Obituaries published the week of March 31, 2005

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In Memoriam

Don Coty

Sedgwick, Colorado/Livonia - Don Coty, 70, died suddenly March 17, 2005. He was born on Oct. 20, 1934 in Syracuse. He married Rose Marie Beebe on July 6, 1953. Don had jobs in many different parts of the country over the years and all of them included working with his hands. For over a decade he has owned and operated his own repair shop out of the old high school in Sedgwick. Don will be remembered by many people as the person to call when they needed help with anything. Don served on the Sedgwick Town Board of Trustees. He is survived by his wife Rose Marie; his children, Colleen (Terry) Whisner of Grand Junction, Colo., David (Karen) Coty of Livonia, Kelly (Les) Myers of Gilman, Iowa; Celeste (Dan) Fulk of Weston , Mo., Vicky (Doug) Slaight of Craig, Colo., Doug (Dana) Coty of Pueblo, Colo., Jeff Coty of Craig, Colo., Bob (Mona) Coty of Big Springs, Neb., Kevin (Correne) Coty of Craig, Colo.; 23 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; bother, Bill Romasser. He was predeceased by his mother Mildred Romasser and son Donald Gene. Family will receive friends Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., Route 15, Livonia.

Violet G. Dady

Conesus - Violet G. Dady, 87, died March 27, 2005. She was predeceased by her husband George in 1987. She is survived by her children, Dolores Bell of Conesus, Joanne McManus of Conesus, Susan (Terence) Fitzgerald of Rochester, Judy (Bruce) Martin of Conesus, Roxanne (James) Thrush of MI; 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Leary of Rochester; several nieces and nephews. Friends called Tuesday at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., Route 15, Livonia, where services were held Wednesday. Burial, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery,  Rochester. Friends wishing may make memorial contributions to the American Alzheimers Association.

Robert N. Gifford

World War II Navy veteran

Geneseo/Sarasota, Fla. - Robert N. Gifford, 85, died March 22, 2005 at the Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility in Geneseo. He was born the son of Byron and Elizabeth VanAlstine Gifford on March 19, 1920 in East Penfield, N.Y. He was a retired accountant and World War II Navy veteran. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Jane; his children, R. Norman (Leeann) Gifford, Susan (Stephen) Harvey, Eileen (David) Headley, Melissa (Don) Whaley; eight grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren. Friends may attend services April 2 at 11 a.m. at the Central Presbyterian Church, 31 Center St. in Geneseo. Arrangements by Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc. in Livonia.

Ronald E. Long

Ronald E. Long, 55, of Henderson, N.Y., died March 1, 2005 at home after a brief battle with cancer. He had been under the care of his family, friends and Jefferson County Hospice since early January. Ron was the sole owner and operator of Orenda Woodworking in Henderson. He designed and built fine furniture, often in arts-and-crafts style. Previously, he served for 14 years as the export sales manager for Whirlwind, a Rochester-based manufacturer of high-end professional audio components. From 1977 to 1988, he owned Mars Guitars, a music store in Rochester where he built and repaired guitars. Over the years, he did sound engineering for many bands and for concert venues in the Rochester area. Ron enjoyed playing his guitar, cooking, sailing, golfing and listening to music. He was an avid and gifted woodworker who spent many hours each day working in his shop at Orenda, on the shore of Lake Ontario near Stony Point. His dog, Saint, was his constant companion in the shop and everywhere. In his downtime, he very much enjoyed reading science fiction. Born Jan. 1, 1950, son of Rachel R. and Elwood E. Long, Ron grew up in Lakeville always immersed in both music and mechanical pursuits. He graduated from Livonia Central School and attended Rochester Institute of Technology. On Dec. 28, 2002, he married Dana Keefer of Henderson, formerly of New York City and originally from Massena. Following the marriage, they became permanent year-round residents of Henderson, at Orenda, a newly constructed house on the Lake. Surviving besides his wife are his parents and two sons from his former marriage, Eric A. Long and Alexander J. Long, both of Rochester; two sisters, Judith A. Long and her husband, Stephen Sellinger of Valley Cottage, N.Y. and Denise C. Long and her husband, Mark Lorenzen of Rochester. Also, two aunts, Ruth Reed Banks (Ed J.) of Murrysville, Pa., and Jeanne Reed Coykendall of Orange, Calif. and many dear cousins. An open house was held on March 6 at Orenda in Henderson and a Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 22, at the Lakeville United Church of Christ, 5687 Big Tree Road, Lakeville, N.Y. Reference: Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc. in Livonia.

