Obituaries

Pearl Etta Calkins

Obituaries | Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Pearl Etta Calkins, age 89, of Ithaca, went to be at home with her husband and The Lord, on Monday evening at Beechtree Care Center. Pearl was born in Burdett, the daughter of the late Charles and Eva Finkenbinder. She was a 1937 graduate of Spencer High School.

Pearl loved music and often played the piano for her church. Pearl will always be remembered for her witty comments; People would ask Pearl, "How are you feeling today?" of which she would reply, "With my fingers." Other precious comments could not be published however people who knew her will be smiling.

Survivors include her three daughters, Eva (William) Siegard, Sharon Calkins, and Denise (Kenneth) Murphy; two sons, Charles (Linda) Calkins, and Roger (Sharon) Calkins; daughter-in-law, Gaye Calkins; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Marcia Stone Paige

Obituaries | Monday, September 01, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Marcia Stone Paige of Ithaca (formally, of Kingston), died on September 1, 2008 at Oak Hill Manor Nursing Home. Born on February 16, 1926 in Kingston to the late Dinah and Sam Stone, she is survived by her daughter Julie of Ithaca and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. She was predeceased by her husband Milton Paige in 1978 and her brother Merrill Stone.

Marcia graduated from Kingston High School in 1943, attended Penn State University, and graduated from the Ohio State School of Social Work. In her early professional years she was employed as a social worker for Ulster County and later was a business store owner until her retirement.

Philip A. Penepent Sr.

Obituaries | Thursday, August 28, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

BATAVIA - Philip A. Penepent Sr., age 85 of Batavia, died Friday evening (August 22, 2008) while under Hospice care. Mr. Penepent is the son of the late Anthony and Mary Panepinto Penepent. His wife, Concetta F. DeFazio Penepent, of 55 years, died on August 19, 2002.

Mr. Penepent was the former Supervisor of the Town of Batavia and a member of the Assessment Board of Review for several years. Since the age of 16, he worked his entire life in the concrete business and until two years ago was the owner and operator of Phil Penepent Construction Company. He served in the Army during WWII; a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus; a member of the Batavia Sertoma Club; and a member of St. Joseph's Church in Batavia.

Thomas Huggins

Obituaries | Friday, August 15, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

Thomas Huggins, "Captain Tom", 52, of 106 Ringwood Rd., Freeville, NY passed away Friday, August 15, 2008 at his home following a short illness.

Born February 22, 1956 in Sidney, NY, he was the son of Audrey LaVarnway Huggins and the late Franklin Huggins. Tom was employed at SUNY Cortland prior to becoming ill and enjoyed anything that got him outdoors, especially sailing, golfing and hunting.

Eric Stephen Moffett

Obituaries | Tuesday, August 12, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

Eric Stephen Moffett, 40, of 250 Drake Rd., Lansing, NY died unexpectedly Monday, August 11, 2008 at his home.

Born May 15, 1968 in National City, CA, he is the son of Thomas and Carolyn Hayden Moffett. A U.S. Navy veteran, he had been employed at Intertek in Cortland, NY and was proud to be a Freemason.

In addition to his parents, Thomas and Carolyn Moffett of Dryden, NY, Eric is survived by his wife, Bonnie Caward Moffett of Lansing; paternal grandmother, Olive Moffett of St. Petersburg, FL; step-children, Miles, Lauren and Sarah; his siblings, Darren, Sean, Adam, Teresa and Kristen; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in laws.

Jeremy James Vyskocil

Obituaries | Thursday, August 07, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

Jeremy James Vyskocil, 34, of Willow Brook Manor, Dryden, NY passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2008 following a lengthy illness battling kidney disease.

Jeremy was born February 5, 1974 in Ithaca, NY, son of Claudia Miller Norton and the late Frederick Vyskocil. Jeremy had been employed by Groton Community Services, now Franziska Racker Center and most recently with The CBORD Group in Ithaca, NY. He was a Junior Corps member of the Locke Fire Dept. during his teenage years.

