Ella Mae Groff, 80, of Abeling Street, Canajoharie, died Friday at home adfter a long illness.

Born Aug. 27, 1916 in Dorloo, N.Y., the daughter of Albert and Mae Markel Geisler. She was educated in Cobleskill High School.

She was emploiyed as a quality control person for Beech-Nut, retiring in 1979. She was a member of St. John-St. Marks Lutheran Church. She was very active in all church organizations and community organizations.

Survivors include her husband, Merlin Groff, whom she married Jan. 8, 1971; a son, Donald Spraker, of Cincinnati, Ohio; a grandson, Steven Spraker of Knoxsville, Tenn.; a niece, Martha Holmes of Witchita, Kan.; and several cousins.

Calling hours 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at theLenz & Betz Funeral Home, 69 Otsego St., Canajoharie.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Cremation will takeplace in the Leatherstocking Crematory, Cherry Valley.

Memorials may be made in care of the funeral home to Mountain Valley Hospice.
 

Frances Stover
June 6, 1997

Mrs. Frances Stover, 85, of McDonnell Street, Amsterdam, died Friday at Wells Nursing Home, Johnstown, where she had been a patient since December of 1992.

Born Jan. 9, 1912 in Amsterdam, she was the daughter of Frank and Jennie Liccardo Sando. She was educated in local schools.

Mrs. Stover had been employed as an assistant manager at Mordeus Restaurant in Niagara Falls for 20 years until her retirement.

She was a communicant of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam.

Her husband, Clarence Stover, died in 1971.

Survivors include two sons, Vincent F. Rossi of Amsterdam and Joseph T. Rossi of Monroe, Conn.; a brother, Frank Santo of Schenectady; a sister, Anna Zara of Perth; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be no calling hours.

A private funeral service will be conducted at the Rossi Funeral Home, 11 Mohawk Place, Amsterdam.

Interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice. 
 

James Crisalli Sr.
June 7, 1997

James J. Crisalli Sr., 79, of Henrietta Street, amsterdam, died Saturday morning at Albany Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born Sept. 1, 1917 in Amsterdam, he was the son of Joseph and Mary Reszuit Crisalli. He was a lifelong Amsterdam resident.

Mr. Crisalli was a World War II veteran, serving with the U.S. Army in North Africa, Italy and Europe. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.

He was employed at one time as a foundry worker by the U.S. Steel Co. in New Jersey and later as a construction worker serving as shop steward during construction of McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Most recently, he was a self-employed painter and furniture refinisher in Amsterdam, retiring in 1996.

Mr. Crisalli was a lifetime member of VFW Post 9253 in Hagaman.

He was a communicant of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Amsterdam.

He married the former Lillian Marie Kellogg on Nov. 27 1945.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Frances Crisalli Rivera, in 1993.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, James J. Crisalli Jr. of Amsterdam; three daughters, Joann Brooker and Georgeanna Brooker, both of Amsterdam, and Paulette Lesniak of Puyallup, Wash.; three sisters, Rose Zepperi, Mary Guiffre and Angie Politano, all of Amsterdam; 16 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Betz Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, with the Rev. Lawrence Decker officiating. Interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.
 

Clara Mroczkowski
June 8, 1997

Mrs. Clara Mroczkowski, 85, of Woodridge Road, Amsterdam, died Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital.

Born Jan. 20, 1912 in Amsterdam, she was the daughter of Michael and Sophie Kosinski Roz. She attended local schools and was a lifelong city resident.

She was employed as a twister for several years at the Mohasco Corp. Later, she worked at Consolidated Novelty Co. before retiring in 1973.

She was a member of St. Stanislaus Church and its Rosary Society.

She married Stanley F. Mroczkowski on May 31, 1931. He died June 21, 1991.

Survivors include a son Stanley M. Mroczkowski of Staten Island; a brother, Edmund Roz of Florida; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one niece, one nephew and cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jendrzejczak Funeral Home, 200 Church St., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. There will be a recitation of the Rosary at 7:15 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Amsterdam.
 

Francis Dempsey
June 7, 1997

Francis "Frank" Dempsey, 69, of South First Street, Northville, died Saturday after a brief illness.

Born in New Haven, Conn., he was a 1947 graduate of New Haven High School. He had lived in Northville since 1990.

A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., he was also a catcher with the Boston Red Sox from 1948 to 1950.

Mr. Dempsey was a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army.

After the war, he was employed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, Penn Central Railroad, Conrail and Metro North Railroad for 46 years, retiring in 1990 as a production engineer.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6933 in Darien, Conn., and American Legion Post 1076.

He married Janet Ohidy Dempsey on June 20, 1953.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Brian Dempsey of Wallingford, Conn. and Kevin Dempsey of Darien; three daughters, Deborah Doshna of Stamford, Conn., Sheryl Dempsey of Northville and Sharon Denman of Johnstown; a brother, James Dempsey of Branford, Conn,; a sister, Katherine Jackson of Hamden, Conn., and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Northville Funeral Home, 401 Bridge St. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Calling hours are from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, Gloversville.
 

Patricia Childs
June 6, 1997

Mrs. Patricia Crocetta Childs of Mohawk Place, Guilderland, died Friday at her home following a long illness.

Born and raised in Gloversville, she was 1948 graduate of Gloversville High School. She received a degree in fine arts from Larson College in Connecticut.

A resident of the Albany area since 1963, she was employed as a clerical worker at the state Office of General Services for more than 15 years before retiring in 1995.

