Obituaries

Candace Widmer

Obituaries | Thursday, December 08, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

Candace Widmer, 62, a woman of enormous intellectual curiosity and personal integrity, died on November 23, 2005 at her home with her family in Ithaca, New York. Just as she had done prior to her cancer diagnosis seven years ago, she approached the significant challenges her illness presented with the same open heart and adventurous spirit she brought to the rest of her life.

She is survived by her partner of 25 years, Sue Robinson; her children, Abigail, Marc, and Matthew (Amy Phelps); her granddaughters, Brooke and Katelyn; and a large group of loving and devoted friends who, along with her family, shared both the pleasures and sorrows of her life, many of whom helped care for her during her final months. She is also survived by her mother, Jane Armstrong Hestwood; her brother, Thomas Hestwood (Therese Jezioro); her sister, Meryl Streeter (John); and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, John Clifford Hestwood.

Lorne Francis Montague

Obituaries | Wednesday, December 07, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

LANSING: Lorne Francis Montague, 72, of 33 Fenner Road, Lansing, N.Y., died Wednesday, December 7, 2005, at Cayuga Medical Center, after a sudden, brief illness. Born February 2, 1933 in East Aurora, N.Y., to Lorne Emmett Montague and Mildred Beaver Montague, he attended St. Clare and East Aurora High School. Lorne served in the U.S. Army as a meteorologist during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. He worked for New York State Electric and Gas for 40 years, starting out as a linesman and retiring as a utility construction and maintenance supervisor in 1993.

Having moved his family to the Ithaca area in 1967, Lorne was active in the Lansing community, serving on the town planning board in the 1970s and volunteering many hours at All Saints Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister, and at the Lansing Food Pantry. He enjoyed playing golf with the John Listar Senior League at the Newman course in Ithaca, going on day tours to local points of interest with his good friends in the Bored to Death Gang, hunting, fishing, and spending holidays with his large, rambunctious family. Most of all, Lorne enjoyed long trips abroad with Carolyn, his beloved wife of 49 years. Among the countries the couple visited were Spain, Portugal, Australia, Thailand, Scotland, Peru, and all corners of the continental United States.

Mervyn Charles Williams

Obituaries | Tuesday, December 06, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

BINGHAMTON – Mervyn Charles Williams, age 68 of Binghamton, died Saturday morning at Willow Point Nursing Home in Vestal. On July 13, 1937, Minnie Olivert and Jerry Wadsworth Williams gave birth to their second child and only son at Morrisania Hospital in the Bronx. The proud parents blessed him with the name of Mervyn Charles Williams.

The spitting image of his father, Mervyn grew up with a quick wit…and temper. Developing his father’s sense of style, Mervyn knew he was the “sharpest” dude on the block. He also inherited his father’s intelligence and developed his mother’s love of reading. He spent many pleasurable hours reading all kinds of literature. From William Faulkner and James Joyce, to Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Walter Mosley, to Donald Goines and Iceburg Slim, Mervyn was able to discuss these author’s works as well as any professor from an Ivy League university.

RONALD G. MC KANE

Obituaries | Friday, December 02, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

ITHACA - Ronald G. Mc Kane, 74, of 24 Shore Drive, Ithaca, New York, died at 1:02 p.m. Monday, November 28, 2005, at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.

Born May 9, 1931 in Lansing, New York, he was a son of the late John and Florence (nee Jacobs) Mc Kane. Mr. McKane was employed as a Truck Driver prior to becoming disabled and was a member of the New York State Horse Pullers Association.

Robert L. Miller

Obituaries | Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA – Robert L. Miller, age 73, of Ithaca, a retired carpenter died Friday November 25, 2005 at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. Mr. Miller was born June 28, 1932, a son of the late Edward and Agnes Harris Miller.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping and hunting.

ANNA L. HANCHARIK

Obituaries | Thursday, November 10, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

LANSING: Anna L. Hancharik, 74 of 1892 East Shore Drive, Lansing, New York died at 11:50am, Thursday, November 10, 2005 at her residence.

Born May 27, 1931 in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Anna (nee Presloid) Weakland. Mrs. Hancharik was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church, Ithaca, a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxilliary and retired from Ithaco, Inc., where she had been employed as an assembler.

Rodney R. Linderberry, Sr., "Butch"

Obituaries | Monday, October 24, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

GROTON: Rodney R. Linderberry, Sr., "Butch", 54 of 55 Bacon Road, Groton, New York died at 11:20pm, Sunday, October 23, 2005 at University Hospital, Syracuse, New York.

Mr. Linderberry was born April 9, 1951 in Ithaca, New York, a son of the late Oscar and Alberta (nee Squires) Linderberry. He was employed as a Custodian at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Linda Ford-Onan

Obituaries | Sunday, October 09, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA - Linda Ford-Onan, age 61, a former housekeeper at Cornell University, went to be with Our Lord Saturday afternoon, October 8, 2005, at Hospicare in Ithaca. Mrs. Ford-Onan was born November 29, 1943 in Syracuse, a daughter of Margaret L. Rochen Keyser of Liverpool and the late Frank Ford.

Mrs. Ford-Onan will always be remembered for her kind and caring spirit that she shared with everyone. This generous spirit sponsored numerous less fortunate children around the world in various charitable missionaries. She was also a published poet. Before her employment with Cornell, she was a nurse's aid at Lakeside Nursing Home in Ithaca.

Eugene T.

Obituaries | Monday, October 03, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA – Eugene T. “Mickey” Nesbitt Sr., age 83, a retired machinist with Morse Chain and a former resident of Binghamton and Danby, died Sunday evening at Lakeside Nursing Home in Ithaca. Mr. Nesbitt was born October 25, 1921, the son of the late Willis and Grace VanHusen Nesbitt.