Audrey M. Palmer

Obituaries | Tuesday, August 05, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

NORTH LANSING - Audrey M. Palmer, 81, of 72 Locke Rd., Locke, NY (North Lansing) passed away Monday, August 4, 2008 at Cayuga Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born November 5, 1926 in Cortland, NY, she was the only daughter of Roland and Daisy Rideout Rounds. As a homemaker, she was an Avon and Dutchmaid representative and painted and taught ceramics.

Robert "Droop" Reese

Obituaries | Monday, August 04, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

Robert "Droop" Reese, age 39, of Ithaca, a barber at JC Knights on the Commons, died suddenly on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at Cayuga Medical Center. Droop was born on July 26th, 1969 a son of Portia Bibbs and the late Robert Reese Sr.

In addition to his mother, Portia (Calvin) Bibbs, survivors include, his son, Khalil Reese; two sisters, Portia and Susan Reese; a paternal grandfather, George Cammon; a host of nieces, nephews, cousin, and friends. He is predeceased by his grandmother, Ida Cammon.

Muslim Prayers were held Tuesday at the Herson Funeral Home followed by burial in Greensprings Natural Cemetery in Newfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation or to Research for MRSA.

Carmela A. June

Obituaries | Saturday, July 26, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Carmela A. June, 84, of Ithaca, died Wednesday July 23rd, 2008, at Beechtree Care Center. Mrs. June was born in New York City on May 7th, 1924, the daughter of the late Rocco and Anna DeFrova Santamassino.

She was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church. She was a very musical person who was an avid dancer and enjoyed square dancing and bowling. She was a member of the Salvation Army Golden Age Club.

She is survived by a son, Robert F. (Jinnie) June of Groton; two daughters, Lorraine (Jack) Hamilton of Newfield, and Karen (Richard) Wilson of Lansing; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; one great-great grandson and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Viola L. Christofferson

Obituaries | Monday, July 14, 2008 | By Lansing Funeral Home

Lansing - Viola L. Christofferson, 108, passed away July 13, 2008, at home after a brief illness. Her daughters Sarah and Ethel were with her.

Born Viola Lorraine Newton on July 5, 1900, on Light Street in Baltimore, Maryland to John Spotswood and Sarah Ella (Purks) Newton, Viola was better known over the years by her family and friends as Bilo. Her father was a merchant marine, later working for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and her mother was a seamstress and owned a variety store. Among her neighbors on Light Street was George Herman Ruth for whom her mother would occasionally babysit and in later years Viola would watch as he and the neighborhood boys would play craps on the doorsteps. In those early days she had no way of knowing that George Herman Ruth would grow up to be Babe Ruth, the legendary Yankees' baseball player. Bilo liked to tell people that she was older than electricity because she remembered as a child when the gas lights were lit on the streets of Baltimore -- that she was older than airplanes -- and automobiles. She had the unique experience of viewing the periodic Comet Halley, visible only every 76 years, twice; once while at a circus in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1910 and again in 1986 from her home in Tompkins County.

Virginia T. Larison

Obituaries | Thursday, July 03, 2008 | By Lansing Funeral Home

Virginia T. Larison, 84, of North Lansing, NY, passed away on Tuesday July 1, 2008, at Groton Nursing Facility, where she had been residing. She is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Grey R. and Judy Larison, Grand Rapids, MI, James R. and Elaine Larison, Philomath, OR, Kenneth A. and Maryann Larison, Tucson, AZ, Douglas B. and Renee Larison, Cortland, NY; her grandchildren, Michael and Sara Dunn, Grey W. "Bill" and Erika Larison, John and Ellie Larison, Ted and Sarah Larison, Megan and Mark Pasierb, Tim Larison, Kelsea, Nickolas, Erik Koustic, Bryan and Heather Larison, Nicholas Larison; her great granddaughter, Navah Larison; her brother and sister-in-law, George and Iona Tanner, Odessa, NY; brother-in-law and his wife, Glenn and Pat Larison; many nieces, nephews; and also her former husband, Grey T. Larison, North Lansing, NY. She was predeceased by her parents, Warren and Ethel (Jobe) Tanner; and her brother, Warren Tanner, Jr.

