June B. Walsh (1931 – 2014)
HUDSON—June B. Walsh, 83, of Hudson died Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Columbia Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
Born May 20, 1931 in Middletown, she was the daughter of the late Roy and Irene (Stone) Martin.
Ms. Walsh was known to her family and friends, for most of her life, as a great house caretaker.
Survivors include: her partner of 23 years, James Coons; her son, William (Christine) Kastner; three daughters, Margaret Snyder, Madeline Parody and Susan (Larry) Van Alstyne; two sisters, Mildred Ordway and Madeline O’Banks; 14 grandchildren, Justin (Lorae), Nathan (Laura), Ryan Kastner, Michael (Christine) Snyder, Mathew and Jennifer Drabick, William and Brian Teator, Johnathan Rounds, Stephanie and Tiffney Van Alstyne, David (Nicole), Yvonne Ganzowski and Arthur Kastner and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Barbara (David) Gansowski and her brother, Renwick Martin.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 15 at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
James H. Roetina (1929 – 2014)
HUDSON—James H. Roetina, 84, of Chatham passed away Saturday evening, October 11, 2014 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Services will be held Saturday, October 25, 2014 at a time to be announced. Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
A full obituary will run in The Columbia Paper Thursday, October 23, 2014. www.batesanderson.com.
Vincent J. Genovese (1939 – 2014)
VALATIE—Vincent J. Genovese, 75, of Columbiaville died Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at Barnwell Health Facilities.
Born January 23, 1939 in Danbury, CT, he was the son of the late Horace Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Genovese) Genovese.
He was a Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Army. He started out as a barber, as were most of the Genovese men, and went on to work at IBM for 25 years as a computer programmer in various locations in New York and Connecticut. He retired from Metropolitan Life in 2004. He was a longtime fireman in the Brewster Fire Department and was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He enjoyed bowling and photography and had a great love for animals.
He is survived by: his wife of 45 years, Geneva F. (Green) Genovese; a daughter, Frances Genovese of Columbiaville; a son, Joseph Genovese (Julie) of Copake; his sister, Rosemarie Simard of New Paltz; a grandson, Anthony Genovese of Copake; several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Joseph in Stuyvesant Falls. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414. Arrangements are with the Raymond E.
Reverend Juanita Middlebrook (1933 – 2014)
COPAKE—The Reverend Juanita Valyou Middlebrook, 81, passed away quietly and peacefully at home, Saturday, October 11, 2014 with family by her side.
Born July 19, 1933 in Sharon, CT, she was the daughter of Ralph and Florence (Milton) Valyou.
She worked for many years in the pediatric department of Sharon Clinic before opening her own retail business.
In 1978, she returned to school to pursue a calling to the ministry. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the College of New Rochelle and received a master of divinity from the Drew University Theological School. She went on to serve as a Methodist minister until her retirement in 2003.
Almost immediately, she was called out of retirement to serve as pastor for two local churches. Following her “second retirement” in 2011, she continued working as a spiritual guide and counselor to those in need.
Rev. Middlebrook had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. Her final trip abroad was to Tuscany, Italy, in June. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and she will be greatly missed.
Survivors include: her three children, Lance, Kim and Todd; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her son, Keith.
Calling hours are Friday, October 17, 2014, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Peck & Peck Funeral Home, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. at Sharon United Methodist Church in Sharon, CT.
Burial will follow in Ellsworth Cemetery, Sharon, CT.
Memorial contributions are requested to Susan G. Komen, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265.
To sign the online register visit peckandpeck.net.
Bernard D. Walker, Sr. (1939 – 2014)
HUDSON—Bernard D. Walker, Sr., 75, of Hudson died peacefully at Columbia Memorial Hospital, Sunday, October 5, 2014.
Born in White Plains on April 10, 1939, he was the son of the late David and Loretta (Dennelly) Walker.
Mr. Walker was a truck driver for many years before retiring. He drove bus for Pat Zanchelli. He was a life member of W.H. Morton Engine #1. His cats brought him much joy.
Mr. Walker was predeceased by his wife, Peggy Walker, and his brother, Richard Walker.
He is survived by: two sisters, Pat Walker Olm and Sharon Walker Carney, both of Hudson; his son, Bernard D. Walker, Jr., (Tracey) of Philmont; two daughters, Lori Walker and Debbie Walker Snack, both of Hudson; seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Graveside services will be held Friday, October 17, 2 p.m. at Cedar Park Cemetery. To follow the hearse, be in the Bates & Anderson parking lot by 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Mr. Walker’s memory be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society in Claverack.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Yvonne H. Davis (1928 – 2014)
ONEONTA—Yvonne H. Davis, 86, a long time resident of Chatham NY, passed away Monday, October 13, 2014 at Fox Nursing Home after a brief illness.
She was born January 4, 1928 in New Haven, CT, and met her husband at UConn, where she earned her BS degree. Mrs. Davis worked as a bacteriologist in Rye and at mid-life changed her career to social services. She was the administrator at Osborn Home in Rye and then moved to Chatham, working first at Payn Home and then for many years as a social worker at the Pine Haven Nursing Home.
Before and after her retirement, Mrs. Davis was active in her community. She volunteered as a HUGS program mentor, sang with the Sweet Adelines, served on the membership committee for the Austerlitz Historical Society, taught conversational French at the Adult Learning Institute and was an Alan Devoe Bird Club member for many years. The First Reformed Church was important to her and she served on the consistory as an elder and a deacon, and was a leader of a prayer group. She also took special joy in her role as Sunshine correspondent, sending cards to mark special days in church members’ lives. Mrs. Davis was also involved with her community at Chatham Manor, where she lived for the past 17 years.
