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John Prins
NEW JERSEY — John Prins passed away Dec. 11, 2003, in New Jersey.
John Prins was born in Overschie, the Netherlands, on Feb. 8, 1911, and came to the United States on Aug. 16, 1926, when he was working as a cabin boy on the Holland America Lines.
In January 1933, he married Veronica Peterson. She died in 1939. On March 15, 1944, he married Emilie Hobler, when he moved to Dumont, N.J., from the city of Weehauken.
John had two professions. One was as an extremely talented typographer, winning honors during his apprenticeship studies in New York City during the mid 1930s. He was a member of the International Typographical Union, Local No. 6 since 1936. His other vocation and lifelong love was the performance of music. As a clarinetist he was a member of the Swiss Band of Hudson County from 1928 to 1985, when the group disbanded. During part of this time he served as Recording Secretary, President and Librarian for the organization.
In 1930, he helped found the Laendler Kapelle Helvatia, a Swiss folk music ensemble, which was reorganized as the Edelwys Laendler Kapelle Helvatia in 1936. This group recorded two record albums in 1943 and made several short-wave broadcasts to Switzerland.
In 1982, he joined the Swiss Alpers, a second generation of the earlier group, with whom he performed until 1992.
He was predeceased by his wife, Emilie; daughter, Maria; two brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by his son John of Las Vegas, Nev., and his son Rene and his partner, Marilyn, of Oneonta; two sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews in the Netherlands; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Frank P. Mason
WORCESTER — Frank P. Mason Sr., 67, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.
He was born March 2, 1936, in Rensselaer, the son of Wesley and Frances J. (Perry) Mason.
Frank was a truck driver for Dorn's Transportation in Albany for 28 years.
He was a member of the Albany Teamsters No. 294 and the East Worcester Fish and Game Club.
He is survived by his wife, Louann (Woodbridge) Mason, of Worcester; children, Frank P. Mason Jr. and wife, Tracy, of Stanford, Bonnie and husband, Francis Amlaw, of Canaan, and Wendy and husband, Marc DeFruscio, of Pattersonville; four grandchildren, Joshua, Ashley and James Mason and Breanna DeFruscio; and a sister, Betty Miller of Albany.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at the E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel in Worcester at 1 p.m. followed by the memorial service at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Jane Pykus, pastor of the Worcester United Methodist Church, officiating.
At the request of the family, in lieu or flowers, contributions may be made to the East Worcester First Responders, PO Box 781, East Worcester, NY 12064 or the Worcester Emergency Squad, PO Box 191, Worcester, NY 12197.
Arrangements are by the E.J. Skinner Co., 155 Main St., Worcester.
Emily (Helen) Curtis
NORWICH — Emily (Helen) Curtis, 91, longtime resident of Hayward Avenue, Norwich, passed away Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14, 2003, in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Helen was born Dec. 26, 1911, in Laurens. On Oct. 13, 1938, she married Leon Fenton, who passed away Jan. 17, 1951; and on Nov. 4, 1956, she married Ray Curtis, who passed away Dec. 1, 1994.
Helen grew up in the Laurens area, where she attended their local schools and, at the age of 16, moved to Norwich. While living in the Norwich area, Helen worked for the Norwich Knitting Mill, Norwich Pharmacal Company, W.T. Grant Company, the cafeteria at Perry Browne School and TACO of Sherburne, from which she retired.
Following her retirement, Helen and her husband, Ray, became snowbirds and enjoyed traveling to Florida during the winter months for more than 20 years.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed her sewing. Above all else, Helen loved to sit on her front porch and rock, and visit with her neighbors and friends.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Janet Edson Crandall, and her husband, Hillis, of Norwich; her stepson, Ray Curtis Jr., and wife, Mary, of Green River, Wyo.; and her grandchildren, Dale Carnrike and his wife, Pat, of Lake Ariel, Pa., Denise Nower and her husband, Charles, of Earlville, Analisa Angle and her husband, Kip, of Earlville, and Robin Carnrike of Edmeston. Also surviving are her seven great-grandchildren, Mandy, Butch, Brittney, Lisa, Joseph, Andrew and Danielle; three stepgrandchildren, John, Ronald and Gary Curtis; her loving niece and best friend, Eleanor Gibson of Norwich, along with several other nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, Helen was also pre-deceased by her son, Charles Fenton, in 1968; and her brothers, Ralph Edson and Jesse Stone.