Sherry Jones Traphagen

Obituaries | Thursday, July 03, 2008 | By Lansing Funeral Home

Sherry Jones Traphagen, 27, of Freeville, NY, passed away on Tuesday July 1, 2008. She was born in Tampa, Florida on December 5, 1981.Sherry is survived by her husband, James Traphagen; her son, Nathaniel; daughter, Ashlyn; mom and dad, Marian and Bob Traphagen; her biological mother, Tonya Stephens Jones; her sister, Angelina Jones; her brothers, Michael Stephens, David and Matthew Traphagen; her grandmother, Cleta Jones; Grandma Stephens; several aunts, uncles; and many special friends, especially Glenn Christofferson and Becky.

She was predeceased by her father, James Jones. Sherry worked for HyGear Motorsports in Lansing, loved her job, and always took great pride in her work. She enjoyed creating artistic abstract paintings and growing her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Sherry loved nature walks, music, and cooking, and above all, she cherished her children and the time she spent with them.

Paul P. Perkins

Obituaries | Friday, June 20, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

Paul P. Perkins, age 86, of 15 Evergreen Street, Dryden, NY passed away peacefully Friday, June 20, 2008 at his residence after a one year illness. Mr. Perkins was born May 25, 1922 in Cortland, NY, the oldest son of Ernest and Josephine DeWitt Perkins. Paul was graduated from Dryden High School in 1940 and served in the US Navy in World War II at various continental stations and aboard the U.S.S. Beckham APA 133 in the South Pacific. The Beckham saw duty at Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was at sea for 10 months. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy as a Pharmacist's Mate First Class, Paul pursued studies at the Simmons School of Embalming and became associated with his father and mother at Perkins Funeral Home.

It was an honor for him to serve the community in the family funeral business until 2007. He operated the Perkins Ambulance Service until 1976. Paul was a member of the national, state and local funeral directors organizations. On April 21, 1946 he was married to the former Joyce McKinney also of Dryden. Mr. Perkins was a seventy-three year member and an Elder of The First Presbyterian Church of Dryden, a member of the Dryden Fire Department, a member and Past Commander and Past County Commander of the Leonard T. Spaulding Post #1134, American Legion and a member of the Dryden Township Post #8158, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was one of the founders of the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home Ritual Team. Paul was proud to be a sixty-five year member and a Past Master of Dryden Lodge #472 F.&A.M. and served as Treasurer for more than fifty-five years. He was appointed by the Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York as the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Brazil.

Mitta M. Bennett

Obituaries | Monday, June 16, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Mitta M. Bennett, age 92, of Ithaca, died Thursday afternoon, June 12th, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. Mrs. Bennett was born in Interlaken, the daughter of the late Arthur and Bessie Gibbs VanOstrand.

Mrs. Bennett worked many years prior to retirement as an assembler for NCR in Ithaca. She enjoyed spending her time crocheting and timing race cars throughout the East Coast. Mrs. Bennett was also an avid bowler and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the VFW and the Eagles Club in Ithaca.

Helen A. Grimm

Obituaries | Friday, June 13, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Helen A. Grimm, age 80 of Ithaca, died Tuesday, June 10th, at the Virginia Medical Center in Arlington, VA. Mrs. Grimm was born in Hackensack, NJ, the daughter of the late Alfred and Eleaner LaVoe Abrams.

A graduate of Ithaca High School, Class of 1945, Mrs. Grimm worked at both Ithaca College and Cornell University before moving to Kentucky, where she retired in 1976 from the Community Action Commission of Northern Kentucky as an administrative assistant. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church throughout her years in Ithaca. While living in Ithaca and after her retirement, she served as President of the Titus Towers Tennant Council; on the Board of Directors for the Ithaca Housing Authority from 1993-1995; poll assistant for the Board of Elections; and member of the Ithaca Cable Commission from 1993-1995. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years in Ithaca.

Stanley M. Czerenda

Obituaries | Monday, June 09, 2008 | By Perkins Funeral Home

Stanley M. Czerenda, 91, of 120 Sykes St., Groton, NY and formerly of Etna, NY died Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Cortland Regional Medical Center, Cortland, NY.

Born March 16, 1917 in Detroit, MI, he was a son of the late Joseph and Anna Hryb Czerenda and husband of the late Marilyn Parker Czerenda who passed away on May 4, 2008.

