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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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January 22, 2010

August Cron
Ret. Highway Dept. Emp., 84

August Cron of Freeport, Fla. passed away January 17, 2010 at the age of 84. He was born in Ridgewood, Queens, NY.
He retired after 22 years of service with the Town of Liberty Highway Department before moving to Florida where he and his wife Elaine operated the One Stop Store on Highway 331.
August served his country as an Ensign with the U.S. Merchant Marines. He was a past member of the White Sulphur Springs Sportsmen’s Club. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, gardening, and was an avid fisherman. He was known for his dry sense of humor.
August was preceded in death by his first wife, Joan, in 1978 and his second wife, Elaine, in 2003.
He is survived by his children and stepchildren, Bob Cron and his wife Susan, Sharon Cron and her fiancé Rodney Morris, Brian Fredenburg and his wife Carla, and Carla Griffith and her husband James, as well as his grandchildren, Terri Cron, James Griffith, and Kati Griffith.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 20 at Living Waters Church, 926 County Highway 83A East, Freeport, FL 32439. The Rev. Mike Bowden officiated.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
You may view obituaries, offer condolences, sign guest book, and view video tribute at www.clary-glenn.com
Clary-Glenn Freeport Chapel Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

Stephen Kurpil
Ret. NYS Trooper/Security Ofc., 78

Stephen Kurpil, 78, of Fort Pierce, Fla., died Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach.
Mr. Kurpil was born April 19, 1931 in Parksville, NY, and moved to Fort Pierce 31 years ago from Sidney, NY.
He was a retired veteran of the U.S. Army, and a New York State Trooper for 20 years. He held a master’s rating with the National Rifle Association for his shooting ability in indoor, outdoor and combat pistol. Before retirement he was an armed security officer at the Nuclear Power Plant south of Ft. Pierce for 18 years. He was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Police Benevolent Society (PBA).
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Irene Cross Kurpil of Fort Pierce; sons Randy Kurpil of Vero Beach, FL, Jon Kurpil of Crestview, FL and Mark Kurpil of Stuart, FL; brothers Andrew Kurpil, Sam Kurpil and Peter Kurpil, all of Liberty, NY; sisters Katie Somesha of Fairfield, CT, Eva Kurpil of Raleigh, NC, and Josie Devoe of Livingston Manor, NY; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Moore officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Rifle Association Headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach, Florida. Condolences may be sent through www.seawindsfh.com/obit.php

Benjamin Osdoby
Ret. Owner/Carpet Installer, 92

Benjamin Osdoby, “Ben” to those who knew and loved him, died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at his residence. He was 92.
The son of the late Jacob Osdoby and Anna Goldberg Osdoby, Ben was born in Hurleyville, New York, on June 19, 1917, and spent his entire life in Sullivan County.
A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, he proudly served his country from 1943 to 1946, attaining the rank of Captain.
Ben was the owner and operator of his own carpet installation business. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed woodworking, and was known for his love of aviation.
He is survived his beloved wife of 66 years, Ida Kapito Osdoby, at home; his son, Philip Osdoby, and his wife Trish of Ballin, MO; his daughters, Sima Osdoby and her husband Arthur Katz of Rockville, MD, Vivian Luchins and her husband David of the Bronx, and Janice Osdoby and her husband Freddie Sufian of  Paramus, NJ; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Congregation Ohave Sholom Synagogue in Woodridge, with Rabbi Hillel Grossman officiating.
Burial with military honors was made in the Congregation Ohave Sholom Cemetery, Marsh Road, in Glen Wild.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home of Monticello. For service details or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com

Veronica A. Mulhern
Ret. Clerk-Bookkeeper, 77

Veronica A. Mulhern of Roscoe, NY, a retired Clerk and Bookkeeper for the Bullis Oil Company in Roscoe, died Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence in Newburgh, NY. She was 77.
The daughter of the late Richard and Veronica Goff Kevan, she was born July 27, 1932 in New York City, NY.
Veronica was a Communicant of the Gate of Heaven Church in Roscoe, where she had been a CCD Teacher and involved in a number of church activities. She had been a personal care aide over the years for several families in the Roscoe community.
Survivors include three sons, Frank Mulhern and his wife Mette of Rhinebeck, NY, Dennis Mulhern and his wife Heidi of Oslo, Norway, and Kenneth Mulhern and his wife Olivia of Queens, NY; two daughters, Patricia Cinatti and her husband John of Queens, NY, and Moira Bowers and her husband Robert of Salisbury Mills, NY; two brothers, Richard Kevan and his wife Barbara of Bethpage, LI, and Edward Kevan of Queens; one sister, Roberta Barry of Farmingdale, NY; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Frank Mulhern on October 31, 2008.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the home health care aides and the Orange-Sullivan Hospice staff for their care, support and services during Veronica’s illness.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010 at Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe. Monsignor William Collins will officiate.
Burial will be in the spring in the Riverview Cemetery, Roscoe.
Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home Railroad Avenue, Roscoe, NY. 607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200 www.Harris-FH.com

