Miscellaneous Montgomery County, New York Obituaries
Montgomery County, New York School Yearbooks
William H. Colby, 79, of Gloversville, was found dead Thursday afternoon
after he was reported missing Wednesday.
He was born an raised in St. Johnsville and later moved to Gloversville.
He later moved to New Jersey, before again returning to Gloversville.
Mr. Colby was employed by Acme Embossing and then by General Electric
Co. before taking a job as a foreman at Heavy Labor Construction Co. in
Newark, N.J., from which he retired in 1980. He was a member of New Jersey
Local 482.
He served in World War II and the Korean War with the U.S. Marine Corps.
During World War II, he participated in the offensives at Guadalcanal and
Iwo Jima.
Mr. Colby was a member and past commander of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 2077, a member fo the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion
Post 137, the Adirondack Marine Corps League and the Military Order of
Cootie. He was also a member of the Mayfield Servicemen's Club, the Catholic
War Veterans and the Concordia Singing Society. He was involved in the
formation of the Joint American Legion and VFW Firing Squad for proper
military burial of local veterans.
He married Christine Frederick Colby on Jan. 19, 1961.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Beverly Lydia
of Houston; a son, Kevin Colby of Gloversville; a stepbrother, James Colby
of Fairfax, Va.; two stepsisters, Patricia Green of Liverpool and Marjorie
Grant of Richardson, Texas; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at the Hollenbeck
Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave., Gloversville. Burial, with full military honors,
will be in Fern Dale Cemetery.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral
home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Disease Association,
Capital District Chapter, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, 12206-2083.
Sally Jurewicz
Mrs. Sally V. Jurewicz, 80, of Australia Way, Clearwater, Fla., died
Thursday at Mease Hospital in Dunedin, Fla.
Born in Amsterdam, she moved to Schenectady as a child and was educated
in the Schenectady school system. She moved to Florida in 1982.
She was employed by the General Electric Co. for many years.
She was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Her husband, Charles Jurewicz, died in 1982.
Survivors include a daughter, Sallyann Stibiger of Rotterdam; two sons,
Charles Jurewicz of Rotterdam and Thomas Jurewicz of California; a sister
Kate Morawski of Colonie; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Kazyaka
Funeral Home, 819 Eastern Ave., Schenectady, followed by a Mass of Christian
Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be in
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery in Rotterdam.
A calling hour will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral
home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital,
502 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105-1905.
Bessie Graham
December 27, 1996
Mrs. Bessie C. Graham, 73, of Reed Street, Northville, died Friday at
Ellis Hospital in Schenectady after a short illness.
Born in Northville, she was a lifelong area resident and a 1941 graduate
of Northville Central School.
She was a homemaker.
Her husband, Ellis Graham, died in 1975.
Survivors include two sons, Erving Hayes of Westminster, Calif., and
Joseph Graham of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and four grandchildren.
A graveside service will be conducted at Prospect Hill Cemetery at a
time to be announced by the Northville Funeral Home.
There are no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Northville Volunteer Ambulance
Corps.
Edwin Pottynski
Edwin A. Pottynski of Gorski Street, Amsterdam, died Sunday morning
at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, following a long illness.
Born in Schenectady, a son of the late Andrew and Wanda Napiorkowski
Pottynski, he also resided in Scotia and was educated there graduating
from Scotia High School . In 1961, he moved to Amsterdam and resided here
since.
He was employed by the General Electric Company in Schenectady and was
also a private detective for Globe International Detective Agency of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Lastly, he worked for 924 Management Inc. of Albany.
During World War II, Mr. Pottynski served in the Army. He was a member
of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam and was also a member
of American Legion Post 0039.
He married Virginia S. Rucinski on July 2, 1961.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Pottynski is survived by two daughters,
Sandra L. Gibson of Williamsville, N.Y., Dr. Laureen L. Smith, of Drexel
Hill, Penn., one brother, Anthony Poltynski of Ballston Lake; two sisters,
Dorothy Pastalaniec of Amsterdam; and Theresa Kruszona of Scotia; one granddaughter;
one aunt; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Interment
will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Schenectady. There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church, Amsterdam or
to the SPCA Animal Shelter, Route 5S, Amsterdam.
Arrangements are by the Jendrzejczak Funeral Home, 200 Church St., Amsterdam.
