Marion G. Arnold (1927 – 2021)
SAN ANTONIO, TX—Marion Griffing Arnold passed away in San Antonio, Texas, August 16, 2021. Known as “Pat,” she was born July 26, 1927 at home in Amagansett. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marion Skinner Griffing and Frank Norton Griffing of Amagansett, and her sisters, Janet Judd and Ruth Hines.
She is survived by: her five children, Patricia Buss, Gray Kendrick, Laurie Arnold, Amy Gumaer and Kurt Arnold; six grandchildren, Alison Voltz, Lindsey Buss, Colin Buss, Emily Kendrick, Sophia Arnold and Avery Arnold.
She graduated with honors from New Paltz State Teachers College in 1949 with a degree in education. She taught in Grahamsville, where she met the love of her life, Edward Henry Arnold. They were married in East Hampton in 1951 and celebrated 67 years of marriage before Mr. Arnold’s death in 2019. They lived in Adak, AK, and San Francisco, CA, during Mr. Arnold’s time in the Navy, before settling in Kinderhook in 1955.
Mrs. Arnold raised her five children and volunteered with the American Cancer Society, the Columbia Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and the Girl Scouts. She served as den leader for the Boy Scouts.
She was an avid gardener, an outstanding cook, and loved collecting antiques. She enjoyed oil painting, playing the piano and attending Broadway musicals.
Calling hours will be held Friday, September 24 at the Raymond Bond Funeral Home, Valatie from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 25 at the Kinderhook Reformed Church, 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kinderhook Reformed Church, P.O. Box 638, Kinderhook 12106.
Donald W. Edmon (1924 – 2021)
AUSTERLITZ—It is with great sadness that the Edmon family announces the passing of MSgt Donald Wilson Edmon (retd) from Ashland, Kentucky.
Born October 27, 1924, he took his final flight to the skies August 18, 2021 at home, with his children by his side at the age of 96.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served his country during WWII as a right side waist gunner in the Mighty 8th Air Force, 390th bomb group, 569th squadron and flew 33 combat missions over Europe. After the war, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force until he retired in 1969.
He met his first wife, Patricia Lucille Treadway, while he was in Denver, CO, attending armament school in 1944 at Lowry Air Force Base. After the war, he was transferred to Seattle, WA, where they got married. Mr. Edmon subsequently got stationed at Haneda Air base in Tokyo, Japan where his first daughter, Claudia “Dia” Cluff, was born May 13, 1950. He recalled living in a military compound right in front of the emperor’s palace. He took up auto racing and established one of Japan’s first sports car clubs. After Tokyo, he got transferred to West Palm Beach, FL, and then was stationed for a year at Suwon, South Korea during the occupation after the Korean War ended in 1953.
With the outbreak of the Cold War and the Soviet threat increasing, Mr. Edmon and his family were stationed at the Laon-Couvron Air Base to help meet European defense needs. They lived outside of Laon, France in a village named Vorges where he developed a love of European life and architecture. One of his favorite memories of living in Europe was attending the Brussels Worlds Fair, Expo 58.
He was stationed in England twice. The first time he was in Framlingham during the war. Evenings were exceptionally dark when city lights went unlit to avoid targeting by Nazi bombers and the famously thick London fog that blanketed the city. His last tour was at the Royal Air Force base in Alconbury, England. He remembered the beauty of the countryside, the charming villages and towns, and London. At RAF Alconbury, he was chairman of the Morale Committee and enjoyed bringing class acts like Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield and others to the club for long nights of dinner and dancing.
Upon their return to the U.S., Mr. and Mrs. Edmon divorced. Mr. Edmon was soon introduced to a beautiful Mexican-American named Emilia Mytyl Rubio Levin in San Francisco, CA. They were married in 1972 and were blessed with two children both born at the Presidio Army Base at Letterman Hospital.
The family lived on Jones Street between Lombard and Chestnut, just a block from the world famous crookedest street and overlooking Alcatraz Island from their hilltop home.
Although they separated in 1999, they remained married and always thereafter shared a special loving and amicable bond together. Mr. Edmon spent several golden years of retirement on his own in Guadalajara, Mexico. He joined the American Legion, Post 3, there and enjoyed camaraderie with other expats, salsa dancing, margarita drinking, and breakfasting at Sanborn’s with his buddies.
He lived life to the fullest and said that the key to life is to “be positive,” noting that a daily martini and occasional cigar also helped. He considered himself to be a lucky man, loved by his family, respected and thanked everywhere he went for his service to his country. He had the opportunity to live all over the world, finally passing away peacefully in the beautiful hills of Austerlitz.
