Betty Jean Latham (1929 – 2015)
CHATHAM—Betty Jean Gallagher Latham of Chatham passed away March 13.
She was born in a small town in Pennsylvania, April 22, 1929.
She graduated from Concord High School in New Hampshire in 1947. She then moved to Connecticut and was certified as an x-ray technician.
She was married in 1952 for 30 years, during which she raised six wonderful children while earning a degree in art. She eventually found her way to another small town—Chatham.
Mrs. Latham is survived by five children, having lost her son, Robert in 2002. She also leaves behind many grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and her older brother, J. Richard Gallagher.
Mrs. Latham’s love of reading and the arts was only surpassed by the love she had for her family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005 or www.heart.org.
Arrangements are with the Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com
Ethel T. Scalera (1926 – 2015)
HUDSON—Ethel T. Scalera, 89, of Hudson died Saturday March 14, 2015 at Community Hospice at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born in Gallatin, January 30, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Thaddeus and Sarah (Cosier) Tompkins. After high school she attended business school and was later the bookkeeper for the Montgomery Ward Department store for more than 30 years.
She was a communicant of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stockport and was an avid NASCAR fan.
She was predeceased by her husband, Anthony S. Scalera June 5, 1979.
Mrs. Scalera is survived by: her loving son and daughter-in-law, Anthony C. and Lori Scalera of Castleton; grandchildren, Kyle A. and Nikki M. Scalera; several close nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers, Thaddeus, Barney, Fred, Frank, Lee and Earl Tompkins as well as sisters, Martha Ellsworth, Sarah Carl and Blanche Tompkins.
Calling hours and funeral services are private. Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport.
To leave an online condolence visit www.saccomcdonaldvalenti.com
Daniel N. Gregory (1953 – 2015)
GHENT—Daniel N. Gregory, 61, of Greenport died Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Whittier Nursing Home.
Born in Chelsea, MA, October 15, 1953, he was the son of Nelson and Helen (Parr) Gregory.
Mr. Gregory was a correction officer with Brookwood Secure Center in Claverack until his retirement.
Besides being a loving father and husband, he loved sports and was an avid Raiders and Yankees fan.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Janet (Maresco) Gregory at home; sons, Daniel P. Gregory and Anthony M. Gregory, both of Hudson; one brother, Scott and (Michaela) Gregory; sisters, Sue Goss and Marie Gregory; several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be Friday, March 20, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. Services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Jon Hodges officiating. To leave an online condolence visit www.saccomcdonaldvalenti.com
Erika Wright (1942 – 2015)
HUDSON—Erika Wright of Copake passed away Monday, March 16, 2015 at Columbia Memorial Hospital. She was 72.
She is survived by her husband, Caleb; her grandson, Caleb Wright, II, of Westport, CT: her brother, Christian of Chesterfield, VA, and her sister, Margareta Lowe of Conroe, TX. She recently moved to Copake with her husband after living in Millerton for 15 years.
Mrs. Wright was born in 1942, in what was then Yugoslavia, in a small ethnic-German region just north west of Belgrade. During the chaos following the end of World War II, her family was shuffled from one displaced persons camp to another, finally ending up in Germany. From there, they were eventually permitted to immigrate to the U.S. in 1952. She was just nine-years-old when she arrived here. Understandably, she never shared any interest in watching any movie or program having anything to do with war!
During the 1980s and 90s, she and her husband owned Corporate Acoustics in Poughkeepsie, a highly regarded manufacturer of high-quality noise control panels, widely specified by design professionals throughout the nation.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright were together for 43 years, “actually you might say joined at the hip because they rarely did anything separately.” Mr. Wright says, “It’s going to be very tough flying solo without her constant companionship.” And her beloved cat, Lulu, knows something must be up because she now often prowls around desperately seeking the affection she misses.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake. To send an online condolence visitwww.peckandpeck.net
