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William Johnston Sr.
MORRIS — William T. Johnston Sr., 86, of Morris and formerly of Edmeston, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at the Oneonta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Oneonta.
He was born Jan. 29, 1915, in Danville, Pa., the son of Samual and Hattie Mae (Davis) Johnston.
He was married to Wanda K. Sobey in 1936, in Jamaica, N.Y. They would have been married 65 years in June.
He served his country during World War II as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy.
Bill and his wife, Wanda, owned and operated the Johnston Funeral Home in Brookfield and then the Houk-Johnston Funeral Home in Edmeston, until their retirement in 1990.
While in Brookfield, he was a member of the Brookfield Fire Department and served as scoutmaster of the Brookfield Boy Scout Troop. He was also a member of the Brookfield Board of Education during the '50s.
During his life in Edmeston, he was a member of the Edmeston Fire Department and was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Edmeston Emergency Squad. He was also a former member of the Edmeston and Morris Rotary Clubs, the American Legion Post of Edmeston, and the Farmers Lodge F.&A.M. of Edmeston. He had also served as supervisor for the town of Brookfield and town of Edmeston.
He was a member and past state director of the New York State Funeral Directors Association, serving the ninth district. Bill was recently recognized by the New York State Funeral Directors Association for 62 years as an active licensed funeral director.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda Johnston, of Morris; his daughter, Diane (Binky) Ford, and her husband, Bernie, of Sidney; and his son, William T. (Ted) Johnston Jr., and his wife, Nanette, of Morris. His grandchildren include Jay Phelps, Jason Berger, Ronald Johnston and his wife, Michelle, Megan Allen and her husband, Ron, JoAnn Berger and her fiancee, Brian Krywy, Katy Johnston and one great-granddaughter, Ashley Johnston.
Calling hours will be Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris from 6 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be private on Monday with the Rev. Mildred Williams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to donate to the Resident Council (Cocktail Hour) Fund, c/o Oneonta Nursing Home, 330 Chestnut St., Oneonta, N.Y., or the Edmeston Fire Department in his memory.
Arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.
Dorothy A. Hanlon
ONEONTA — Dorothy A. Hanlon, 90, of Oneonta, died Thursday afternoon, Feb. 1, 2001, at the Oneonta Nursing Home.
She was born July 8, 1910, in Heborn, N.Y., the daughter of Charles E. Allen Sr. and Florence (Brown) Allen.
She was married to William Hanlon of Oneonta. He predeceased her.
She was employed as a secretary for the Delaware & Hudson Railway. She also worked as a secretary at the State University College at Oneonta for many years until her retirement.
Dorothy was a member of St. Mary's Church, its Rosary Society, and its Young-at-Heart group. She was also a member of the SUCO Golden Alumni Association.
She is survived by a nephew, Charles E. Allen of South Glens Falls; and a niece, Cynthia D. Allen of Waltham, Mass.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Charles E. Allen Jr. of Salem, N.Y., and George E. Allen of Granville, N.Y.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Monday, Feb. 5, 2001, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Oneonta, with the Rev. Robert Longobucco, associate pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in the spring at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Friends may call Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, from 2 to 4 p.m., at which time the family will be in attendance.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's School Building Fund or St. Mary's Rosary Society.
Arrangements are with the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Edward Wenck
ONEONTA — Edward Wenck Jr., 68, of Oneonta, died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001, at the Albany V.A. Hospital, following a brief illness.
He was born Nov. 20, 1932, in Oneonta, a son of Edward and Allien (Barlow) Wenck.
He married Audrey Jubar on Oct. 15, 1979, in Oneonta.
Mr. Wenck was a United States Army veteran, having served in Korea during the Korean conflict.
He was most recently employed as a service clerk at Hannaford in Oneonta and was formerly employed as a driver with Oneonta Oil and Fuel and with the Oneonta school system.
He was a former member of the New York State National Guard.
He is survived by his wife, Audrey, at home; his mother, Allien, of Oneonta; four children, Lenna Hultman, Cathy Chase, Herbert Wenck and Sandra Engelhardt, all of Oneonta; four stepchildren, Carlene and her husband, Walter Rimes, of Florida, Donna Bond of Mount Upton, Amy Shaver of Oneonta and John and his wife, Lee Shaver, of Thomsons Ridge; three brothers, Alfred and his wife, Jane Wenck, of Maine, Roger and his wife, Bonnie Wenck, of Florida and Richard Wenck of Texas; a sister, Barbara and her husband, Barry Greene, of North Carolina; and several sisters and brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins. Several grandchildren and great-grandchildren also survive.
