William C. Thompson, 79, of Clinton Street, Johnstown, died Saturday unexpectedly at his residence. Born Oct. 9, 1921, in Colorado, he was the son of Curtis and Mary Thompson. He lived in Colorado as a young man, moving to New Jersey, then to the Johnstown area in 1957. He served during World War II with the Navy Seabees Corps from 1941-1944. He worked as an auto mechanic, then as service manager at Johnstown Dodge from 1957 to 1979, at which time he retired. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church. Mr. Thompson married the former Nellie Coco on July 6, 1957, at St. Patrick's Church in Johnstown. He is survived by his wife; three sons, Anthony DeMarco and Alfio DeMarco, both of Johnstown, and John Thompson of North Carolina; three daughters, Mary Romano of Johnstown, Gloria Martin of Ledgewood, N.J., and Christine May of Penn.; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A prayer service will be held on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. at the Barter & Donnan Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church with the Rev. James Fitzmaurice as celebrant. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Calling hours will be Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Barter & Donnan Funeral Home, corner of Main and Melcher streets. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shrine Fund of the Immaculate Conception Church, 1 Warren St., Johnstown, NY 12095.

John Darling Sr.
June 25, 2001

Mr. John "Jack" Darling Sr., 56, of Caroga Lake, died suddenly Saturday morning at Nathan Littauer Hospital after being stricken at home. He was born on Oct. 12, 1944 in Gloversville, the son of Richard and Evelyn Fischer Darling and stepmother, Marilyn Nadley. He worked for some 25 years as a truck driver at National Welding Supply Co. of Gloversville and retired in 1996. Mr. Darling was an avid bowler who bowled in the Fonda Men's League for many years and was also a member of the Teroga Red Men's Club of Johnstown and the Johnstown Moose Club. On Oct. 30, 1965, he married Claudia Miller, who survives. He was also survived by five sons, John Darling Jr., Christopher Darling, Mark Darling Sr., Matthew Darling and Robert Darling Sr., all of Gloversville; a daughter, Sammantha Darling of Caroga Lake; three brothers, Gary Darling of Broadalbin, Wayne Darling of Atlanta, Ga. and Richard Darling of Gloversville; three sisters, Carol Cramer and Patricia Van Slyke, both of Gloversville, and Janet Austin of Broadalbin; 12 grandchildren. Mr. Darling was predeceased by a daughter, Catherine Darling; a sister, Joan Walker; and three brothers, Edward, Roy, and Carl Darling. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Amico Funeral Home, 150 S. Main St., Gloversville, where services will follow at 8 p.m. Cremation will take place at Leatherstocking Crematory, Cherry Valley, N.Y. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 50 Colvin Ave., Albany, NY 12206.

Judith E. Ossenfort
June 25, 2001

Judith E. Ossenfort, 55, of Parnell Street, Youngstown, Ohio, died Friday, June 22, at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. She was born on May 22, 1946 in Gloversville, a daughter of Forest and Melba Darling Bellen. She was a 1964 graduate of Mayfield High School and moved to the Youngstown area in 1977. She was a security guard for St. Mortiz Security Services of Austintown, Ohio. Mrs. Ossenfort is survived by three sons, Tad D'Ambrosi of Oceanside Calif., Peter Ossenfort of Amsterdam and Robert Ossenfort of Youngstown, Ohio; a daughter, Laurie Ossenfort of Amsterdam. She leaves one sister, Joan Loveday of Gloversville; two grandchildren. She was predeceased in death by an infant daughter, Christina Ossenfort. A calling hour will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home, Hubbard, Ohio, where services will be held at 11 a.m.