He is survived by: his wife, Emilia Mytyl Edmon; his first daughter, Claudia “Dia” Cluff (his late son-in-law Curtis Cluff); also survived by his second daughter, Melissa Edmon Slotnick (son-in-law Josiah Slotnick); his only son, Donald Wilson Edmon II; his grandchildren, Heather Cluff Blanchard (Howard Edgar Blanchard III), Reagan Cluff Whitfield (Matt Whitfield), Joshua Kendrick Edmon-Macias, Maya Luz Slotnick, Liliana Mary Slotnick and Jacob Clark Slotnick and his great- grandchildren.
Relatives and friends celebrated Mr. Edmon’s life August 24, 2021 at Wenk Funeral Home in Chatham. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. To read a complete obituary and send online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com.
Robert J. Kisselburgh (1943 – 2021)
NIVERVILLE—Robert James Kisselburgh, 77, of Niverville passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021 at his residence.
Known as “Bobby” or “Pop” to most, Mr. Kisselburgh was born October 3, 1943 in Waterbury, CT, to the late Harry Frank Kisselburgh, Sr. and Alice (Lockwood) Kisselburgh. Following high school, he joined the armed services by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1961. His father also served in the U.S. military.
As a dedicated airman, he spent 26 years enlisted in the USAF stationed all over the world. Stations that took him from Washington D.C. to Texas and New York as well as internationally including Portugal and Germany. Master Sergeant Kisselburgh retired in 1988.
When he retired as an enlisted airman, he worked for the U.S. government as a civilian for another seven years and completed his second retirement. He returned to New York in 2015 where he enjoyed the remainder of his time in Niverville with his partner Frances Fisher. He also enjoyed spending time with family, volunteering at the American Legion, as well a good day at the casino. With a strong faith, he was also a dedicated member of the Catholic church throughout his life. At the time of his passing, he was a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Valatie.
He is survived by: a daughter, Dawn Hamilton (Joseph) of Seguin, TX; two sons, Donald Kisselburgh (Mary) of Floresville, TX, and Darrell Kisselburgh (Haydi) of Houston, TX; four siblings, Gloria DiBlase (Joseph) of Syracuse, Harry Kisselburgh Jr. (Dorothy) of Oswego, Donna Vavrina (William) of Stottville and David Kisselburgh of Hudson; two grandchildren, Ashley Contreras and Crystal Reigle (Michael) and eight great-grandchildren. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his great-grandson, Derrick Rosas.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated August 28, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Church, Valatie. Visitation took place at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
Douglas L. Burgess (1920 – 2021)
PITTSFIELD, MA—Douglas L. Burgess, independent resident at Payn Residence in Chatham, passed away August 25, 2021 in Pittsfield, MA, after a brief illness.
Family man, scholar, musician, World War II veteran, business executive, gardener, gentleman, friend, lover of the sea and ocean-going ships, Mr. Burgess was in his 102nd year. His family is deeply grateful to everyone in whose care and attention he settled comfortably to rest.
Among these are Payn residents and staff who embraced him during the past six years. There, while maintaining ties with far-flung family and a dwindling number of long-time friends, “Doug” found among new friends and activities respite from loss, and opportunities to give of his time and abilities. A highlight in this period was traveling to be with a grandson graduating from and being commissioned an officer at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
While at Payn Mr. Burgess remembered his youth, especially his love of Navy life. He enlisted shortly after earning his liberal arts degree, and after a year’s training gone to sea a junior officer on “the Mighty B”, U.S.S. Brough (DE-148). By the time of his honorable release from active duty in 1946, Brough’s wake reached back through voyages in Atlantic, European, and Asiatic Pacific theaters, including 26 North Atlantic Ocean crossings protecting convoys of troops and supplies; and at rank lieutenant (jg) he had briefly served as commanding officer of his vessel. His service had continued another 18 years in the naval reserve, to his resignation at rank commander.
Arrival at Payn marked transition from 23 years of active life in retirement. He let go of his home of a half century at Old Chatham—rich with plantings and gardens and associations with family experience, where he had been living alone. As if in preparation he had, from time to time, left for the solace of a brief ferry-ride across Long Island sound to visit with his brother, or an ocean cruise—including one through the Panama Canal not seen since the transits onboard the Brough. At Old Chatham he had single-handedly cared for his wife, Kathryn in her terminal illness at the last of their many years together, surrendering his role to professional care-giving only at last resort. At Old Chatham the couple had entertained family and old friends, departing occasionally to visit members of a large and growing extended family, and places across the Atlantic where their English, Dutch and German ancestors had lived.
