late Camillus and Mary Cleary O’Connell, he was born March 7, 1923, in New York City.
A graduate of Cornell University, he received a BA from Manhattan College in Engineering. Mr. O’Connell was an executive financial adviser for IBM in White Plains.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Westchester, a member of the Ecurie Racing Club of Rockland, and a member of Harper’s Field Historical Society in Harpersfield. A 15-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and U.S.N. Reserves during World War II, Korea and Vietnam, he was a Lt. Commander in the Seabees.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, O’Connell, at home; three sons, Michael O’Connell of New Windsor, Thomas O’Connell and his wife, Mary Ann of Ann Arbor, Minn., and Brian and his wife, Nancy Fremont O’Connell of Astoria; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Dr. Frank Meyers of Amherst, Mass., and Theresa and Chris Reesbeck of Haverstraw; a brother, Robert O’Connell of Bloomingburg; 11 grandchildlren; and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his step-mother, Ann Burke O’Connell, a sister, Eileen Drake, a daughter, Joanne, a son Kevin and a daughter-in-law, Linda, and a son-in-law, Andre D’Ambroso.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday at 10:15 a.m at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Nyack.
Cremation will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, Md. 20814 or the United Hospice of Rockland.

Kathryn Speakman
Homemaker, 92

Kathryn “Kitty” Ryan Speakman, a 39-year resident of Hankins and a homemaker, died Sunday, May 8, 2005, at the Abington Memorial Hospital in Warminster, Pa. She was 92 years of age.
The daughter of the late Edward and Alice Carr Ryan, she was born February 22, 1913, in New York City. She was the widow of Paul L. Speakman.
Mrs. Speakman spent several years of her youth in Hankins and then moved back here in 1966 with her husband. She was very active in the community and participated in bake sales, penny socials and other fundraising activites for the community. She was a friend of the Hankins-Fremont Fire Department and the United Methodist Church of Hankins.
She was a member of Holy Cross Church in Callicoon and was known as the “50/50 Lady” for selling chances each Sunday for many years. Children knew her as “Aunt Kitty” and “The Candy Lady.” Mrs. Speakman was a member of Holy Cross Altar and Rosary Society, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and was an honorary member the Knights of Columbus.
In a family statement, it was said, “She will always be remembered for the twinkle in her eyes and enough love for everyone.”
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald P. and Josephine Speakman of Warminster, Pa.; three grandchildren, Robert C. Speakman of Warminster, Pa., Michael P. Speakman and his wife, Frances, of Horsham, Pa., and Kathryn R. Speakman of Arlington, Va.; and a sister-in-law, Betty Ryan of Hilton. She was predeceased by a brother, Edward Ryan, and a sister, Loretta Canavan.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. on Monday at Holy Cross Church, Callicoon, with Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Callicoon.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Church, P.O. Box 246, Callicoon, N.Y. 12723.

Verne 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.

top of page  |  home  |  archives