Mrs. Childs was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Albany and the Albany Colony of the Society of Mayflower Descendants and a charter member of the Old Hellebergh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was married to Clyde Childs Jr. for 46 years.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Garth Childs of Guilderland and Christopher Childs of Morrisville; a brother, Robert Crocetta of Palm Coast, Fla.; and five grandsons.

Funeral services will be conducted at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Frederick Funeral Home, 16 Manning Blvd., Albany, followed by a service at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Entombment will be in Memory's Garden, Colonie.

Calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
 

John Papa Sr.
June 7, 1997

John J. Papa Sr., 84, of 13 Main Street, St. Johnsville, died Saturday at Faxton Hospital in Utica.

Born April 5, 1914 in Fonda, he was the son of Samuel and Madelena Ginquinto Papa. He was educated in St. Johnsville and was a lifelong area resident.

He was employed at the St. Johnsville Housing Authority for several years, until his retirement in 1993.

Mr. Papa was of the Catholic faith.

Survivors include two sons, James J. Papa of Liverpool and Joseph A. Papa of Latham; one brother and four sisters. He was predeceased by a son, John J. Papa Jr. on Jan 1, 1993.

Funeral services will be conducted at the convenience of the family.

There will be no calling hours.

Arrangements are by the Smith-Woody & Enea Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville.
 

Jacqueline Fake
June 8, 1997

Mrs. Jacqueline B. Fake, 49, of Ridge Road, Galway, died Sunday at Albany Medical Center from injuries suffered in an automobile accident on May 20 in Rock City Falls.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas H. Fake; two sones, Thomas James Fake and Timothy Thomas Fake, both of Galway; her mother, Geraldine Horner of Burnt Hills; a sister, Olive LeBier of Florida; and four brothers, Lawrence Sargent of Niskayuna, Marvin Sargent and Ronald Sargent, both of Oneonta, and Doug Sargent of Charlton.

Funeral services will be private.

Arrangements are by the Richard J. Ryan Funeral Home, Galway.
 

Carolyn Snell
June 8, 1997

Carolyn Lee Snell. 46, of County Route 137, Johnstown, died Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam after a long illness.

Born in Gloversville, she was a lifelong area resident. She was a client at Lexington Center in Johnstown.

Survivors include three brothers, Albert Snell Jr. of North Bush, Henry Snell of Caroga Lake and Joseph Snell of Glen; and a sister, Gertrude Passino of Johnstown.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the A.G. Cole Funeral Home, 215 E. Main St., Johnstown. Burial will be in North Bush Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lexington Center.
 

Helen Condit
June 7, 1997

Mrs. Helen Condit, 86, of North Main Street, Mayfield, died Saturday at the Fulton County Infirmary after a long illness.

Born in Amsterdam, she was a graduate of Hagaman Schools and attended business school in Amsterdam. She lived most of her life in Mayfield.

She was employed by various glove companies, including the Goosen glove factory in Gloversville and the Wilkins, Mayfield, Dixon and Alvord factories. Most recently, she was a home health aide.

She was a member of the Mayfield Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and was a former member of the Hagaman Methodist Church and the Mayfield United Methodist Church.

She married Harold May in 1928. He died April 19, 1940. She then married Arthur Condit in 1945. He died in 1948.

Survivors include a son, Harold May Jr. of Mayfield, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Hollenbeck Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave., Gloversville. Burial will be in Union Rural Cemetery.

Calling hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
 

Arthur Fancher
June 7, 1997

Arthur D. Fancher, 83, of Progress Road, Gloversville, died Saturday at Nathan Littauer Hospital.

Born in Fonda, he was a lifelong area resident.

He was employed for 25 years at MCA before retiring in 1985. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934.

Mr. Fancher was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Gloversville, the Johnstown American Legion Post, the Mayfield Fireman's Association, the New York State Sheriff's Association, the American Association of Retired Persons and the Johnstown Fireman's Association.

Survivors include three grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 this morning at the A.G. Cole Funeral Home, 215 E. Main St., Johnstown. Burial will be in Mayfield Cemetery.
 

Frank Alisanski
June 8, 1997

Frank Alisanski, 80, of Church Street, Amsterdam, died Sunday at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital.

Arrangements, by the Amsterdam Funeral Chapel, are incomplete and will be announced.
 

Alton Dockstader
June 7, 1997

Alton F. Dockstader, 84, of Robin Circle, Johnstown, died Saturday at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady after a brief illness.

Born in Johnstown, he was a graduate of Johnstown High School and a 1935 graduate of Bentley College in Boston.

He was employed by Schine Enterprises from 1938 to 1965. From 1965 to 1985, he was the office manager at Kentris Chevrolet.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

Mr. Dockstader was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church. He was also a member and past master of St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge, which honored him with Dedicated Service Award in 1975.

He was also a member of Cyprus Temple 5 in Albany, the Royal Arch Masons 78; the Johnstown Council 72 of the Cryptic Rite Masons; St. George's Council 74 of the Cryptic Rite Masons; Sacandaga Chapter 116 of the Royal Arch Masons; and the Scottish Rite Masons, 32nd Degree, Valley of Schenectady.

Mr. Dockstader was also a member and past patron of St. Monica Chapter 486 of the Order of the Easter Star and a former member and treasurer of the Johnstown Public Library.

Survivors include two daughters, Linda Gorney of Queensbury and Marla Gayle Whittingham of Johnstown; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Ehle Funeral Home, 15 N. William St., Johnstown. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Fonda.

Calling hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Patrick's Lodge Endowment Fund, 22 N. Perry St., Johnstown.