Anna DeSisto
Miss Anna DeSisto, 91, a 20-year resident of 272 West Main St. in Amsterdam,
died Sunday at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
Born Nov. 5, 1905 in Alife, Italy, she was the daughter of Raffaele
Angelo and Giovanna Maria DiCaprio DeSisto.
Miss DeSisto moved to Amsterdam from Italy and has since resided here.
She was educated in Italy, Miss DeSisto was employed as a cook from 1950
to 1985 at Al's Pizzeria in Gloversville, retiring in 1985.
She moved in 1990 to the Golden Years Adult Home in Amsterdam, then
in 1993 moved to Mount Loretto Nursing Home.
Miss DeSisto was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic
Church in Amsterdam.
Survivors include two brothers, Alphonse DeSisto of Amsterdam and Martin
DeSisto of Gloversville; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be 8:30 a.m. at the Betz Funeral Home Inc., 171
Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be
celebrated at 9:15 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Amsterdam.
Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made in Miss DeSisto's memory to the Mount
Loretto Nursing Home Memorial Fund, Box 3166, Amsterdam.
Ruth Dillon
Ruth G. Dillon, 79, of 23 Bridge St. in St. Johnsville, died Sunday
at Little Falls Hospital.
Born Feb. 11, 1917 in Ephratah, she was the daughter of Henry and Jennie
VanWormer Gray. Mrs. Dillon was educated in Johnstown schools and lived
most of her life in the St. Johnsville area.
Mrs. Dillon was last employed as an inspector for Beech-Nut in Canajoharie.
She was of the Protestant faith.
Mrs. Dillon was a member of Maques Chapter of the Order of the Eastern
Star and St. Johnsville Senior Citizens.
She was married to James G. Dillon on Aug. 18, 1952.
In addition to her husband, survivors include a sister, LaMoyne Manclow
of St. Johnsville; two nieces, Gail Carter of St. Johnsville and Carol
Blowers of Johnstown.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Smith-Woody and Enea
Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville, with the Rev. Michael Yezierski,
past of St. Johnsville United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Ephratah Rural Cemetery in the spring.
Calling hours will be at 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday
at the funeral home. Members of the Maques Chapter of the Eastern Star
are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday for services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Johnsville Area Volunteer
Ambulance Corps.
Gertrude Brockum
Mrs. Gertrude "Marceline" Brockum, 80 of North Street, Gloversville,
died Friday at the St. Johnsville Nursing Home.
Born in Williamstown, Oswego County, Mrs. Brockum was a graduate of
Williamstown High School. She later moved to Gloversville, where she resided
more than 50 years.
Mrs. Brockum was a self-employed beautician, operating Marceline's Beauty
Shop from 1950 to 1991 before retiring due to illness.
She was a member of the Gloversville American Legion and Veterans of
Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliaryand the ladies auxiliaries of the Gloversville
Eagles and Aerie and the Gloversville Moose Lodge.
Mrs. Brockum was also a member of the Fulton County Hairdressers Association.
Her first husband, Allen Pozefsky, died in 1991.
Survivors include three sons, Marvin Pozefsky of Milford, Conn., Larry
Pozefsky of Albany and Richard Pozefsky of Ansonia, Conn.; two sisters,
Sarah Thomas and Mary Stearns, both of Marcy, Oneida County; five grandchildren;
two great-grandchildren and her companion, William Gable of Gloversville.
A service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at the Marcy Community Church.
Burial will be in Carr Cemetery, Marcy.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Hollenbeck
Funeral Home, 4 Second St.
Helen Fyvie
Mrs. Helen B. Fyvie, 94, of Sacandaga Park, Northville, died Saturday
at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Mass.
Born in Vischers Ferry, Mrs. Fyvie was a 1920 graduate of Schenectady
High School.
She worked as a draftsperson at the General Electric Co., in Schenectady,
from 1920 to 1924. She moved to Sacandaga Park in 1940.
She was a lifelong supporter of the Seeing Dye Dogs of Morristown, N.J.,
and president of the Flower Society of Dalton, Mass.
Mrs. Fyvie was also a member of the New York State Genealogical Society
and Trinity Methodist Church in Schenectady.
She is survived by a sister, Margaret Erb of Northville.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Northville Funeral
Home, 401 Bridge St.. Burial will be in the spring in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fulton County Humane Society.
Irene Maxson
Irene P. Maxson, 86, died Sunday at Nathan Littauer Nursing Home in
Gloversville after a short illness. She had resided there five years.
