Obituaries published the week of November 13, 2003

New Feature Obituary search

Search just the online obituary archives for a faster, more accurate search.

For previous listings, click here

In Memoriam

Margaret A. Anderson

Medical lab technician

Margaret A. “Peggy” Anderson, 55, of 2446 State Road 436, Nunda, died Oct. 2, 2003 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She was born on May 15, 1948 the daughter of Edward and Lillian (Litteer) Anderson in Warsaw. She was employed at Strong Memorial Hospital as a Medical Lab Technician for 7 years. She is survived by her mother Lillian Anderson of Nunda; three sisters, Melissa Anderson of Nunda, Mina (Richard) Sinsabaugh of Dalton and Rita (Don) Coon of Nunda; one brother Timothy (Barbara) Anderson of Nunda; four nieces, Kimberlee (Brian) Litteer, Lynn Bugman, Lisa (Joe) Worden and Shaunna Coon; two nephews, Jeffrey Anderson and Randy Coon. She was predeceased by her father Edward “Obie” Anderson in 1996. No prior calling. Memorial service to be held on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscarora at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to Teresa House, 21 Highland Rd., Geneseo NY 14454. Arrangements by: John W. Martin Funeral Home, Mt. Morris NY. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.

Ruth C. Beardsley

Caledonia/Avon resident

Ruth C. Beardsley, 96, of Caledonia/Avon, died Oct. 31, 2003 at Highland Hospital, Rochester. She was born March 27, 1907 in Granger, N.Y. to Charles and Olive (Ludwig) Buchinger. Ruth worked in the school cafeteria in Caledonia. She traveled extensively with her husband, Leon, to Florida, Bermuda, Maine and Canada. Ruth enjoyed Sunday car rides, visiting friends and family, gardening, cooking, sewing, word puzzles, crocheting and card playing. Her husband, Leon predeceased her in 1994. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Nancy Beardsley of Caledonia; grandchildren, Dawn (Michael) Patanella of Churchville, Nicole (Michael) Rogers of Wichita, KS; great grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jacob Patanella. Friends called Nov. 3 at the Alhart Funeral Home, 3068 W. Main St., Caledonia. Her Funeral Service was held Nov. 4 at the First Congregational Church of Riga. A private interment took place at Oakland Hills Cemetery, Portage, N.Y. Memorials may be made to the Faith O. Chadderdon Fund, Bank of Castile, 3155 State St., Caledonia NY 14423.

Mary J. Frocchi

Former Mt. Morris resident

Mary J. Frocchi, 91, of 13625 N.E. 20th Place, North Miami Beach, Florida, formerly of Mt. Morris, died Nov. 6, 2003 at her home. She was born on Oct. 2, 1912 in Sicily, Italy the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Burgio. She retired from Craig Developmental Center in Sonyea where she was a Dining Room Attendant. She had also worked for over 20 years at the Perry Knitting Mill in Mt. Morris and Perry as a seamstress. She is survived by her son Don Frocchi of Miami, Fla.; three grandchildren; two sisters, Mel Gullo of Cuylerville and Connie Mott of Florida.; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph in 1986. No Prior calling. Prayers were said Tuesday at the John W. Martin Funeral Home, 37 Chapel St. (Route 408), Mt. Morris where funeral mass followed at St. Patrick's Church with the Rev. Michael Brown officiating. Interment, St. Patrick's Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.

Bruce Herries

General Motors retiree

Bruce Herries, 60, of 6455 Begole Road, died Oct. 31, 2003 at the Livingston County Campus Skilled Nursing Facility in Mt. Morris. He was born on March 28, 1943 in Rochester. Prior to his retirement he was employed as a truck driver for General Motors in Rochester. He is survived by his cousin Robert (Donna) Avery of Conesus and many dear friends including Laurie (Jay) Sharman of Mt. Morris. He was predeceased by his daughter Tracey. Friends called Nov. 8 at the John W. Martin Funeral Home, 37 Chapel St. (Route 408), Mt. Morris where funeral services were held following calling with Pastor Chuck Freeman officiating. Interment at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Livingston County Hospice Fund, Murray Hill, Mt. Morris NY 14510. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.

Helen L. Johnson

Mumford resident

Helen L. Johnson, 93, of Mumford, died Oct. 30, 2003 at her home in Mumford. She was born Aug. 4, 1910 in LeRoy to Joseph and Florence (Burton) Gill. Helen worked at the canning factory in Avon. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and gardening. Her main focus was her family. She is survived by her daughter, June Neid of Nunda; sons and daughter-in-law, Charles and Bonnie Johnson of Mumford; Richard Johnson of California; sisters, Beatrice Hoedecker of Rochester, Dorothy Gill of Dansville; brother, Francis Gill of Dansville; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Her husband, Louis Johnson Jr. predeceased her. Friends called Nov. 2 at the Alhart Funeral Home, 3068 W. Main St. where her Funeral Service was held Nov. 3 with Rev. Dr. Charles Thurman officiating. Interment took place at Mumford Rural Cemetery, Mumford. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1400 Winton Rd., N., Rochester NY 14609.

