MARY ADAMEK

BARRYVILLE - Mary Adamek of Barryville, a supervisor for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Monticello and a lifelong resident, died Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 in St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City. She was 63.

Daughter of the late Eugene and Helen Clouse O'Neill, she was born Dec. 23, 1963 in Eldred.

A member of St. Anthony's R.C. Church, Yulan and the Yulan Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, she was chairman of the Town of Highland Democratic Committee.

Survivors include her husband, Walter Adamek, at home; and one son, Terry of Winchester, VA.

Services were held at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home in Eldred. Burial was in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Eldred.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Eldred American Legion Ambulance Corps in Eldred, NY, 12732.

CHARLES H. BENJAMIN

HONESDALE - Charles H. Benjamin of Honesdale, died Tuesday, October 3, 2000 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, following a long illness. He was 87.

Son of the late Arthur and Bertha Mitchell Benjamin, he was born September 7, 1913 in Sterling, PA.

Survivors include his wife, Leona, at home; two sisters, Helen Compton of Long Island and Martha Wargo of Hawley; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold and Ivan; six sisters, Adeline Wuest, Edna Cron, Esther McLain, Florence Firmstone, Gladys Balanovich and Freida Davis.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII serving in the European Theater of action. For many years he owned and operated an excavating business and later was an assistant superintendent for Penn DOT until he retired in 1976. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale and a former member of the Queen of Peace parish, Hawley. He was a member of the Hawley Council of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the VFW, Hawley Post #5823. He was a charter member of the Forest Volunteer Fire Company, Kimbles and was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Funeral services were held at the Hessling Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Honesdale. Burial will be made at St. Mary Magdalen's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Honesdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps or St. John the Evangelist Parish, Honesdale.

JOHN A. CAPUTO

HAWLEY - John A. Caputo a 30-year area resident, died Wednesday, September 27, 2000, at Ellen Memorial Health are Center, Honesdale, following an illness. He was 96.

Son of the late Antonio Caputo and the late Marie Petragalla Caputo, he was born in New York City. He was married for 65 years to Mary Eleanor Herko Caputo, who predeceased him in 1999.

Formerly a resident of New York City, he was the owner/operator of parking garages in New York City. He was affiliated with the Queen of Peace R.C. Church. He was an award-winning North American big game hunter.

Survivors include his daughter, Marilyn Straniero of Tenafly, NJ; two granddaughters, Carla Barone and Paula Curtiss; two grandsons, John Straniero and Michael Caputo; and five great grandsons. He was preceded in death by two sons, Paul and John, as well as four brothers.

Funeral services were held at Our Lady of the Mount Carmel R.C. Church, Tenafly, NJ.

Internment was held at Our Lady of the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, North Eastern PA District #730, Pittston, Ave., Scranton, PA, 18505.

JOSEPH J. DEAN

ROWLAND - Joseph J. Dean, an eight-year area resident, died Monday, October 2, 2000, unexpectedly at home. He was 73.

Son of the late Anthony Dean and the Helen Duffy Dean, he was born in White Mills. He was married for 48 years to Helen J. Sorensen-Dean.

Formerly a resident of New York City and White Mills, he was an installer for NY Telephone until his 1992 retirement. He was affiliated with the Queen of Peace R.C. Church. He was a former leader with the Boy Scouts of America in Brooklyn, NY.

Survivors include his wife, two daughters, Nancy Dean Corino of Hawley and Kathy Dean of Wall, NJ; one son, Ronald Dean of Eugene, OR; and a brother, Thomas Dean, of Pittsburgh; four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at Teeter's East Chapel. The Rev. William B. Healey, Pastor, Queen of Peace R.C. Church, officiated.

Internment was made at Green Gates Cemetery, Hawley PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box H, Rowland, PA 18454.

RITA AGNES GARDE

NARROWSBURG - Rita Agnes Garde, a 35-year area resident, died Tuesday, October 3, 2000, at Community General Hospital. She was 73.

Daughter of Nicholas and Josephine Sullivan Walsh, she was born June 24, 1927 in New York City. She was married to the late Thomas Garde who passed away in 1998.

A member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and its Rosary Society, she was also a member of the Tusten Senior Citizens, each of Narrowsburg, NY.

Survivors include ten children, Theresa Fuchs of Charlotte, NC; Peter Greico of Alden, NY; Doreen Dial of El Cajon, CA; Robert Garde of Austin, TX; Tommy Mattimore of Sebring, FL; Dona Garde of Highland, NY; Jeanmarie Tainies of Hawley, PA; Michelle Rembish of Cochecton, NY; Christine Garde of San Diego, CA; Pauline Klusmeyer of Charlotte, NC; one sister, Josephine Gerrity of Narrowsburg, NY; and one brother, Richard Walsh of Newport Richie, FL; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Rev. Thomas Jones officiated.