Erwin Page
June 26, 2001

Erwin "Pin" Page, 88, of Elm Lake Road, Speculator, died Monday at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam, after a long illness. Mr. Page was born on Dec. 6, 1912 in Speculator, the son of James and Ruth Brown Page. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He worked for the Downey Garage for many years and retired in 1977. Mr. Page was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Speculator, and Lake Pleasant Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include his wife, Emma Lang Page, three sons, Erwin L. Page Jr. of Marcellus, N.Y., Donald Page of Sierra Vista, Ariz. and Arthur Page of Speculator; a brother, James Leon Page of Speculator; two sisters, Esther Hoover and Gertrude Peck, both of Speculator; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Northville Funeral Home, 401 Bridge St. The service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Grace United Methodist Church. Burial will take place in Speculator Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Speculator Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Bethany Lynn VanEvery
June 26, 2001

Bethany Lynn VanEvery, infant daughter of John VanEvery Jr. and Catherine Decker VanEvery of Gloversville, died Saturday at Nathan Littauer Hospital after being stricken. Bethany was born on April 25 at Nathan Littauer Hospital. Additional survivors include a brother, Blaine Alexander VanEvery of Gloversville; two sisters, Brittany Nikia and Briann Elizabeth VanEvery, both of Gloversville; her maternal great-grandmother, Catherine Roberts of Mayfield; her maternal grandmother, Marsha Decker of Columbus, Ohio; her paternal grandparents, Donna and John VanEvery Sr. of Mayfield; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Angelina C. Vertucci
June 26, 2001

Angelina C. Vertucci, 82, of Vero Beach, Fla., died June 24 at Indian River Memorial Hospital, Vero Beach, after being stricken at home. She was born on Sept. 28, 1918 in Derby, Conn., the daughter of the late Virgilio Viscosi and the late Lena Matterazo and stepdaughter of the late Gavino Pichizolo. She resided most of her life in Gloversville before she moved to Florida in 1984. She worked for years as a seamstress in various glove shops throughout Gloversville. She also delivered Meals on Wheels in Gloversville. She was a communicant of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Gloversville and St. Helen's Church in Vero Beach. She was a member of the Gloversville 55 Plus Senior Citizens Club and the Friends of the American Indians in Vero Beach. She and her husband were married on June 1, 1946 and recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Survivors include her husband, Edward J. Vertucci Sr. of Vero Beach, formerly of West Street, Gloversville; children, Linda Ford of Rochester, N.Y., Edward J. Vertucci Jr. of Amsterdam and the late Patricia Vertucci; one sister, Jenny Robinson-LaDue of Amsterdam; two brothers, Alfred Pichizolo of Johnstown and Guy Pichizolo of Rochester; one grandchild, Christian Vertucci of Walnut, Calif.; three step-grandchildren, Frank Fattoruso of Amsterdam, Karen Egeling of Rochester, Jeffrey Ford of Rochester and the late Mark Ford of Rochester; two step-great-grandchildren, Ryan and Justin Egeling of Rochester. The family will be receiving friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the John W. Finocan Funeral Home, 13 Prospect Ave., Gloversville. A prayer service will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church. The Rev. Donald Czelusniak, pastor, will be celebrant. Interment will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in care of WIZR Radio Station, PO Box 146, Johnstown, NY 12095.

Catherine Close Gifford
June 27, 2001

Catherine Close Gifford, 35, died Saturday, June 21, at her home in Valparaiso, Fla. following a long illness. Mrs. Gifford was born on July 18, 1965 in Gloversville, the daughter of Peter and Sara Brown Close, who survive. She graduated from Mayfield Central School, and from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1989. For many years "Coach Cathy" worked with children at the TLC Day Care Center in Fort Walton, Fla. until her illness. She recently founded the Kids Castle day care center at her church in spite of her illness. She married Michael Gifford on April 15, 1989. He survives, as well as her son, Nicholas Gifford, and daughters, Alexandra Gifford and Samantha Gifford, all of Valparaiso, Fla.; her parents of Mayfield; her brothers, Peter Close of Smithfield, N.C., and David Close of Glen. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Walrath and Stewart Funeral Home Inc., 51 Fremont St., Gloversville. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the home of her parents, 118 Lakeview Road, Mayfield. The Rev. Noah James, a friend of the family, will officiate. Interment will take place at Union Rural Cemetery, Mayfield. Memorial contributions may be made to Kids Castle, c/o Sherrie Lidden, 665 Denton Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547, or to the Gifford Children Trust Fund, c/o Central National Bank, PO Box 517, Fonda, NY 12068, or to the charity of choice.