Mr. Burgess’ retirement years had followed a business career dedicated to customer service, in support of the family started with marriage in 1946, but founded on affection, friendship and love reaching back into high-school years. Within three years of marriage, he had entered the field in which he was to toil for 43 years: business forms manufacture using rotary printing presses. A measure of his talent is the record of advancement: from a beginning managing the sales office of that initial employer; soon adding to his role assisting its president and serving as a corporate officer; and steadily taking on additional responsibilities with that and subsequent employers, along the way moving his family from Long Island to the suburbs and rural countryside of New Jersey. By 1967, he was managing customer service for an Albany business-forms manufacturer and settled at Old Chatham, expressing his love for music as organist for the United Methodist Church of Malden Bridge. At retirement he was president of his own Sutin-Burgess Printing Associates, co-founded in the 1980s with a long-time business associate.
Born at Jamaica, NY, April 22, 1920, he was christened Douglas Lincoln Burgess, his middle name that also of his paternal grandfather, bestowed to honor the 16th American President.
He was predeceased by his beloved and loving wife of 64 years, Kathryn; his sister, Geraldine, and his brother, Edward. He is survived by: his sister, Adele Hesson of Buena Park, CA; his son, Stephen Richard Burgess (Gayle) of Knox, NY; his daughter, Elizabeth Jane Galanter (Elliot) of Sunny Isles Beach, FL; his son, John Douglas Burgess (Vicki) of Canaan, NY; his son, David Lincoln Burgess (Jennifer Van Amburgh) of Old Chatham; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Visiting hours were held August 30 at French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Burial followed at Old Chatham Union Cemetery, Shaker Museum Road, Malden Bridge. Memorial gifts may be sent to Louis F. Payn Foundation, 12 Coleman Street, Chatham 12037. To read a complete obituary and send online condolences visit www.frenchblasl.com
Olive D. Shook (1928 – 2021)
HYDE PARK—Olive D. Shook, 92, of Stanfordville passed away August 26, 2021 at Renaissance Nursing Care Center. She was born in Ancramdale, December 30, 1928, one of sixteen children to Ernest and Anna (Lown) Dietter. On December 19, 1948 she married Virgil Shook, Jr., in Pine Plains.
She was a homemaker and a devoted mother and grandmother. She dedicated her time to the Stanford Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary and the Stanford Forever Young Club. She enjoyed bingo, square dancing, crafts and had completed hundreds of puzzle books in her lifetime.
She is survived by: three daughters and their spouses, Anna (Charles) Wheeler of Pine Plains, Susan (Ed) Artuz of Poughkeepsie and Gail (David) Dinsmore of Harpersfield; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; and her two brothers, Avery “Prope” Dietter of Ancramdale and Elwood Dietter of Millerton.
Graveside services took place August 30, 2021 at Stanford Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to American Cancer Society.
Charles A. DelGrande (1956 – 2021)
CHICAGO, IL—Charles Albert DelGrande, 64, of Chicago, IL, passed away peacefully the morning of Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
He was born to Yvonne Brownell and Patrick DelGrande, December 30, 1956 at St. Alban’s Medical Center in Queens.
Better known as “Chuck,” he lived on Pill Hill Road in Hillsdale and attended Roeliff Jansen Elementary School with his four siblings, until attending high school at Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA. He and childhood friend, Joe Fusco, remained in close contact with their Roe Jan classmates, and together orchestrated an 8th grade class reunion in 2010.
He graduated Valedictorian of his class from the Berkshire School in 1975. He went on to receive his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1979. His first professional role was at the Chicago Tribune, where he learned so much and made so many wonderful friends whom he has kept in touch with throughout the years. During that time, he founded Tribfax—the earliest known version of the current daily e-newsletter—and in 1990, earned his MBA from Northwestern University—Kellogg School of Management.
In 2012, he joined the Investment Bank Alantra (formerly C.W. Downer) to establish a presence in the technology sector, which he consistently pursued with passion.
He will be missed by so many. He always looked at the glass as half-full, with strength, hope, love, and optimism, and to never forgot… The Fighting Irish.
He was beloved husband to Patty; loving father to Mary and Kathleen and man’s best friend, Muffin; devoted brother of Patricia Ann DelGrande, Michael DelGrande, Lorraine (Patrick) Sterrett, and Thomas DelGrande.
His parents, Patrick and Yvonne DelGrande, as well as younger sister, MaryJo, passed before him, and are buried along with his grandparents in Copake Falls.