He enjoyed collecting teddy bears and cups. He was an avid camper and enjoyed watching old movies, Westerns, traveling and vacationing with the family. He was a member of the Danby Federated Church and a cook in the US Army during World War II. Prior to his employment with Morse Chain, he was employed with Endicott Johnson Shoe Company as a laborer.

Jacob G. Johnson

Obituaries | Wednesday, September 28, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

OXFORD – Mr. Jacob G. Johnson, age 86 of Oxford and formerly of Ithaca, went home to be with Our Lord and Savior on Tuesday afternoon (September 20, 2005) at the New York State Veteran’s Home in Oxford. He was born in Ithaca on March 14, 1919, a son of the late Charles Phillip and Bertha Mae Moss Johnson. Prior to his retirement, he was an auto mechanic.

DONALD V. DE CHELLIS

Obituaries | Thursday, September 22, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

LANSING: Donald V. De Chellis, 56 of 11 Salmon Creek Road, Lansing, New York died at 6:15pm on Monday, September 19, 2005 at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.

Born April 6, 1949 in Ithaca, New York he was a son of the late Leo and Alberta (nee Nash) De Chellis. Donald was a self employed contractor who will be dearly missed his family and friends. He was an avid NY Yankees fan.

Ellen F. Robbins

Obituaries | Monday, September 19, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

BROOKTONDALE – Mrs. Ellen F. Robbins, age 93 of Brooktondale, went home to be with Our Lord and Savior on Saturday (September 17, 2005) evening at Cayuga Medical Center. She was born in Sullivan on September 26, 1911, a daughter of the late Charles Phillip and Bertha Mae Moss Johnson.

Ellen spent most of her life being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. In her earlier life, she worked at the Ithaca Pocket Factory. She was a devote member of St. James AME Zion Church where she was a deaconess.

Ricky Charles Johnson

Obituaries | Monday, September 19, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

New York City – Ricky Charles Johnson, age 56 of New York City, died August 18, 2005 at his residence. Mr. Johnson, also known as “Big Rick,” was born April 25, 1949 in Ithaca, a son of the late Lois Johnson.

Laila L. Steele

Obituaries | Sunday, September 18, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA – Laila L. Steele, age 88 of Ithaca, a retired assembler with National Cash Register, died Thursday (September 15, 2005) at the Reconstruction Home in Ithaca. Mrs. Steele was born March 7, 1917 in Calumet Township in Michigan, a daughter of the late Hannes & Emma Runttila Keturi.

Mrs. Steele was an avid reader and she enjoyed gardening, bird watching, cooking and canning. She will always be remembered for her appreciation for nature and taking long walks on her property.

LAURA R. GEIGER

Obituaries | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 | By The Lansing Funeral Home

GROTON: Laura R. Geiger, 66 of 9 Searles Road, Groton, New York died at 3:34pm, Saturday, September 10, 2005 at her residence.

Born November 18, 1938 in Ithaca, New York, she was a daughter of the late George and Alice Moffett Rankin. Mrs. Geiger was a graduate of Genoa Central Schools, Class of 1957 and was Salutorian of her class. She was a day care provider, operating her own business known as Laura's Day Care.

HAROLD "COOKIE" DOUGLAS COOK

Obituaries | Tuesday, September 13, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA – Harold “Cookie” Douglas Cook, age 90 of Ithaca, a retired lighting technician with New York State Gas and Electric, was reunited with his beloved “Paulie” on Thursday morning (September 8, 2005) at the Hospicare residence. Mr. Cook was born January 20, 1915 in Ithaca, the son of the late Howard and Marguerite Johnson Cook.

Eugene

Obituaries | Thursday, September 08, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA – Eugene “Gene” Winston, age 78, of Ithaca, died Friday afternoon (September 9, 2005) at Cayuga Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Mr. Winston was born January 7, 1927 in Arkansas, a son of the late John Winston and Daisy O’Daniel Winston Jackson. His wife of 57 years, Patricia Hoover Winston, died the previous day.

Patricia

Obituaries | Wednesday, September 07, 2005 | By Herson Funeral Home

ITHACA- Patricia “Patsy” M. Winston, age 76, of Ithaca, died Thursday afternoon (September 8, 2005) at Cayuga Medical Center after a short illness. Mrs. Winston was born June 16, 1929 in Allendale, SC. She recently celebrated 57 years of marriage with her husband, Eugene Winston who died on Friday (September 9, 2005).

PATRICIA ANN HOLLOWAY SHERMAN

Obituaries | Thursday, July 28, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

ITHACA - Patricia Ann Holloway Sherman, 58, passed away on Tuesday, July 26, 2005, at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 6, 1947, in Scipio, NY, daughter of the late Frank and Issabelle Brown Holloway. Patricia was married to the late Ronald Comstock, Sr., in 1965. In 1979, she married the late Richard Sherman. She was also predeceased by her two brothers, William and Frank Holloway.

Stephen A. Fedorka Sr.

Obituaries | Thursday, July 28, 2005 | By Lansing Funeral Home

LANSING - Stephen A. Fedorka Sr., 85, of Lansing, passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at his home. He is survived by his wife, Betty June; his three sons, Stephen Jr. (Barbara), James Byron (Holly), Edward Lee; his daughter, Mary; his sister, Helen Berger (Robert); his stepsister, Anna Lucas; and his numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Charles and Julia Ann; his brother, Charles; his son, John Charles; and his sister, Elizabeth. Mr. Fedorka was born in Czechoslovakia on April 4, 1920 and came with his mother to join his father in Pennsylvania when he was two years old.

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