Edward V. Ackerley
Clerk at Woodbourne CF, 53

Edward V. Ackerley of Liberty, NY, a clerk at Woodbourne Correctional Facility and a lifelong area resident died Sunday, January 17, 2010 at Orange Regional Medical Center-Arden Hill Campus, Goshen, NY. He was 53.
The son of the late Duke and Catherine Higgins Ackerley, he was born December 5, 1956 in Liberty.
Edward was very active in Sullivan County community organizations and had also worked at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. He was a Communicant of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Liberty, where he served as an usher, and was a member of the Liberty Elk’s Lodge #1545 where he served as Exalted Ruler twice, as State Vice President of the East Central District, and was a past NYS Trustee and a longtime Lodge Secretary. He was a member of Livingston Manor Masonic Lodge #791, serving as Lodge Master in 1989 and 1993, and as appointed Grand Sword Bearer for the Sullivan Masonic District in 1992. He was a member of the Sullivan Chapter #298 Order of the Eastern Star, the I.O.O.B. #583 in Liberty where he was a past Secretary-Treasurer and served as an Executive Board member several times, and the Father Cronin Council Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife, Joy A. Gielarowski Ackerley, at home; five brothers, John Ackerley and his wife Penny of Loch Sheldrake, NY, Walter “Mike” Ackerley and his wife Tracy of Liberty, Bob Ackerley of Neversink, NY, Keith McArthur and his wife Melanie of Grahamsville, NY, and David Graham of Loch Sheldrake; one sister, Judy Graham-Baisley and her husband John of Grahamsville; a brother-in-law and his wife, Alan and Katherine Gielarowski of Rochester, NH; one daughter, Shannon Marie Pascoe of Liberty; many loving nieces and nephews; one granddaughter, Endya Rochelle Alvarez; and several aunts and uncles, including a special uncle, Richard Higgins.
He was predeceased by his parents, and a sister, Catherine Ackerley.
Memorial services were held Wednesday and Thursday, January 20-21, with the Liberty Elks’ Lodge #1545, the Fr. Cronin Council Knights of Columbus, the I.O.O.B. Chapter #583, Livingston Manor Masonic Lodge #791, the Sullivan Chapter #298 Order of the Eastern Star, the Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters conducting individual services at the Harris Funeral Home, West Street at Buckley, Liberty.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 22 at noon at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 264 North Main Street, Liberty. Monsignor Edward Straub will officiate.
Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Cold Spring Road, Liberty, NY.
Memorial contributions in Edward’s name may be made to the Elks’ National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614-1889.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY. 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 or www.Harris-FH.com

William Kitson, 65

William Kitson, 65, died January 13, 2010 at his home after a long illness.
Born in New York City, Mr. Kitson was a son of the late John and Anna Gilmore Kitson. He attended parochial and public schools, graduating from Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical School with a specialization in electronics. His love for electronics was nurtured by his maternal grandfather, who taught him how to make radios.
Mr. Kitson served in the U S Navy during the Cuban crisis, working primarily in radio and electronics. His long career in electronics included years with Sony, Lucent, and Black Box (Intel).
He is survived by his wife, Pamela Smith Kitson; a daughter, Stephanie Kitson (Gary) Ames, of Camden; a son, Scott William Kitson, of Greenville; two grandchildren, Gary Byron Ames III and Natalie Anna Catherine Ames, of Camden; sisters Margaret (Arch) MacIsaac of Irmo; Anna Altbach of Neversink, NY; and Marie (Bill) Graby of Callicoon, NY; brothers Thomas (Linda) Kitson of Obernburg, NY; and Martin Kitson of Grahamsville, NY; 16 nieces and nephews, and 14 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, John Thomas Kitson.
Mr. Kitson was a member of St. Simon and St. Jude Episcopal Church, 1110 Kinley Rd, Irmo, SC, 29063. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church’s youth or music programs.
The funeral was held Saturday, January 16, at St. Simon and St. Jude Episcopal Church with interment in the church memorial garden immediately afterwards. The family then greeted friends in the Field parish hall.
Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium Lexington Chapel is assisting the family.

Ralph Lloyd Gabriel
Ret. Heavy Equip. Oper., 81

Ralph Lloyd Gabriel of Cochecton, a lifetime resident of the area, passed away at his residence on Monday, January 18, 2010. He was 81.
The son of the late Charles Gabriel and Lydia Cochrane Gabriel, he was born August 22, 1928 in Cochecton.
Ralph was a retired heavy equipment operator for the Town of Bethel Highway Department, and was a former member of the Sullivan County Co-operative Extension.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 57 years, Barbara Pearson Gabriel, at home; three sons, Daniel Gabriel and wife Debra, Kenneth Gabriel and wife , Diane, and Christopher Gabriel and wife Sondra, all of Bethel; three daughters, Cheryl Lynch and husband Peter of Woodridge, NJ, Lorraine Clifford and husband Patrick of Jeffersonville, and Charlene Sullivan and husband Shawn of Middletown; a brother, Royden Gabriel and wife Dolores of Buena Vista, Va.; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by three sons, James, Robert and Ralph; two brothers, Clifford and Donald; and two sisters, Dorothy and Gladys.
Visitation will be held at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 3534 Rt. 55, Kauneonga Lake on Friday, January 22, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
His Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 23, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Lake Huntington. Fr. William Scully will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at Fosterdale Methodist Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550.
Arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes, Inc.; 845-583-5445.

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