Marion (Connor) Moran

Retired teacher

Marion (Connor) Moran, 85, of Avon, died March 18, 2005 at Highland Hospital in Rochester She was born Jan. 14, 1920 in Caledonia, the daughter of Charles and Mary Connor. She taught school in Caledonia for two years, and three years in Brockport as a business teacher. She was also a teacher for 10 years at Lima School and 10 years and then retired from Avon Central School. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority. She was a member of St. Agnes Church and former member and past president of the Rosary Society. She was predeceased by her brother Charles Connor. She is survived by her husband Charles; daughters, Patty Moran (Phil Thrall) of Lima, Molly (Paul) Korndoerfer of Lakeville, Liz (John) Prinzi of Denver, Colorado; son Tom Moran of Avon; nine grandchildren, Marci Delaney, Staci, Sarah, Ashley Prinzi, Toby Drowne, Katie Korndoerfer, Traci, Katie, and Matt Morgan; great granddaughter, Marley Delaney; sister, Jane McCluskey Zimmerman of Canton, MI; sister-in-law, Virginia Connor Panzarello of Rochester; cousin Jean White of Rochester; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; several nieces and nephews. Calling hours were held March 20 at the Stephenson-Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., 350 Genesee St. in Avon. Her Funeral Mass was held March 21 at the St. Agnes Church in Avon with Rev. Gerald Appelby officiating. Interment, St. Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the St. Agnes Church, 108 Prospect St., Avon NY 14414 or Avon Ambulance, 60 Temple St., Avon NY 14414.

David W. Neva

Kodak retiree

Wayland/Loon Lake - David W. Neva, 69, of 153-1/2 Davis Road, passed away Feb. 17, 2005 at the Villagers for Hospice in Lady Lake, Fla. David was born Sept. 28, 1935 in  Rochester, the son of Wilfred and Helen (Leusch) Neva. He grew up in the Rochester area near Irondequoit Bay and spent 50 years in that area working and raising his family. He moved to the Wayland/Loon Lake area in 1986 where he remained. David was employed by the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester for 30 years. He retired from there in 1986. Subsequent to his retirement from Kodak, he spent 10 years working for Trathen Logging. David served his country in the U.S. National Guard during the early 1950s. He and Linda Donderewicz entered into marriage on Feb. 4, 1989 in Wayland. Together they have celebrated 16 years of marriage. David was a collector of classic cars and trucks; especially his 1951 Ford truck that he restored. He enjoyed taking his truck to the local car shows and he was also a proud member of the Ford V-8 Club. During his earlier years David trained and also showed horses. He enjoyed hunting duck and deer as evidenced by a few “big ones” that are mounted at his cabin. However, one of David's favorite things to do was having family barbecues and picnics in which he loved to cook the steak. The steak had to be cooked on a “charcoal fire.” His favorite role model was the “Duke” better known as John Wayne. David was predeceased by his son, Douglas Neva and daughter, Sandra Neva. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Neva of Wayland/Loon Lake; his children, Deborah Furlong and her husband Terence of Brockport, Scott Neva of Rochester, Rachael Verstraten of Rochester and Joseph Tally of Fairport; grandchildren, Jamie Neva and his wife Rene, Brittany Taylor, Christina Neva, Douglas Neva, Veronica Verstraten, Madelyn Verstraten and Jennalyn Tally; great grandson, Austin Neva; brother, Jerry Neva and his wife Norma of Webster; and niece Jodi Neva. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 W. Naples St., Wayland. Contributions in David W. Neva's memory may be made to the Villagers for Hospice, P.O. Box 280, Lady Lake FL 32158 or to Thompson Memorial Hospital, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua NY 14424 for the palliative care program.