Mrs. Davis is survived by: her loving daughters, Edie Mesick of Roxbury, Louise Patane of Oneonta and her son-in-law, Jim Patane of Oneonta.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, October 18, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the First Reformed Church in Chatham, immediately followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m.
Arrangements were entrusted to Wenk Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Reformed Church, 23 Kinderhook Street, Chatham 12037. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com.
Robert William Geel, Sr.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL—Robert William Geel, Sr., of Chatham and New Smyrna Beach, FL, passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 7, 2014 in Florida.
He was born and raised in Chatham. Shortly after graduating as valedictorian from Chatham High School in 1951, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Westover AFB in Massachusetts. After serving his country, Mr. Geel returned to his hometown to work for his uncle, William Cone, at their family business, the International dealership on Church Street in Chatham (current location of Stewarts).
Being the young entrepreneur that Mr. Geel was, he quickly took over the lawn and garden department of the dealership. He married Patricia Reiner in 1959, and together, they raised six children. In 1964 it was time for him to venture out and start his own lawn and garden business. He constructed the building currently occupied by NAPA on Church Street and started Bob’s Lawn & Garden, LTD. Mr. Geel made a success of this business while raising a family and later, in 1973 he purchased the old Westover Ford dealership on Route 66. The business was moved to that location. He stayed there until starting his retirement business, Geel Distributing and moving to Florida in order to live near his beloved sister, Margaret and her husband Jim. He loved being close to the water, sun and sand. Along the way and through the years, Mr. Geel made many, many friends. As was his nature, he was always ready with a joke or a phony business card for friends and strangers alike. “You always knew when Bobby was in a room.”
Mr. Geel will be remembered for his love of snowmobiling, socializing and life. He was a member of the American Legion: Chatham Post 42 and New Smyrna Post 17, and lifelong member of the Chatham Fire Department Hook and Ladder.
He will be sorely missed and not forgotten.
He is survived by: his sister, Margaret; his children, Audrey, Robert, Jr., Scott, Bryan, Cathy and Carol. He will be missed by many grandchildren, a great-grandson, nieces and a nephew. Mr. Geel was predeceased by his parents, Beatrice (Mable) and John Geel, and longtime companion, Joan Knights.
Calling hours will be held at Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham, Friday, October 17, 5 to 7 p.m. A service will be held Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wenkfuneralhome.com.
Lena Shufelt (1928 – 2014)
HUDSON—Lena Shufelt 86, of Hudson and lifelong Hudsonian, passed away Friday, October 10, 2014 at Community Hospice in Columbia Memorial Hospital. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren prior to her death.
Mrs. Shufelt was a beautician and seamstress. She was a unit secretary for Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Her children all agree she lived to please her family. She was the happiest when she had her family gathered for dinner or a holiday event. She was also the best “Nan” a grandchild could ever have.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Lyle Shufelt and a son, Robert J. Shufelt. She was also predeceased by one sister and six brothers.
She is survived by: her children, Timothy and (Tammy) Shufelt of Hudson, Amy and (Ronald) Cure of Hudson, MaryLou and (David) Flowers of Brookfield, CT, Susan and (Jerry) Yannacone of Austin, TX; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed and always in the hearts, thoughts and prayers of her loving family.
In keeping with her final wishes, a memorial gathering was held at her home 123 North Sixth Street, Hudson, Sunday, October 12.
Memorial contributions are requested to Community Hospice of Columbia Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home Hudson, Greenport. To leave an online condolence visit www.saccomcdonaldvalenti.com.
Dora C. Stever
VALATIE—Dora C. Stever, 93, formerly of Malden Bridge passed away peacefully at Barnwell Nursing Home October 11, 2014.
She was the daughter of the late Charles and Minnie Mueller and loving wife of Fred R. Stever for 69 years, until his passing.
She was born in North Tarrytown. Later the family relocated to “the farm in the country” near Philmont. From there she finished her education and then married. After the war years, she and her husband returned to his hometown of Malden Bridge, building a new home and raising their three children.
After raising her family, she worked for many years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Insurance, retiring as a claims supervisor. She was always willing to help friends and neighbors unravel their health insurance plans at her kitchen table.
She was active in the Wesley United Methodist church in Malden Bridge, helping out with everything from church school to fundraising dinners and bake sales. In her retirement years, she enjoyed volunteering at the North Chatham Library and going to lunch with the “Birthday Girls” group of the area.
Survivors include: two daughters, Sally L. Walker of Canaan, Pat (Charles) McCleary of Spring Hill, FL; and her son, Rick (Dot) of North Greenbush. She was the proud grandmother of five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by several brothers and sisters, whom she dearly missed.
The family gives special thanks to the sixth floor staff at Barnwell Nursing Home for all their wonderful care and kindness given to Mrs. Stever while she was a resident there.
A funeral service from the Thomas P. Mooney Funeral Home, 11 Elm Street, Nassau, takes place Wednesday, October 15 at noon. Friends and family are invited to call at the funeral home prior to the service from 10 a.m. to noon. Interment will take place in Ghent Union Cemetery.
Contributions may be made in memory of Dora C. Stever to the Malden Bridge Community Center, P.O. Box 84, Malden Bridge 12115 or the North Chatham United Methodist Church, P.O Box 107, North Chatham 12132-0107.