Caroline E. Oswald

Nunda resident

Caroline E. Oswald, 38, a waitress at Brian's USA Diner in Mt. Morris, died Nov. 2, 2003 in Fowlerville due to injuries she received in a motor vehicle accident on Fowlerville Road. Ms. Oswald resided on Mill St. in Nunda. She predeceased her son James Bradley Skyles by two days. She is survived by her son Aaron Skyles of Fowlerville; daughter Tiffany Skyles of Nunda; former husband James Oswald of Fowlerville; parents, Grant and Heidi Harvey of Leicester; brothers, Michael (Patty) Harvey of Livonia, Brian (Jodi) Harvey of Geneseo; sisters, Jackie (Marvin) Englert of Leicester, Chrissy Harvey of Leicester; an aunt, several nieces and nephews. She was born Dec. 18, 1964 in Karlsruhe, Germany, the daughter of Grant and Heidrum (Sillmann) Harvey. Visitation was held Thursday and Friday at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home Inc., 111 Main St. in Geneseo. Funeral Services were held Nov. 8 at York United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Neil Frood officiating. Burial, Leicester Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family for the education of her children at 5374 Upper Mt. Morris Rd., Leicester NY 14481.

Dolores D. Scura

Retired teacher

Dolores D. Scura, 78, of 4 Barone Ave., Mt. Morris, died Nov. 7, 2003 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She was born the daughter of Frank and Elvira (Mastrangelo) DiVincenzo on Dec. 14, 1924 in Hornell. She graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. with her bachelor's degree and earned her master's degree from Alfred University. She retired in 1982 from York Central School where she taught French, Latin and English. She also taught English at Mt. Morris Union Free School, Kindergarten, 3rd and 7th grades at St. Patrick's School and English at Hornell High School. She was a member of St. Patrick's Church in Mt. Morris, Co-Founder of the Mt. Morris Historical Society, York-Leicester Kiwanis Club, Italian-American Club of Livingston County, American Lung Association-Finger Lakes Region, NY State Board of Directors of the American Lung Association, Delta Kappa Gamma-Beta Tau Chapter and the American Legion Auxiliary. She is survived by her husband, Louis; two daughters, Jane Scura and Regina (Gary) Merz, all of Rochester; one grandson, Gregory Merz of Rochester; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, William, Raymond, John and Ann and Irma Scura; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Francis DiVincenzo in 2002. Friends called Sunday and Monday at the John W. Martin Funeral Home, 37 Chapel St. (Rt. 408), Mt. Morris where prayers were said Tuesday followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Church. Burial, St. Patrick's Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Home & Heart Fund, American Lung Association-Finger Lakes Region, Teresa House or the Mt. Morris Historical Society. Condolences may be emailed to JohnWMartinFH@aol.com.

James Bradley Skyles

Keshequa Central sophomore

James Bradley Skyles, 16, a sophomore at Keshequa Central School in Nunda, died Nov. 4, 2003 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester due to injuries he received in a motor vehicle accident on Nov. 2 in Fowlerville. He is survived by his brother Aaron Skyles of Fowlerville; sister Tiffany Skyles of Nunda; stepfather James Oswald of Fowlerville; grandparents, Grant and Heidi Harvey of Leicester; great grandmother Else Sillmann of Germany; several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother Caroline Harvey Oswald on Nov. 2, 2003. He was born April 23, 1987 in Dansville, the son of Bradley and Caroline (Harvey) Skyles. Visitation was held at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home Inc., 111 Main St. in Geneseo on Thursday and Friday. Funeral Services were held Nov. 8 at the York United Presbyterian Church with Rev. Neil Frood officiating. Burial, Leicester Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family at 5374 Upper Mt. Morris Rd., Leicester NY 14481.

George T. Stephany

World War II veteran

George T. Stephany, 83, of Caledonia, died Oct. 20, 2003 at the V. A. Medical Center, Batavia. He was born Dec. 21, 1919 in LeRoy to Lewis and Mary (Mosley) Stefani. George retired from Eastman Kodak as an inspector. He was a World War II veteran, a member of the Matthew Cleary Post, and the Caledonia Fire Department. He is survived by his sons and daughter-in-law, Albert Stephany of Gates, Tom and Kathy Stephany of Churchville, William L. Stephany Sr. of Caledonia; special friend, Jean Hochuli of Pittsford; grandson, William Stephany Jr.; brother, Peter (Olga) Stefani of Florida; sister, Mary Brown of Florida; several nieces and nephews. His wife, Virginia Mae Stephany predeceased George in 1974. His Memorial Mass was held Nov. 8, at St. Columba Church, Caledonia. A private interment was held at St. Columba Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1400 Winton Rd., N., Rochester NY 14609. Arrangements by Alhart Funeral Home, 3068 W. Main St., Caledonia NY 14423.