Funeral services for Helen will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at 11 a.m. from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Rebekah Sweet, pastor of the Broad Street United Methodist Church of Norwich, will officiate.
Interment will be at a later date in the Laurens Village Cemetery.
There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the Norwich Emergency Squad, marked "Emergency Medical," care of Fire Chief, One City Plaza, Norwich, NY 13815.
Audrey R. Smith
OTEGO — Audrey R. Smith, 73, of Otego passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Otego on Jan. 20, 1930, the daughter of John and Rosina Simmons.
She was first married to Maynard D. Shumway, who died in 1968. On Oct. 15, 1966, she married Marshall B. Smith in Matawan, N.J.
Audrey was a skilled seamstress, and over the years worked for Oneonta Dress and the R.J. Dress Companies. She was also a licensed beautician.
She was a member of Oneonta American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259, in which she was a past president and served on its advisory board.
Audrey was an avid golfer, and along with her husband was an active volunteer at the Woodhaven Golf Course, as well as winning many golf tournaments both locally and while living in South Carolina.
She loved crafts and enjoyed making holiday items, such as Christmas trees, ornaments, and decorative stockings.
She is survived by her husband, Marshall B. Smith, of Otego; her children and their spouses, Maynard (Al) and Susan Shumway Jr. of Utica, Lynn and Lorlinda Shumway of Oneonta, Frederick Shumway of Otego, Dale B. and Louise Smith of Otego, Charlotte and Tom Prickwinkle, Pittstown, N.J., Robert M. and Marilyn Smith of Old Bridge, N.J., and James E. and Valerie Smith of Las Vegas, Nev.; 17 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren; her sisters and brothers, Elizabeth Miller of Lakeland, Fla., Norma Martin of Sidney, Kenneth Simmons of Mesa, Ariz., and Robert Simmons of Las Vegas, Nev.
She was predeceased by the three brothers and a sister, Frederick, Eleanor, Norman and Milan.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Kenneth Baldwin officiating. Oneonta American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259 will also conduct their memorial service on Thursday evening.
Friends may call from 5 p.m. on Thursday until service time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oneonta American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Minnie Ballantine
ONEONTA — Minnie Ada Harrington Ballantine, the daughter of Walter and Amy Harrington, and the devoted wife of the late Gordon A. Ballantine, passed on to our Lord on Dec. 17, 2003.
Minnie was born Dec. 22, 1916, in Norwich. She was raised in Norwich and graduated from Norwich High School. After attending Delhi Agricultural and Technical College, she worked at the Norwich Mills before meeting Gordon Ballantine and marrying in June 1946.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Gordon, in 1986, and her twin sister, Mary, in 1998.
Minnie is survived by her younger sister, Jean Harrington Frink of New Berlin; her two sons, Gordon P. Ballantine and James A. Ballantine, and her daughter-in-law, Kathleen E.B. Ballantine; two granddaughters, Erin M. and Kathryn E. Ballantine of Oneonta; as well as several cousins; and special family friend, Ernie Taranto.
After marrying Gordon, she lived in Oneonta until 1973. During that period she worked as an aide for the Oneonta City School District from 1959 to 1972. A job that added to her enjoyment of life, as well as the devotion to her children. After 1973, she and her husband, moved to Mount Dora, Fla., and summered in Oneonta.
Her many loves were knitting and crocheting of which she leaves behind many afghans to those her knew her. An avid canasta player who shared many an enjoyable hour with her card club friends, Jean Salisbury, Eloise Manning and others through the years.
