Obituaries

Bertha M. Ward

Bertha M. Ward

Nov 29, 2014

Bertha Ward, 84, of Camillus, passed away Saturday at the age of 84 after a long battle with lymphoma. She was born in Antwerp, NY to the late Frank and Frances Gardner. Bertha was a member of Fairmount Community Church United Church of Christ. She was an accountant and office manager for The Wood Glass Co. Bertha was predeceased by...

Marion M. Hunt

Marion M. Hunt

Nov 24, 2014

Marion Margaret Hunt, 92, of Fairmount, passed away Monday, November 24, 2014 at Loretto.  A lifetime resident of the Syracuse area, she was a graduate of Central High School.  She retired from the New York Telephone Co. in 1984 after 44 years and was a member of the New York Telephone Pioneers.  She enjoyed traveling.  Her favorite destination was Hawaii. ...

Viola M. Thompson

Viola M. Thompson

Nov 23, 2014

Viola M. Thompson, 93, formerly of Norwich, NY, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014 at The Centers at St. Camillus. Born in Cuyler, NY, she lived in Norwich for 42 years and Marcellus for four years before moving to Onondaga Hill in 2006. Viola retired in 1983 after 25 years with NYS Veterans' Home in Oxford. A member of...

Thomas C. Staffa

Thomas C. Staffa

Nov 23, 2014

Thomas C. Staffa, 72, of Syracuse, passed away Sunday at Crouse Hospital. A lifetime resident of the Syracuse area, he was a graduate of Liverpool High School and U.S. Army veteran. Tom was employed by Syracuse University for 10 years, retiring in 2005 and was previously employed by Carl's Drug Store for many years. A communicant of Holy Family Church,...

Elizabeth J. Leal

Elizabeth J. Leal

Nov 22, 2014

Elizabeth J. Leal, 90, of Camillus, passed away Saturday November 22, 2014 at James Square Health & Rehabilitation Centre.  Born and raised in Newark, NY, she lived in Schenectady for 15 years before moving to Camillus in 1962.  Elizabeth was a 1941 graduate of Oswego High School and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from SUNY Oswego.  An elementary school...

Morton T. Lavigne

Morton T. Lavigne

Nov 20, 2014

Morton T. Lavigne, 90, of Lakeland, passed away Thursday, November 20, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center. Born in Cadyville, he was a lifetime resident of the Syracuse area and an Army veteran of WW II. Morton worked for IBEW Electrical Union #43 for over 20 years and retired from Chrysler Corp. He enjoyed bird watching and fishing but...

Ann Biesemeyer

Ann Biesemeyer

Nov 20, 2014

Agnes Ann Biesemeyer, 89, formerly of Westvale,passed away Thursday, November 20 in Cape Coral, FL. Born in Passaic, NJ, she lived in Syracuse from 1927 until moving to Westvale in 1950. Ann was a 1943 graduate of Most Holy Rosary School and a 1947 graduate of Syracuse University College of Applied Science. Ann was a communicant of Holy Family Church...

Jon Dee Holtsbery Sr.

Jon Dee Holtsbery Sr.

Nov 19, 2014

Jon Dee Holtsbery Sr., 75, of East Syracuse, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at home. Born and raised in Syracuse, he lived in Connecticut, Michigan, and Ohio before returning to Syracuse in 2010. He attended Eastwood High School and was an Army veteran. Jon was an entertainer and singer in the Army and beyond. He managed several restaurants and...

Lucille E. Olin

Lucille E. Olin

Nov 12, 2014

Lucille Elizabeth Olin, 88, of Syracuse, died peacefully Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Van Duyn Rehabilitation and Nursing. She is survived by her daughter, Dana (Tim Thorp) Grillo; son, Paul (Shannon) Olin; grandchildren, Sam and Angela Ryder and Emma and Olivia Olin; great-grandson, Jack Perkins; and sister, Louise Morabito Meagher. Lucille worked for many years with the American Photograph Company....

