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05.06.04
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Obituaries published the week of May 6, 2004
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In Memoriam

Elizabeth Jane Keller

Memorial service

A memorial service will be held for Elizabeth Jane "B.J." Keller at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15 , at the Geneseo United Methodist Church. Keller, professor emerita of English at the State University of New York at Geneseo, died on April 13 at the Avon Nursing Home following a brief illness. Memorials may be made to Wadsworth Library, Geneseo United Methodist Church Endowment Fund or BJ Keller Scholarship Fund at SUNY Geneseo. Arrangements: Rector-Hicks Funeral Home, Inc. in Geneseo.

Fay Agard Oppermann

Former Hemlock resident

Fay Agard Oppermann, a beloved mother, teacher, and realtor, died on April 3, 2004 at home in Columbia, Md. after a long battle with cancer. She was 88. A 30 year resident of Columbia, she was born on June 2, 1915 in Little Valley, N.Y. and was raised by her grandmother in rural Hemlock after the death of her parents at a very young age. An avid and talented athlete, Mrs. Oppermann was valedictorian of her Hemlock High School class and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in education and languages. She began her career teaching high school level French and Latin in Romulus, N. Y. Over the next 35 years, she had a heralded career as a high school French, Latin, and English teacher, inspiring students and teachers alike to the joy of language and learning. Married to Gustave Oppermann in 1939, she returned to her family home in Hemlock to begin her family. In 1960, the family moved to Concord, Mass. where she continued to teach languages in the local schools and raise her children. In 1973, the Oppermanns relocated to Columbia, Md., where Mrs. Oppermann began a second and very successful career in real estate. As a person well-known for her generous and unconditional love of all people, her support of peace, her intense and sophisticated interest in politics, and her inner strength and intuition, she became a mentor for many and a role model for most. She is survived and will be forever missed by her five children: Sharon Oppermann Spence and Bradley Oppermann of Columbia, Md.; Bonnie Oppermann and Terry Oppermann of Honolulu, Hawaii; and Jeffrey Oppermann of Savannah, N.Y. She is also survived by her two foster children, Fred Taylor of Columbia, Md. and Wendy Everett of Cambridge, Mass.; as well as by her six grandchildren, Kyle Spence, Kraig Spence, Shawn Oppermann, Alana Oppermann, Alexie Oppermann and Mackenzie Taylor. In remembrance of her and as a celebration of the life that she so strongly savored and encouraged, her family will hold open memorial services on Monday evening, May 10, at 5:00 PM at Oakland Manor in Columbia, Md.. Burial will be on May 8 at 5 PM at the Union Cemetery in Livonia, N.Y. She has requested that donations be made in her memory to either a local hospice group or to the American Cancer Society.

Florence Parnitzke

Honeoye Lake resident

Florence Parnitzke, 85, of Lakeview Dr., Honeoye Lake, died May 3, 2004 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She was born the daughter of Stanley and Victoria Borucki Matuszak on May 2, 1919 in Buffalo. She was predeceased by her loving husband Edwin Parnitzke, brothers Henry Matuszak, Raymond and wife Theresa Matuszak, sisters, Regina Matuszak, Gertrude and husband Theodore Chmielewski, Charlotte and husband Henry Kuzara, brother-in-law Eugene Korczak. Florence was a member of St. Mary's Church in Honeoye and former member of St. Augustine Church in Lancaster. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Korczak; sister-in-law Helen Matuszak; a special aunt to Barbara, Marie, Carol and great aunt to Mark; dear cousin Emily Drzazgowski. She is also survived by several other nieces and nephews and many close friends. Friends may call Friday 4-8 p.m. only, at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc., Briggs St., Honeoye. Friends and family will meet for her Funeral Mass Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Honeoye with the Rev. Richard Shatzel officiating. Entombment will be held Monday at St. Adalbert's Cemetery, Lancaster, N.Y. at noon. Flowers are gratefully declined and memorials may be made to St. Mary's Church, 8961 Main St., Honeoye NY 14471.

Austin N. Passamonte

Leicester resident

Austin N. Passamonte, 74, of 2350 Perry Road, Leicester, died Tuesday May 4, 2004 at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville. He was born on July 14, 1929 in Perry, N.Y. the son of Joseph and Frances (Cosimano) Passamonte. Prior to his retirement in 1994 he was employed as an Equipment Operator at Comstock in LeRoy and Leicester, he had also worked for GTE Sylvania in Batavia for over 25 years. He was a member of the Pigeon Fancier's Club of Rochester. He is survived by his wife Sandra; children, Brenda Passamonte of Mt. Morris and Austin Passamonte of Naples; two grandchildren, Tarin Passamonte of Henrietta and Brittany Bryson of Mt. Morris; his mother Frances Passamonte of Mt. Morris; brother Thomas (Dorothy) Passamonte of Leicester; sister Marie (Donald) Oberlin of Pavilion; nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call Friday from 6-8 pm at the JOHN W. MARTIN FUNERAL HOME 37 Chapel Street (Route 408), Mt. Morris where memorial services will be held on Friday at 8 pm. Memorials may be made to one's favorite charity. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.

Gordon J. Sherman

Former Mayor of Leicester

Gordon J. Sherman, 88, of Leicester, died April 29, 2004 at Westgate Nursing Home in Rochester. He was born the son of Archie and Beatrice (Landcastle) Sherman on Dec. 30, 1915 in Perry. Prior to his retirement he was employed by the Town of Leicester for the Highway Department. He was a former Mayor of Leicester. He was a member of the Leicester Fire Department for over 30 years, Loyal Member of the Moose Lodge # 560 in Warsaw and the Civilian Conservation Corp. He is survived by his three children, David Sherman of California, Micheleen (Donald) Fox of Caledonia and J. Wixson (Linda) Smith of North Chili; grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother Ronald Sherman of Leicester; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son J. Edward Sherman and wives, Ida and Eileen. Friends called Friday at the John W. Martin Funeral Home, 37 Chapel St. (Route 408) in Mt. Morris where funeral services were held Saturday. Burial, Hope Cemetery. Memorials may be made to either the Leicester or Cuylerville Fire Departments. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.