Minnie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, First United Methodist Church of Oneonta, and Edgewood Golf Club. In her last six years she had moved back to the Oneonta area to be with her family and friends.
Minnie has departed this world but will live on in the many great memories she has bestowed on family and friends.
Family will be receiving friends two hours prior to the funeral services for Mrs. Ballantine at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, with the Rev. Thomas Clemow, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating, at the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St. in Oneonta.
Burial will be later in Plains Cemetery in Oneonta.
Funeral arrangements are by the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Frederick Stafford
BAINBRIDGE — Frederick Lee Stafford, 66, of Bainbridge passed away Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.
He was born Oct. 27, 1937, son of the late Lindon and Edna Martin Stafford in Bainbridge, where he lived most of his life.
Fred married his school sweetheart, Doreen Jones, on March 8, 1956, in Afton, and they started a family. Fred and Doreen loved to dance; they danced competitively in the local area up until five years ago.
Fred worked road construction for Local 7 in Binghamton as well as in local stone quarries prior to retiring.
He enjoyed spending his time fishing and especially coon hunting, and was skilled at horseshoes. Fred also liked to watch high-school wrestling.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Doreen Stafford, Bainbridge; three daughters and sons-in-law, Tina and Gary Cuevas, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Robin and Larry Schaefer, Deposit, and Penny and Monty Nicholas, Virginia; two sons and daughters-in-law, Fred and Linda Stafford, Bainbridge, and Tim and Valerie Stafford, Masonville; six brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale and Helen Stafford, Trout Creek, Leon and Pat Stafford, Florida, Glenn Stafford, Unadilla, Don Stafford, Florida, Jim and Pat Stafford, Adirondacks, and Bill and Pat Stafford, Afton; one sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Carl Clark, Harpursville; 17 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends and neighbors.
He is predeceased by three brothers and a sister.
Friends may call Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, from 4 to 6 p.m. at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney. A memorial service will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, 101 East Main St., Sidney, NY 13838.
Audrey D. Nicolosi
LAKE WORTH, Fla. — Audrey D. Nicolosi, 72, passed away Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, after a brief illness.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Joseph; her sons, John C. Nicolosi of Barto, Pa., and David J. Nicolosi of Brick, N.J.; daughter, Jayne A. Roberts of Edmeston; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Audrey will be held in the spring.
Vicky Black
NORWICH — Vicky Black was born on April 26, 1955, and left us Nov. 17, 2003.
Vicky was from Norwich where she worked at B.O.C.E.S. as an account clerk. She loved her work and her co-workers.
Vicky would like us to give a special thanks to her friends she worked with for their unending support and love throughout her ordeal with cancer. They truly are special people.
Vicky was an unselfish and loving person. She enjoyed the simple things in life such as: going for walks, camping, and of course, shopping with her daughter, Samantha. She was very proud of her daughter, a graduate of Alfred University, who is now working on her master's degree in psychology.
Last but not least, she enjoyed sharing the evenings at home with her companion, of over eight years, Max Steinbacher. Vicky was sharing a wonderful life with Max and will be greatly missed.
Barbara Eckert
TULLY — Barbara (Robin) Hilfinger Eckert of Tully passed away at the youthful age of 52, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003. Robin spent her final days surrounded by her loving family.
She graduated from Nottingham High and Mohawk Valley in Utica. Robin worked at Loretto as a registered nurse and was a former partner of Fiesta Restaurant in Oneonta. Any free time Robin had, she spent it at Tully Lake or making crafts.
Robin is predeceased by her mother, Betty Covey Hilfinger.
Robin is survived by her father, Robert Hilfinger; daughters, Jennifer and Betsy Stevens; and sisters, Chris, Cindy and Diane.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Tully United Community Church. Calling hours will be on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Sehl Burns Funeral Home in Jamesville.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Robin's name to the American Diabetes Association.