Edwin A. Towers

Edwin A. Towers

Nov 9, 2014

Edwin A. Towers, 74, of Camillus, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2014. He was born on October 11, 1940, the son of the late John "Jack" Towers and Grace Marion Brown Towers of Houlton and Fort Fairfield, Maine. Ed graduated from Fort Fairfield High School in 1958 where he was active in music and athletics. He was an alumnus of...

Anne Luteran

Anne Luteran

Nov 8, 2014

Anne Luteran, 48, of Syracuse, passed away Saturday at University Hospital. A lifetime resident of the Syracuse area, Anne was a former waitress at Pensabene's Park West for eight years. She was most recently employed by New York State. She enjoyed sports, including SU basketball, and most of all, spending time with her family. Anne was predeceased by her father,...

Rev. Dennis W. Slater

Rev. Dennis W. Slater

Oct 31, 2014

Rev. Dennis W. Slater, 78, of Syracuse, passed away Friday, October 31, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center. He was born in Syracuse on June 10, 1936 to the late Thomas F. and Marjorie Slater. Father Slater was ordained a Catholic priest on May 19, 1962. He was a graduate of CBA and received a bachelor's degree from Niagara...

Donald Smith

Donald Smith

Oct 31, 2014

Donald "Smitty" Smith, 81, of Camillus, passed away Friday, October 31, 2014 at home. Born in Columbia, SC, he was raised at the Carolina Children's Home and moved to Camillus in 1955. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. Smitty retired in 1988 after 32 years with the US Postal Service in Camillus and also worked in mail...

Raymond E. Collins

Raymond E. Collins

Oct 29, 2014

Raymond E. Collins, 89, of Syracuse, passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at Upstate University Hospital at Community General.  Born in Syracuse, he attended St. Lucy's Academy.   A Navy veteran during World War II, Raymond served aboard the USS New Jersey and received 11 battle stars.  He was employed for over 35 years with Morris Distributing Co., retiring as...

William Lepkowski

William Lepkowski

Oct 29, 2014

William "Bill" Lepkowski, 65, of Syracuse, passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at James Square Health & Rehabilitation Centre. He was the resident artist at TLS. Surviving are his sister, Celaine Kaupp; brothers, Walter and Jeffery; many nieces and nephews; and his TLC Family, who have supported him with kindness and dignity. Services for Bill will be at the...

Roland F. Link

Roland F. Link

Oct 17, 2014

Roland F. Link, 80, of Bonita Springs, FL, formally of Camillus, passed away Friday, October 17, 2014. Born and raised in Germany, he immigrated to Canada and later to Cleveland, Ohio where he became a U.S. Citizen. Upon completing high school, he trained to be a tool and die maker and later worked for General Motors for 30 years, retiring...

Mary E. Richards

Mary E. Richards

Oct 17, 2014

Mary E. Droll Richards, 94, of Camillus, passed away Friday, October 17, 2014 at home. Born in Lima, Ohio, she was a graduate of Vaughnsville High School and moved to Syracuse in 1952. Mary retired in 1984 after 25 years with GE and was a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church. She enjoyed painting, needle point, reading, and spending time...

Dennis Patrick Daley

Dennis Patrick Daley

Oct 15, 2014

Dennis Patrick Daley, 23, of Camillus, passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at University Hospital. Born in Syracuse, he was a 2009 graduate of West Genesee High School and member of the National Honor Society. He loved spending time with his family and going to concerts with his dad. He also loved animals, including rescues of all kinds. He was...

Elsie L. Tanchak

Elsie L. Tanchak

Oct 14, 2014

Elsie L. Tanchak, 83, of Seneca Falls, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center. Born in Walworth, she was raised in Waterloo and moved to Seneca Falls in 1955. Elsie retired after many years from Philips GTE in Seneca Falls and also worked at Chappell's in Auburn and Walmart in Waterloo. She was a communicant...

William B. McAfee Jr.

William B. McAfee Jr.

Oct 14, 2014

William B. McAfee Jr., 85, of Camillus, passed away Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at home. Born in Pennsylvania, he lived in Camillus since 1956. He retired after 45 years with Burns Bros., Inc. and was a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 267 for 65 years. Bill was a jazz drummer and an avid SU sports fan and also...