Born Jan. 17, 1910 in Gloversville, she was the daughter of Raymond
and Margaret Wessells Parramore.
She resided most of her life in Gloversville, also in Hope Falls in
the 1970s. After retirement in Sebring, Fla., until her husband's death,then
returned to Gloversville.
She was a graduate of Gloversville High School and Gloversville Business
School.
Mrs. Maxson was employed at Fulton County Silk Mill; St. Thomas Inc.,
Mario Papa & Sons; and was the bookeeper for her husband's business
for many years (Modern Roofing Co.,)all of Gloversville.
She was a member of Fulton County Daughters of the American Revolution,
Pleasant Square Fire Auxiliary; Hope Volunteer Fire Auxiliary; Gloversville
Christian Science Society.
She married Richard H. Maxson on July 15, 1933. He died Jan. 13, 1989.
Survivors include three sons,Edward C. Maxson of Gloversville, Charles
R. Maxson of Northville, and David G. Maxson of Frostproof, Fla., five
grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
Calling hours are from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Walrath
& Bushouer Funeral Home Inc., 51 Fremont St., Gloversville where services
will be conducted on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Paul Rohrbacher officiating.
Cremation will follow at Parkview Crematory, Schenectady.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O.
Box 261, Gloversville, 12078.
Irene V. Topping
Irene V. Topping, 82, formerly of Elias Street, died Sunday evening
at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility.
Born in Lemieux, Ontario, Canada, on May 21, 1914, she was the daughter
of John and Rose St. Amour Gardner and moved to Amsterdam as a young girl.
She was educated here and was a licensed beautician.
Mrs. Topping operated the former Vidon Beauty Shop for 35 years. She
was also a nurse's aide at the Mount Loretto Nursing Home and was last
employed as a krealer for Bojud Knitting Mills until retiring.
She was a member and past matron of the Art-Wel Chapter 208 Order of
the Eastern Star and a member of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Her husband, Samuel C. Topping, died March 22, 1991.
Survivors include two sisters, Laurencia DiCaprio of Amsterdam and Leah
Adamkoski of Perth; dear friends, Howard and Frances Fonda of Hagaman;
nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Rossi Funeral Home, 11
Mohawk Place. Interment is in the Spring at Hagaman Cemetery.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, with an
Eastern Star Service to be conducted at 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Church or to Shriner's
Children's Hospital Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Richard Smith
Richard Smith, 80, of Main Street, Gloversville, formerly of Second
Avenue, died Saturday at the Fulton County Infirmary in Johnstown.
Born in Gloversville, Mr. Smith graduated in 1936 from Gloversville
High School and was a lifelong area resident.
An Army veteran of World War II, he served as an airplane mechanic in
Europe from 1943 to 1945.
Mr. Smith was a self-employed carpenter.
He was a former member of St. James Lutheran Church, the Eccentric Club
and the Johnstown Moose Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Inez Jones Smith, whom he married June 10,
1939; two sons, Douglas W. Smith of Charlton and Gregory J.Smith of Aurora,
Colo.; a daughter, Lorie Rosenberg of Raleigh, N.C.; a sister, June Ottman
of Gloversville; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday at the Life Christian
Center in Johnstown.
Memorial contributions may be made to charity.
Arrangements are by the Hollenbeck Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave.
Robert Philips
Robert D. Philips, 87, of Prospect Avenue, Gloversville, died Friday
at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a long illness.
Mr. Philips was born in Gloversville and lived there all his life. He
was a graduate of Gloversville High School.
Mr. Philips was a self-employed certified public accountant. He had
also worked for M.W. Roosevelt and Sons in Palatine Bridge; Kasson and
Keller in Fonda and N.A. Taylor and Company in Gloversville. He retired
in 1987.
He was married to Mary C. Kernahan on June 30, 1942.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Jean Pierce of
Gloversville, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian
Church, 16 W. Fulton St. Cremation will take place at the Leatherstocking
Crematory, Cherry Valley.
Arrangements are by the Hollenbeck Funeral Home.
Rose "Rose Marie" DiDonna
Rose DiDonna, 92, a business leader who helped bring the IBM plant and
the Hudson Valley Mall to the Town of Ulster, died Dec. 22 at the New Paltz
Nursing Home after a long illness.
