Obituary: Irene Marie (Purdy) Schu, 87, of Canandaigua, NY, formerly of Hornell

Irene Marie (Purdy) Schu, 87, of Canandaigua, NY, formerly of Hornell, passed away Friday morning (November 15, 2019) at the M.M Ewing Continuing Care Center in Canandaigua, with her loving family by her side. Born in Canandaigua on May 26, 1932, she was the daughter of J. Clifford and Clara (Sanders) Purdy.
Irene grew up in Canandaigua and was a graduate of Canandaigua Academy (class of 1950).  She later received her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University. While a student at Syracuse University, Irene met her future husband, William “Billy” Schu.

A resident of Hornell for over 60 years, Irene, along with her husband , owned and operated Billy Schu’s Food Bar for over 30 years.  For many years, she also served as a substitute school teacher in the Hornell School District.  Irene was always very “community minded” and for many years volunteered her time as an Election Inspector serving with the Hornell Board of Elections.

For over 50 years, Irene was a very active member of the Hornell United Presbyterian Church. She served as a volunteer at the Hornell Public Library for over 25 years and also donated her time to numerous other local organizations.  Irene enjoyed quilting, sewing, gardening, traveling, reading and baking.  She was proud of her children and instilled within each of them the love of reading and the curiosity for life.

Irene was married to William E. “Billy” Schu who died May 17, 1988.  She was also preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Galens and sister-in-law, Patty Pullman. 

Surviving are her her 4 children, Deborah (Christopher) Munn of Canastota, NY, William (Debbie) Schu of LaFayette, NY, Brian ( Pam ) Schu of Hornell and Jeanine (Jim) Smith of Rush, NY; her sister, Marian (Robert) McAllister; her brother Vernon Purdy; sister-in-law, Anita Young; 8 grandchildren, Christine, Doug, Rebekah, Bill, James, Jake, Ian and Sadie; 4 great-grandchildren, Adeline, Christopher, Sawyer and Mason; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

At Irene’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Hornell United Presbyterian Church with Rev. Katherine Griffis officiating.  Final interment will be in Hope Cemetery in Hornell.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. 

Irene’s family request that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell United Presbyterian Church or donate a book in her memory to the Hornell Public Library. 

The family of Irene wish to thank the staff of The Gardens at Ewing Continuing Care Center in Canandaigua for their kind; professional; compassionate care of Irene. 

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Oramel Ice Cream to close

From the owners –

It’s official. We have finally decided to close our businesses and retire. We were hoping to find a buyer and see it keep going but it looks like that is not going to happen. We will be liquidating all assets from the ice cream/cafe and motel early next year. We want to thank everyone for their support in making our venture extremely successful.

Obituary: Thelma E. Swift, 100, of Coudersport

Thelma E. Swift “beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother”

COUDERSPORT, Pa.—Thelma E. Swift, 100, of Coudersport, formerly of Coneville, passed away with her loving family by her side on Saturday, November 16, 2019, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a short illness.
Born on Monday, October 27, 1919 in Pleasant Valley Township, she was a daughter of George and Agnes Reed Meacham.  On April 25, 1942 in Port Allegany, she married Elton E. Swift, who passed away on April 12, 2004.
Thelma was a graduate of Port Allegany High School, Class of 1938 and was a graduate of Eleanor Beauty School in Buffalo, N.Y.  She worked as a hairdresser in Shinglehouse for one year and then in Coudersport until 1944, and lastly in her home in Hebron.
Thelma was a member of Hebron Union Church.  She enjoyed knitting and volunteering at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport.  She most especially loved spending time with her family.
She will be sadly missed by her wonderful caregivers at Sweden Valley Manor.
Surviving are two daughters, Bonnie J. (Wayne) Hathaway of Coudersport and Kim M. (Ivan) Work of Marysville, Ohio; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a son-in-law, David Moyer of Montoursville; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Thelma was predeceased by infant twin sons; a daughter, Sandra Lee Moyer, who died in 2017; a grandson, Allen Hathaway, who died in 2018; four brothers; and ten sisters.
Family and friends may call from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, November 21, 2019, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse where funeral services follow at 12 noon with the Rev. Howard R. Burnham, pastor emeritus of Hebron Union Church, and Pastor Harold Kiel of Bingham Center Bible Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Rathbone Cemetery, Coneville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hebron Union Church, 1149 SR 44N, Coudersport, PA 16915 or to the Sweden Valley Manor Patient Activities Fund, 1028 East Second Street, Coudersport, PA 16915
Thelma’s family has entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
To express condolences or share a fond memory of Thelma, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or visit the funeral home Facebook page, Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home.

