Frederick Caruso (1928 – 2013)
ALBANY—Frederick Caruso, 85, of East Greenbush died Monday, July 29, 2013 at Albany Memorial Hospital.
Born May 11, 1928 in Manhattan, he was the son of the late Frank and Theresa Caruso.
Before moving to East Greenbush in 2008, Mr. Caruso grew up, got married and raised his children in the Bronx. He was a baseball coach for the Van Nest Little League, as well as, an active member of St. Dominic’s Parish.
As a first degree knight with the Mary Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus, he wore his jacket with pride. He was also a veteran, who served in the U.S. Navy.
He recently was predeceased by the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Catherine DeBiccari Caruso.
They are survived by: one daughter, Cecelia Caska of Niverville and one son, Frank Caruso (Ruth) of Acworth, GA; four grandchildren, Catherine Caska of Seattle, WA, Thom Caska of New York City, Danielle and Cole Caruso, both of Acworth, GA.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday, August 6, 10 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church, East Greenbush. Burial will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Valatie. Calling hours will be Monday, August 5 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Inc., 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Anna Drahushuk (1921 – 2013)
PHILMONT—Anna (nee Kulikowski) Drahushuk, 92, born June 26, 1921, passed away Wednesday July 31, 2012 at the Pine Haven Home.
She is now with the love of her life, John Drahushuk, who died September 28, 1999. Mrs. Drahushuk was also predeceased by her sister, Sophie Lubianetsky and her parents, William and Mary (Myszka) Kulikowski.
She was born on the lower east side of Manhattan, where she spent her childhood before moving to Hudson with her family when she was a teenager.
They joined the St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church soon after they moved, and Mrs. Drahushuk remained devoted to the church. Her Hudson High yearbook said her greatest accomplishment was “that ring.”
After graduating, she attended and graduated from the Millinery School in New York City. She then moved back to Hudson to work at the family business, the Columbia Diner. She married John Drahushuk in April 1942. They were married 57 years at the time of his passing.
Mrs. Drahushuk was an accomplished cook and baker as evidenced by the requests made by friends, family and her church.
Besides making Ukrainian foods, Mr. and Mrs. Drahushuk regularly made the Columbia Diner’s Manhattan clam chowder and macaroni and cheese for family and friends. She tried, and became accomplished at many hobbies such as candy-making and crocheting.
In her eyes though, her greatest accomplishment was raising six children with wit and discipline. Her children might say more discipline than wit, but since they all have a good sense of humor, the combination must have worked. They are: J.B. (Pat) of Castleton, William (Laurie) of Hudson, Bob (Mary) of Akron, Karen (Larry Hamm) of Zionsville, PA, Linda (John Campeta) of Hudson and Sandra of Leeds.
The lights of her life, however, were her grandchildren: Audra, Julie, Jennie, Aaron, Lee, Tom, Nathaniel, Andrea, Chelsea, Marisa, Cody, and her step-great granddaughter, Harley. It only got better when she got to enjoy her great-grandchildren: Sophia, Alaina and Reese. Watching the little ones had her smiling from ear to ear. Even in her 90s, she would pull them onto her lap, and hold them as long as she could. Mrs. Drahushuk is also survived by cousins, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Panakhyda prayers were said at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport, August 1. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated August 2 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hudson. Fr. John Jedrychowski officiated. Burial followed in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson.
Mrs. Drahushuk requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 206 Union Street, Hudson 12534.
Ann V. Dawson (1926 – 2013)
CANAAN, CT—Ann V. Dawson, 86, of Copake Falls passed away Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Geer Village.
Mrs. Dawson was a lifelong resident of the Copake area and was a member of Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church, where she also served as a Eucharistic minister.
Born September 4, 1926 in Copake Falls, she was the daughter of William and Anna (Royce) Ward.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ernest Dawson, March 3, 2007. They were married April 10, 1948.
Mrs. Dawson is survived by: her son and daughter-in-law, William and Barbara Dawson of Northport; a daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and John Gaus of Duluth, MN; three grandchildren, Daniel, Tracy and Shannon; six great grandchildren, Nathan, Gracie, Anja, Alexis, Nicholas and Max; two sisters, Irene Magnus and Mary Heath and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Kelly Jean Smith and her siblings, Catherine, Marjorie and Francis.
Calling hours are Monday, August 5, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Route 22, Copake. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, August 6, 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope, Route 22, Copake Falls. Interment will be in new St. Bridget’s Cemetery, Copake Falls. Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Hope Church, 8074 State Route 22, Copake Falls 12517 or Community Hospice of Columbia-Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12514.
To sign the online register visit peckandpeck.net.
Marguerite E. Poucher (1909 – 2013)
HUDSON—Marguerite E. Poucher, 103, a lifelong Clermont resident, died Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born October 1, 1909, in Clermont, she was the daughter of the late Philip and Carrie (Donerly) Smith.
She married Earl W. Poucher, January 31, 1926 in Manorton. He predeceased her, December 8, 1986.
Along with raising her family, Mrs. Poucher worked as a housekeeper and on various farms throughout the Northern Dutchess and Southern Columbia County regions.
She is survived by: her daughter, Donna Poucher and her longtime friend John Cservak of Red Hook; her two sons, Kenneth Poucher of Hot Springs, AR, and Donald E. Poucher of Slidell, LA; her grandchildren, Louise, Karen and Debbie; several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Poucher was predeceased by 10 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Burnett & White Funeral Homes, Red Hook. Burial will be at Viewmont Rural Cemetery, Clermont.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes 7461 South Broadway, Red Hook.
To sign the online guest book visit www.Burnett-White.com.
Evelyn Audrey Prescott (1918 – 2013)
PITTSFIELD, MA—Evelyn Audrey Prescott of Ghent, passed away August 1 at the Springside Nursing Home. Born June 14, 1918 in Bayone, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Louis Gates, Jr., and Mabel Richter Gates.
She worked as a secretary, librarian at the Scarsdale Public Library for more than 20 years. She later moved to Columbia County.
Mrs. Prescott was predeceased by her brother, Louis Gates, III, and her adored husband, Robert Prescott.
She is survived by: her sister, Dorothy Dooley of East Chatham; niece, Vicky Hatch of Sharon Springs; nephews, Louis Gates, IV, of San Diego, CA, William (Mary) Gates of East Chatham, Stephen Gates of Troy and Gregg (Barbara) Foley of Sherman, CT.
A funeral service will be celebrated by Deacon Brenda Nicholls and the Reverend Clinton Dugger at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chatham, Friday August 9 at 10 a.m.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home. Mrs. Prescott was an avid animal lover; contributions in her name may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society. Visit www.frenchblasl.com to convey a condolence.