Memorial services will be held at the convenience of the family.
There will be no calling hours.
Arrangements are by the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.
Dale W. Arend
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Dale William Arend, 45, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, after a courageous and admirable battle with cancer.
Dale was a 1973 graduate of Laurens Central School. He was employed as a computer software instructor/developer for IBM.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret; daughter, Corrie; son, Kenny; stepdaughter, Teri Hutto; stepsons, Jeffrey and David Casagrande; his parents, Donald and Dorothy Arend; sisters, Darla Teske and Donna Hewitt; and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Houck of Otego.
Funeral services were Jan 29, 2001, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Radiation Oncology Department of Good Samaritan Hospital, c/o The Banner Health Foundation, 1441 N. 12th St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85006.
Christine Sterling
COOPERSTOWN — Mrs. Christine M. Sterling, 92, formerly of Chestnut Street, died Saturday morning, Feb. 3, 2001, at The Meadows.
She was born on Sept. 25, 1908, in Oneida, the daughter of Arthur and Catherine Ackerman.
She married Nicholas J. Sterling Sr. on April 15, 1933, in Oneida. Mr. Sterling died on Oct. 22, 1983.
Mrs. Sterling was raised and educated in Oneida and went on to receive a teaching degree from Ithaca College.
She was employed as a physical-education teacher at Oneida High School until she and her husband moved to Cooperstown following their marriage.
During her husband's tenure as Principal of Cooperstown High School, she often worked there as a substitute teacher.
Throughout her years in Cooperstown, Mrs. Sterling was an active member of the Cooperstown Women's Club and also devoted much of her time to the local Girl Scouts of America.
Mrs. Sterling is survived by her son, Nicholas J. Sterling Jr., and his wife, Xenia, of Vestal; five grandchildren, Alexandra Hellebrand, Larissa Sterling, Christopher Sterling, Emily Baker and Nicholas Smith; and five great-grandchildren, Ryan and Matthew Hollebrand, Nathaniel Sterling and Cole and McAuley Baker.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Mrs. Catherine Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Feb. 8, at St. Mary's Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Fr. John Rosson, pastor, officiating.
Burial will take place at a later date in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.
Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown on Thursday morning, Feb. 8, from 10 to 10:30 a.m., when Mrs. Sterling's family will be in attendance.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to a charity of one's choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Dolores Bruzzo
HARPERSFIELD — Mrs. Dolores Bruzzo, formerly of Hillsdale, N.J., entered into eternal rest on Feb. 2, 2001, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown. She was 72.
She was born Jan. 26, 1929, in West New York, N.J., the daughter of the late Maria and Alessandro Zocchio.
Mrs. Bruzzo was a self-employed embroiderer for many years.
She loved a good joke and loved to share them with others.
Her last words were, "Use your families' love and wrap it around you. Please do not let this upset you in any way. My life has come to an end. ... I want everything peacefully done like everything else."
She was a devoted mother to Louis Bruzzo, Elise Bruzzo Dohrmann and Alex Bruzzo; loving grandmother to Matthew Bruzzo and Eric Bruzzo; and loving Nonna to Christopher Dohrmann. Other survivors include her husband of 49 years, Florido Bruzzo, and her beloved sisters, Adele Grigolo and Ruth Bertinato; her dearest friends, Louis and Maggi; and many other loving, dear friends and relatives. She also leaves behind her loving relatives in Italy.
She has joined her beloved brothers, Harry and Richard Zocchio, whom she missed so dearly in her life, in Heaven.
Cremation was at the Leatherstocking Crematory Inc., Cherry Valley.
A Mass in Celebration of Her Life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Route 9W, Newburgh, on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001, at 11 a.m. Monsignor Colacicco will officiate, and her beloved grandsons Matthew and Eric will be altar servers.
Interment will be in Madonna Cemetery, Fort Lee, N.J.
Memorial contributions in Dolores' name may be sent to Bassett Healthcare, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326-1394.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, 264-8141.
Esther M. Birdsall
UNADILLA — Esther M. Birdsall, 71, of Covered Bridge Road, passed away Saturday evening, Feb. 3, 2001, at her residence.
She was born Feb. 13, 1929, in the town of Gilbertsville, the daughter of the late William and Edith Wilber Heath.
She was married to Earle C. Birdsall on Jan. 5, 1951, in Mount Upton. He predeceased her March 16, 1993.