Obituary: William D. Fraser, 74, Cuba

William D. Fraser, 74, of 23 South Shore Road, Cuba Lake passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at home.
Born on July 11, 1945 in North Tonawanda, New York Bill was a son of William and Rose VanKleeck Fraser.  On November 27, 1971 at St. Mary’s of the Angels Church, he married the former Catherine A. Griffin who predeceased him on March 8, 2015.
Bill was a graduate of Tonawanda Senior High School, Class of 1963.  He then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in education from Hobart College graduating in 1967.  Later he received his master’s degree from the University of Miami.  He also did course work at St. Bonaventure University.
After college he made his home in Olean and started teaching American History at Olean High School.  After several years he became a guidance counselor at Olean High School.  During the summer he proudly worked with the Youth Corp.  Later he became a union negotiator for the teacher’s union and helped settle contracts throughout the Southern-Tier. 
After retirement and until recently, Bill taught courses at Jamestown Community College and St. Bonaventure University. 
Bill proudly served on several boards of non-profit organizations including the United Way of Olean, the Cuba Circulating Library and the Boy Scouts of America, having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in his younger years.
He was especially fond of all the friendships and acquaintances he made throughout his life and will be remembered as a person who was able to find something special in everyone that he touched.  
Any recounting of Bill’s life would be incomplete if it did not include his love of living on Cuba Lake, his yearly winter visits to St. Augustine, Florida, and his devotion to his lifetime buddies from school, college and the staff and gang at Moonwinks.  He truly believed in supporting Cuba businesses. He leaves behind two sisters Ellen Hewlett and Janet Thompson, both of Hendersonville, NC, his loving friend and companion Sue Feldbauer of Cuba, NY, the entire Griffin family.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 21, 2019) at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service Inc., 9 Bull St., Cuba.  Friends will be received again on Friday (Nov. 22, 2019) at the Cuba United Methodist Church, 49 E. Main St., Cuba, at 10am preceding a celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m. the Rev. Rebecca Worth, will officiate.
Private burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, New York.
The family requests memorials be made to the Cuba Circulating Library or to the William D. and Catherine Griffin Fraser Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation Fund, which helps fund medical and educational needs in the area. Online condolences may be sent at www.rinkerfuneralhome.com.

Obituary: Concetta Battistoni, 96, Cuba

Cuba – Concetta Battistoni, 96, passed away Monday, November 11, 2019, at the Pines of Olean, where she had resided for the past 3 years.
Concetta was born in Buffalo, New York, April 23, 1923, to Alphonso and Celesta Andreanna Calandra. On May 8, 1946, she married David Battistoni, who passed away July 25, 2007.
During World War II, Connie was employed by Curtiss Aircraft building airplanes for the war effort. For many years, she worked with her husband at their store, Dave’s Market, first in Buffalo and later in Riceville, New York. After she retired and moved to Cuba, Connie worked and later volunteered as an activity aide at Cuba Memorial Hospital, retiring at age 91.
She is survived by her son, David Jr., (Deborah), grandchildren Gina (Brian) Fries, Joel, and Jared (Mallory), along with her great-grandchildren Carter and Madeline Fries, Lucas Battistoni and Cecilia Battistoni. Along with her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brothers Michael, Peter, Rocco, Joseph, Dominic and Paul, and her sisters Anne Kriedeman and Nancy Nicotra.
Connie loved to entertain her family, and was an excellent Italian-American cook. She made wonderful pizza.
There will be a private family celebration of Connie’s life. Memorials can be made to Cuba Memorial Hospital’s activity department.
Arrangements are under direction of the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba.

