Mabel Caroline Oestrich
Retired Teacher, 92

Mabel Caroline Oestrich of West Hempstead, NY, died Thursday, August 9, 2012 at Franklin General Hospital, Franklin Square, NY. She was 92.
The daughter of the late Gustave Ernest Oestrich and Ida Mabel Biedekapp Oestrich, she was born September 7, 1919 in Long Eddy, NY.
Mabel graduated from Long Eddy High School, and then went on to Albany Teachers College. After graduating, she taught in Hudson, NY, and then Sewanhaka High School, in Floral Park, NY. She retired in 1979. Mabel loved to travel and took many visits to Europe, and a wonderful trip to Russia. Mabel supported the arts and loved opera, symphony, chamber music and ballet.
She is survived by her sister, Katharine M. Oestrich Lindberg, of Long Eddy, and four generations of nieces and nephews. Mabel was predeceased by her parents; four brothers: Robert, Raymond, Walter and Carl Oestrich; and two sisters: Dorothy Ray and Doris Schrier.
A special thank you to her great-niece, Stephanie Young, for her loving attention, and also to Ester Nicholas, her caregiver.
There will be no visitation.
A graveside service will be held at Rock Valley Cemetery, in Long Eddy, NY, on Sunday, August 19, 2012.
No flowers please. Memorial donations may be made to Help Hospitalized Veterans, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758505, Topeka, KS 66675-8505.
Arrangements are by Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home Inc., Callicoon, NY, (845) 887-4900.

Mildred L. Deighton, 79
September 27, 1932 - August 8, 2012

Mildred L. “Millie” Deighton, of Dallas, Texas, formerly of Conklin Hill, PA, and Midland, Texas, died Wednesday, August 8, 2012 in Dallas. She was 79.
She was born September 27, 1932 in Binghamton, New York, to the late Charles and Ruby Cooley Williams. She married Kenneth A. Deighton on April 20, 1950. They lived on a Dairy Farm in Conklin Hill, PA.
They were blessed with three children: Kenneth A. Deighton Jr., Charles F. Deighton, and Candace Yanacek. Mr. Deighton preceded her in death on July 16, 1970. Millie moved to Midland, Texas in 1979, and was employed by Walgreen’s for 25 years. She retired in 2004.
She was a devoted member of the Alamo Heights Baptist Church for 30 years. Millie always relied on the Love of the Lord in her life. She moved to Dallas in 2010 and spent the last year living at Doctors Healthcare and Rehab. VNA Hospice also assisted in her care.
Millie had twelve siblings and is survived by one brother and three sisters, and by her three children, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, 34 Upper Main Street, Callicoon, NY.
Mildred’s final resting place will be in the Conklin Hill Cemetery Conklin Hill, PA.
Arrangements are by Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon, NY.

Phyllis Orseck Cotton
Formerly of Liberty, NY, 75

Phyllis Orseck Cotton of Miami, Florida and Boston, Massachusetts, died of natural causes on Tuesday, August 14, 2012.  She was 75. Phyllis had just days earlier completed a cruise among the Alaskan glaciers with her adoring children and grandchildren, in celebration of her 75th birthday.
Phyllis lived an exceptionally full and exciting life. In recent years, she traveled the world in the company of her family and the many, many friends she had developed over the years in Miami, New England, Lugano, Switzerland and Cape Town, South Africa. She was a great and knowledgeable patron of the fine arts, including painting, theater, literature, film, and classical music. She was an equally avid follower of “As the World Turns,” proud not to have missed a single episode during the show’s entire 54-year run. Phyllis was a valued mentor to countless friends who looked to her for advice, wisdom, and comfort. She was a fierce advocate for the people and causes she loved. She was a gifted public speaker. Phyllis was famous for holding and expressing passionate views – nearly always correct – on issues great and small. For all her accomplishments and interests, her greatest joy was her large extended family, with whom she stayed closely connected wherever she happened to be.
Phyllis held her family and friends together, her effect and influence on them was profound, and she will be deeply missed.
Phyllis was born in Liberty, New York. After graduating at the top of her high school class in Liberty, Phyllis attended Cornell University on an academic scholarship. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English.  Phyllis married Bobby Orseck, also of Liberty, New York, in 1962. They moved to Miami, where Bobby formed what became the prominent law firm, Podhurst & Orseck. Phyllis was widowed in 1978, and was remarried to Harold Cotton of Worcester, Massachusetts in 1982. Phyllis was again widowed in 1996, but she maintained an unshakeable positive and enthusiastic outlook the rest of her life, which was a source of inspiration and wonder to those around her. 
Phyllis is survived by three children, Bonni Stephenson, Gary Orseck (Robin) and Jon Orseck (Stacy); three stepdaughters, Laurie Cotton-Smith (Leslie), Nancy Cotton (John Given) and Betsy Cotton; eleven grandchildren; sister, Carol Baim; brother Stephen Levine; brother-in-law, Gerald Orseck; nephew, Kirk Orseck; and her dear companion of thirteen years, David Bloomberg, of Cape Town and Lugano.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 17, at Temple Beth Shalom, 4144 Chase Avenue, Miami Beach.
Burial will be at Lakeside Memorial Park, 10301 N.W. 25th Street, Miami, immediately following the service.
Contributions may be made to the Harold N. Cotton Scholars Fund, c/o Brigham & Womens Hospital, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02215, or to the Miami Art Museum.