For several years, Esther worked in food service at the Unadilla Elementary School and later at the Unatego Junior and Senior High School. She was a member of the Jolly Nine, Wells Bridge, and the Tri-Town Diabetes Support Group.
She is survived by: three sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Connie Birdsall of Unadilla, Gerald and Roxanne Birdsall of Sidney and Randall and Nan Birdsall of Unadilla; two sisters, Mrs. Christina Camp of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Mrs. Beatrice Allen of Bainbridge; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilber and Esther Heath of Sidney, Frederick and Marilyn Heath of Sidney, James Heath of Winslow, Ariz., and Daniel Heath of Oneonta; four grandchildren, Bryan, Robert, Sierra and Kalynn Birdsall; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Two brothers, George and Richard Heath, predeceased Esther.
Funeral and committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Wells Bridge Baptist Church, Wells Bridge, with the Rev. Robert Wesley and the Rev. David Steensma officiating.
Burial will be in the spring in the Sand Hill Cemetery, Wells Bridge.
Friends are invited to call on Tuesday at the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney, with her family in attendance from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial gifts in her name may be directed to the Catskill Area Hospice, 542 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y., 13820.
Victor E. Holbert
BAINBRIDGE — Victor E. Holbert, 81, passed away Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Eustis, Fla.
He was born Dec. 6, 1919, in Oxford, the son of Ernest and Beatrice Schlafer Holbert.
Vic served his country in the United States Army during World War II, from 1942 to 1945.
He married Johanne Hulsberg on Nov. 25, 1946, in Guilford.
Mr. Holbert was employed as a supervisor for Borden's Chemical Co. when he retired in 1981. He was a member and former vestryman of St. Peter's Episcopal Church as well as the past president of the Bainbridge Sportsmen Club. Mr. Holbert was also a member of the Bainbridge Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife, Johanne Holbert; his son Alan Holbert of Eustis, Fla.; his son and daughter-in-law Reed and Linda Holbert of Bainbridge; his brother and sister-in-law, Floyd and Anne Holbert of Wyoming, N.Y.; a sister, Wilburna Wahlberg; three grandchildren, Joshua, Michael and Elizabeth; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A sister, Phyllis Donaloia, predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 7, at C.H. Landers Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney, at 2 p.m..
The Rev. Linda King Watkins, Vicar of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Bainbridge, will officiate.
There will be no visitation.
Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bainbridge Emergency Squad or the Greenlawn Cemetery Association.
Arrangements are by C.H. Landers Inc., Sidney.
Gertrude Bedford
ONEONTA — Mrs. Gertrude Misner Bedford, 90, died Saturday evening, Feb. 3, 2001, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Nursing Home.
She was born May 20, 1910, in Phoenicia, the daughter of Philip and Christine (Donivan) Misner.
Gertrude was married to Raymond R. Bedford at the First United Methodist Church on July 31, 1927. He died April 25, 1990.
Gertrude had been a homemaker in her own home and had lived in Oneonta since 1968. She had lived in Delhi and Niagara Falls.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Anna E. Wilber Rebecca Lodge of Oneonta for 25 years and the Oneonta Senior Citizens.
Gertrude is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Philip M. and Marjorie Bedford and Raymond R. and Geraldine Bedford of Townville, S.C.; and six grandchildren, Mary Bedford Riffino, Linda Bedford Armstrong, Philip W. Bedford, Steven Bedford, Kurt Bedford and Debbie Platt. She is also survived by several great- grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
At Gertrude's request, she will be cremated and her cremains interred at the Shandaken Cemetery, Shandaken, in the spring.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Homes, Oneonta and Otego.
Josephine Sparaco
ONEONTA — Josephine F. Sparaco, 88, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, at the Albany Medical Center.
She was born Feb. 22, 1912, in Oneonta, the daughter of Joseph and Frances (Daniels) Delberta.
She married Samuel Sparaco on Nov. 24, 1928, and he passed away on March 18, 1967.
A homemaker, Josephine was a member of St. Mary's Church.
She is survived by two sons, Aniello "Bill" Sparaco and Nicholas J. Sparaco, both of Oneonta; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Delberta of Oneonta; two sisters, Angie Monington of Oneonta and Mona Leonard of New Berlin; her sister Annie Fradin and husband, Raymond, of Santa Monica, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by a son, Michael Sparaco, and two daughters, Mary Voorhis and Patricia Sparaco.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, Feb.7, at 2 p.m. in St. Mary's Church with the Rev. Robert Longobucco, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the spring in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Friends may call on Tuesday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, at which time the family will be in attendance.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.