Mrs. DiDonna was born in Amsterdam on March 3, 1904, a daughter of the
late Anthony and Mary Grace Liccardo Ferlazzo.
Her husband, Joseph DiDonna, died in 1973. She was predeceased by a
son, Joseph A. Jr., who died in 1939.
Mrs. DiDonna is survived by two sons, Louis of the Townn of Ulster and
Richard of Darien, CT.; five grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews
and cousins.
A funeral mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church in Kingston.
Burial was held in St. Mary's Cemetery in Kingston.
Arrangements were by Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave., Kingston.
Mikayla Wolfkiel
Mikayla Renee Wolfkiel died at birth Saturday at St. Mary's Hospital
in Amsterdam.
She was the daughter of David G. Wolfkiel Jr. and Nickole Oakes Wolfkiel
of Fort Plain.
In addition to her parents, survivors include Mikayla's paternal grandparents,
Anna T. Wolfkiel of Fort Plain and David G. Wolfkiel Sr., of Lafayette,
Colo.; her maternal grandmother, Linda Lesso Claven of Ames; her paternal
great-grandmother, Mary T. Wolfkiel of Windsor, Colo.; her maternal great-grandparents,
Mr. and Mrs. William Linder of Endicott; and aunts and uncles.
Services will be private at the Fort Plain Cemetery with the Rev. Kenneth
Swain, pastor of St. James Church, officiating.
Arrangements are by the Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home in
Fort Plain.
Rosemarie Otrube
Mrs. Otrube was born and educated in Johnstown.
She was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church.
Survivors include herhusband,Steve Otrube, whom she married May 17,
1958; two sons,Stephen Otrube of Sacramento, Calif., and James Otrube of
Sioux Falls, S.D., two daughters, Arlene Wickierak of Durham, N.C., and
Theresa Brandt of Johnstown; three sisters, Otilia Knuffke and Irene Manno,
both of Johnstown, and Marilyn Testerman of Belarie, Md., a brother, John
Hladik of Johnstown, and a granddaughter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at
St. Anthony's Church. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the
Barter & Donnan Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association
or to the Johnstown Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Josephine Eldridge
Mrs. Eldridge was born in Amsterdam. She was a homemaker.
She was married to Carl Eldridge Sr. He died in 1993.
Survivors include a son, Bruce Thompson of Glenville, a son, Carl Eldridge
Jr. of the Town of Day; one grandson; four granddaughters, and 1 great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Daly Funeral
Home, 242 McClellan St. Burial will be in Memory's Garden, Colonie.
Calling hour will preceed the service Tuesday from 8 to 9 a.m. at the
funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer
Society, Crosstown Plaza, 2330 Watt St., Schenectady.
Sadie Medwid
Born in Amsterdam, she was the daughter of Michael and Josie Bruzinskas
Pucunas. She was educated in local schools.
Mrs. Medwid was employed as a weaver for Mohawk Carpets and later as
an assembler for Ward Products, retiring in 1973.
She was an active communicant of St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Parish
where she served on the parish council and was a Eucharistic Minister.
She was a charter member and past president of St. Casimir's Ladies Auxiliary.
She was also past president and charter member of the St. Casimir's Seniors,
and Living Rosary Society of the church.
She married William Medwid on April 16, 1950.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Richard Sakadolsky
of Northville; three grandsons; and three great-grandsons.
Services will be held Thursday at 9:45 a.m. at the Rossi Funeral Home,
11 Mohawk Place, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 at the
Church of St. John the Baptist with the Rev. Joseph Grabys officiating.
Interment will be held in St. Casimir's Cemetery, Amsterdam.
Calling hours are Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial
contributions may be made to GAVAC or to a charity of one's choice.
William Colby
December 27, 1996
December 27, 1996
December 29, 1996
December 29, 1996
December 29, 1996
December 27, 1996
December 28, 1996
December 29, 1996
December 29, 1996
December 28, 1996
December 27, 1996
December 22, 1996
December 28, 1996
Mrs. Rosemarie Otrube, 58 of Prindle Avenue, Johnstown, died Friday
at Nathan Littauer Hospital after being stricken at home.
JosephineSinatra Eldridge, 70, of Van Buren Road, Schenectady, died
Friday, Dec. 27, at home, after a long illness.
Sadie Medwid of Edson Street, Amsterdam, died early this morning at
St. Mary's Hospital, shortly after arrival.