Charity Kern (1931 – 2021)
AUSTERLITZ—Charity Kern of Austerlitz died August 27, 2021, at the age of 89. Charity, the daughter of William and Grace Bevens, was born in Great Barrington, MA.
She attended Roeliff Jansen School in Copake. She married Robert (Red) Kern in March 1949 and became self-employed as a housekeeper. Together they raised two sons, George and James.
She enjoyed sewing clothes, knitting and crocheting, camping, and working in her flowerbeds. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was also active in the United Methodist Church in Chatham.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, and her brothers, Frank and William. She is survived by: her sons, George and James; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters and four sisters.
There will be a private graveside service in Spencertown for immediate family only per Mr. and Mrs. Kern’s wishes. In lieu of flowers, they prefer donations to the church or some charity in their name. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com
Patrick C. Pulver (1968 – 2021)
ALBANY—Patrick Callan Pulver of Valatie, much loved husband, father and brother, died Saturday night, August 28, 2021 at Albany Medical Center surrounded by his family after a sudden illness. He was just 52 years old.
He was born in Hudson to the late Patricia (Callan) and Wayne Pulver, Sr., November 17, 1968. He was a graduate of Ichabod Crane High School and earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Columbia-Greene Community College.
Mr. Pulver was employed by the Albany Medical Center as a registered nurse for the past 29 years. He was proud to have served his community as a firefighter with the Valatie Fire Department and as a paramedic with the Valatie and Greenport rescue squads.
He is survived by: his wife, Mary Beth; his daughter, Emily of Centereach; his brothers and sisters, Wayne (Deborah) Pulver, Jr. of Austin, TX, Wendy Pulver (John Piddock) of Kinderhook, Joseph (Sue) Pulver of Schodack and Michelle (Sean) Pepling of Fayetteville; his former wife, Meghan Sharp of Centereach; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. The family thanks the Valatie Rescue Squad, Valatie Fire Department and the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit of Albany Medical Center for the excellent and compassionate care they provided to Mr. Pulver and his family.
Family and friends are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated Monday, September 6, 11 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Valatie. Calling hours will be Sunday, September 5 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Raymond E Bond Funeral Home in Valatie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valatie Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184.
Paul W. Silliman (1987 – 2021)
CHATHAM—Paul Windsor Silliman passed away peacefully at his home in Chatham, August 25, 2021. He was born August 28, 1987 in Hudson.
He is survived by: his parents, David and Terry (Miller) Silliman; sisters, Kimberly Czyzewski (Edward), Victoria Zyryi (Phil), Katherine Silliman; brother, Stephen Silliman; one niece, Lauryn Czyzewski; three nephews, Gerald Wyatt, III, (Alexandra), Jonathan Zyryi and Grayson Neissel and grandnephew, Wesley Wyant.
He was a 2005 graduate of Chatham Central School before working as a laborer in various trades. He enjoyed outdoor activities shared by his friends and family. Wrestling was something he took high interest in and invested a lot of passion, time and personality. He was quick-witted with a great sense of humor and loved being surrounded by family regardless of the occasion. “He was a wonderful guy loved by the many lives he touched and will be greatly missed by us all.”
Calling hours were held August 31 at the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home in Chatham. Interment was at Chatham Rural Cemetery. Friends and family gathered at Chatham Firehouse afterward.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his chosen charity: Operation Underground Railroad, 138 E 12300 S Suite C-149, Draper, UT 84020. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
Jemol J. Lewis (1998 – 2021)
HUDSON—Jemol Jerol Lewis, 23, of Hudson died Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from injuries sustained in motorcycle accident.
Born in Hudson April 12, 1998, he is the son of Jerol R. Lewis and Lafebia L. Mabry.
He attended Hudson High School and will be greatly missed by his family including his daughter, Jayla Lewis; brother, Jevion Lewis; sisters, Jada Lewis and Zahra Lewis, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family and friends are welcome to attend visiting hours from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the Sacco Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. Services begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Jon Hodges officiating.
Nancy J. Kern (1931 – 2021)
CHATHAM—Nancy J. (Spencer) Kern passed August 29, 2021.
She was born March 27, 1931 and graduated from Boston University.
She retired after 35 years at GE in Pittsfield. She was a life member of the Order of Amaranth, Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Arthur M. Kern and her daughter, Bonnie.
She is survived by William and Rita Soars-Kern and Stephen and Sue Kern; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A private family service will take place at the Canaan Cemetery. Donations may be made to Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com