Obituary: Michel P. Bowen, 55, of Springfield, MO, formerly of Galeton, PA

Michel P. Bowen, 55, of Springfield, MO, formerly of Galeton, PA, died Saturday, November 16, 2019 in his home.  Born February 25, 1964, in Coudersport, he was the son of Perley and Suzan K. Richar Bowen.  A graduate of Galeton High School, he was employed as a cabinetmaker and welder.  Surviving are:  his mother, Suzan Richar of Wellsboro;  his father, Perley R. (Nancy) Bowen of Galeton;  two daughters, Malina Bowen of Pittsburgh and Larissa Bowen of Elizabethtown;  a step-daughter, Jessica DeMalia of Springfield, MO;  two sisters, Kelle Johnson of Wellsboro and Amy (Patrick) Anderson of Lancaster;  nephews, Karl Welfling of Frederick, MD, Jon Welfling of Wellsboro, and Maxwell Johnson of Wellsboro;  a niece, Samantha Johnson of Montoursville;  an aunt, Mary Ann Lugalia of Galeton;  an uncle, George Bowen, Jr. of Galeton;  and cousins.  A graveside service will be in held 3:00 PM, Friday, November 22, 2019 in West Hill Cemetery, Galeton.  The Rev. Thomas E. Brown will officiate.  Memorials may be made to any local food pantry.  Arrangements are entrusted to Olney Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfuneralhome.com.

Wellsville Food Pantry will be renamed to the Joyce Family Food Pantry and Outreach

Charlie Joyce
BUFFALO, N.Y. ─ Catholic Charities’ Wellsville office will hold a Holiday Open House from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at the counseling office, 67 East Pearl St., Wellsville.
The Holiday Open House will offer information on Catholic Charities’ services in Allegany County, as well as free food, games, and new and gently used winter coats and boots for those in need. A Wellness Fair featuring local community agencies will run in conjunction with the open house.
The open house will highlight the expansion of Catholic Charities services in Allegany County. In addition to counseling, basic needs assistance and a food pantry and thrift store, services in the county now include Our Kids Parent Education and Awareness Program, and a Kinship Caregiver Support Group as an expansion of the Kinship Caregiver Program in Cattaraugus County, which has been supporting families for more than a decade. The food pantry and thrift store will be open extended hours that day.
Also during the event at 1 p.m., the Catholic Charities Wellsville Food Pantry and Outreach, which is onsite, will officially be renamed to the Joyce Family Food Pantry and Outreach to recognize local businessman Charlie Joyce’s significant, ongoing support of Catholic Charities. Joyce, chairman of the board of Otis Eastern Service LLC, gave $450,000 in total to the 2019 Appeal, the largest personal and corporate donation in the Appeal’s 95-year history.
At the close of the 2019 Appeal, Catholic Charities made the announcement that it would rename the pantry in the Joyce Family’s honor. 
Last year, Catholic Charities impacted the lives of more than 1,500 individuals in Allegany County.
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About Catholic Charities: Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive human service provider covering all of Western New York, serving people of all ages, races, faiths and walks of life. It has helped individuals and families in need since its founding in 1923. That need is varied and widespread – from emergency assistance to mental health counseling and treatment, and from specialized services for older adults to help with job training and education. Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, healthy and productive lives. In all situations, Catholic Charities delivers support to meet immediate needs, and then assesses clients for other needs to ensure long-term success. For more information, please visit www.ccwny.org.
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