Internment will be made in the Saint Francis Cemetery, Narrowsburg, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tusten Volunteer Ambulance Corps or to Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, of Narrowsburg, NY 12764.

MARTIN "MARTY' DIAMOND

MONTICELLO - Martin "Marty" Diamond of Monticello, a retired bartender for the Concord Hotel, court officer in the Sullivan County Courts, and a 44-year area resident, died Wednesday, October 4, 2000 at Community General Hospital, Harris. He was 87.

Son of Israel and Fannie Barnett Diamond, he was born December 14, 1912, in New York City.

He was a member of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue; Jewish War Veterans, and Monticello Elks Lodge 1544.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Sampson Diamond, at home; two daughters, Irene Greenfield of Monticello, and Joan Diamond of San Francisco, CA; and two grandchildren, Joseph Greenfield and wife, Bonnie and Suzanne Lieberman and husband, Barry.

He was predeceased by three brothers.

Graveside services were held at Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery, Monticello. Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz officiated. Shiva was observed Monday, October 9, 2000.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Family Council of the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, Infirmary Road, Liberty, NY 12754.

MATHILDE "TILLIE" GERBER

SMALLWOOD - Mathilde "Tillie" Gerber, of Smallwood, a 45-year area resident and a winter resident of Jensen Beach, FL, died Monday October 2, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 91.

Daughter of the late August and Margaret Steinbach Baumgratz, she was born April, 20 1909 in Mannheim, Germany. She was the widow of George Gerber who died in 1999 after 69 years of marriage.

She was a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Liberty, the Bethel Republican Club; AARP, Ladies Auxiliary of the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department and was a volunteer at Hamilton Avenue Hospital for many years.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Joseph Serba of Long Beach, FL; two grandchildren, Lynne Dunmire of Elkins, WV, and Joseph Serba of East Meadow; and a great granddaughter, Lacey Dunmire.

Services were held at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, Kauneonga Lake. The Reverend Audrey Pederson officiated. Burial was to be made at the Evergreen Cemetery, Route 17B, Bethel.

MARGARET PESCI

PHOENIX - Margaret Pesci of Phoenix, a former resident of Jeffersonville died Monday September 22, 2000, in Phoenix, AZ. She was 89.

Daughter of the late Dora and Alexander Schifereli, she was born August 1, 1911, in East Rutherford, NJ. She was the widow of Frank A. Pecsi, who passed away in 1984.

She had been a medical secretary and office aide to the late Dr. Miller for 22 years, and prior to that had been a secretary to the Chief Engineer of the ADT Company in New York City.

Survivors include one son, Frank A. Parks of Phoenix, AZ; two grandchildren; two step-granddaughters; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held in November and will be announced.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Jeffersonville Ambulance Corps, or the Presbyterian Church of Jeffersonville.

LOUISA MAE ROBBINS

HONESDALE - Louisa Mae Robbins of Honesdale, died Thursday, October 5, 2000, at the Marian Community Hospital, Carbondale after an illness. She was 90.

Daughter of the late John H. and Emma Jayne Turner, she was born in Blakely. She was the widow of Harold E. Robbins who died in 1990.

She was a member of the Central United Methodist Church in Honesdale.

Survivors include three sons, Robert J. Robbins and wife Alberta, Richard David Robbins, and wife Sue, James Harold Robbins and wife Ruth Ann; two daughters, Janet Louisa Olver and husband Arthur, Union WA, and Bessie Edwina Kurtz and husband Raymond, Appalachin, NY; a sister-in-law, Alta Turner, Honesdale; 21 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held at the family's convenience. Burial was to be made at the Indian Orchard Cemetery, Route 17B, Bethel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Home of the Wyoming Conference, 1182 Chenango Street, Binghamton, NY 13901; the Seelyville Fire Company, c/o 1242 Bridge Street, Seelyville, PA 18431 or the donor's favorite charity.

DIANE STRAULINA VANORDEN

HONESDALE - Diane Straulina VanOrden of Honesdale died Friday, September 29, 2000, at Mercy Hospital, Scranton.

Daughter of Virginia Lettau Straulina, Dingmans Ferry, and the late Francis Straulina, she was born in Iselin, NJ.

Survivors include four sons, Vincent and Marc Ahrens, both of Dingmans Ferry; Kenneth Ahrens of Sewaren, NJ and Corey Struble of Tafton; a daughter, Natasha Struble of Tafton; a sister, Lynn Straulina-Fredrick of NJ; and two nieces.

Services were held at the Dingmans Ferry Methodist Church. The Rev. Wayne Jones presided.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dingmans Ferry Methodist Church, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328.