Stanley was retired as the Meat Department Manager of P&C Food Markets in Ithaca, NY. He had also been employed as the Meat Department Manager of A&P Food Store and COOP Food Store in Ithaca. Following retirement, he worked part time at Ludgate's Produce. Stanley served in the U.S. Army during WW II in the European Theatre and was a driver in the "Red Ball Express." He was a member of the United Food and Commercial Worker International Union and was a charter member and one of the founders of the Enfield Fire Department, he was a life member of the Etna Fire Department and a life member of the Dryden Township Post 8158 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Florence Miller

Obituaries | Monday, June 02, 2008 | By Lansing Funeral Home

Florence Miller, age 81, lifetime resident of NYC and, during the long gardening season, a resident of Mount Road in Trumansburg, passed away peacefully at her NYC home on May 25, 2008 following an extended illness. Florence was born on October 12, 1926 in Brooklyn, a daughter of the late Samuel and Bertha Rudetsky. She had been an Elementary Teacher and Guidance Counselor in the NYC Public School System.

She was independent, stubborn, strong witted, a voracious reader, a published writer, a patron of the opera, and an involved member of her community. She loved NYC (except for the pigeons) and equally loved the quietness of her country home; additionally, she truly loved her daughters.

Diane Lester

Obituaries | Thursday, May 29, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Diane Lester, age 50 of Ithaca, died Wednesday May 28, 2008 at Lakeside Nursing Home in Ithaca. Ms. Lester is the daughter of the late Kenneth and Jean Lester. She is survived by her daughter, Dee Humby; a granddaughter, Cheyenne Humby; a sister, Judy Lester; a brother, Kenneth C. Lester; two aunts, Elizabeth (Milton) Savage and Beth Lester; sever cousins.

Friends and family may call Monday from 10:30 a.m. until time of 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service at the Norman Waterman Funeral Home, 124 W. Miller Street, Newark. Burial will follow in East Palmyra Cemetery. Arrangements were completed and under the care of the Herson Funeral Home, Ithaca.

Connie Costantini

Obituaries | Thursday, May 29, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

Connie Costantini, 98, passed away on May 26, 2008 at Alterra Sterling House in Ithaca. Connie was born and grew up in the Little Italy section of Manhattan. In 1932 she married Joseph Costantini and moved to Brooklyn where they raised their three children; Assunta (Richard) Kovalcik of Edison, NJ; Paul (Patricia) of Ithaca; and Joseph (Cheryl) of Mays Landing, NJ. Connie is survived by eight grandchildren; Rick (Susan) and Andrew (Allison) Kovalcik, Joseph (Lisa) & William (Carrie) Costantini & Christine (Joseph) Gazzillo, and Joseph ( Tara), Anthony & Maria Costantini and thirteen great-grandchildren; Kelly Sue, Christopher & Kyle Kovalcik, Paul & Richard Costantini, Zachary, Katherine & Genevieve Costantini, Joseph, Nicholas & Patrick Gazzillo and Gabriella & A.J. Costantini.

She is also survived by many nieces & nephews. Her husband Joe and grand-daughter Susan Kovalcik will greet her at St. Peter's gate along with many friends & family. Connie worked as a seamstress creating designed label blouses in Brooklyn and was a proud member of the International Lady Garment Workers Union. She was a creative cook and many of her favorite dishes are now served by her children and grandchildren. Any gathering around her dining room table was a celebration and Connie was happiest when surrounded by her family. She also loved to crochet and created many blankets for several charities in the Ithaca area. Connie will also be remembered for her devotion to her faith as a member of Holy Cross Church in Dryden, NY and for the miracles of her Prayers & Rosary.

Maiga Zeipe

Obituaries | Thursday, May 29, 2008 | By Herson Funeral Home

Callahan, FL - Maiga Zeipe, age 86, of Callahan, FL, formerly of Ithaca, a retired custodian with Cornell Animal Clinic died Sunday May 25th, 2008 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Zeipe was born on January 29th, 1922 in Aluksne, Latavia, the daughter of the late Peters and Helena Pulsts. Her husband Augusts Zeipe, preceded her in death on April 1, 2004. Mrs. Zeipe will always be remembered for her passion for flowers and her love for kitty cats.

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