BEATRICE ‘DIXIE’ AMATO
BARRYVILLE, NY — Beatrice “Dixie” Amato, a lifelong resident of the area, died suddenly on Thursday, March 17, 2005, in the Town of Lumberland. She was 3.
The daughter of Chuck Amato and Erin Fisher Amato, she was born on February 23, 2002 in Port Jervis, NY.
She is survived by her parents, Chuck and Erin Amato, at home; her maternal grandfather, David Fisher of Port Jervis; her paternal grandmother, Beatrice Amato of Barryville; her maternal great-grandparents, Kenneth and Florence Thornton of Port Jervis; her paternal great-grandmother, Pearl Fisher of Port Jervis; and several aunts and uncles.
She was predeceased by her cousin, Alex Fisher.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at the Drew United Methodist Church with the Reverend Robert Cassidy and the Reverend Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
BRIAN K. DEGRAW
TYLER HILL, PA — Brian K. DeGraw, a resident of Tyler Hill, died on Sunday, March 20, 2005 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale. He was 48.
The son of Irene Butcher DeGraw and the late Keith A. DeGraw, he was born on October 23, 1956 in Hancock, NY.
He was raised in Narrowsburg, NY by his grandparents, the late Bill and Lowisa Brucher. He worked as a corrections officer for the New York State Department of Corrections.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Carol Hook DeGraw, and two daughters, Lacey and Katy DeGraw, all at home.
Services were held on Wednesday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home with the Reverend Lane Jones officiating.
Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations can be made to the Damascus Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 65, Damascus, PA, 18415.
JENNIE (SCRIBANO) SPINELLI D’ALBORA
HAWLEY, PA — Jennie (Scribano) Spinelli D’Albora, a 14-year resident of Hawley, died on March 16, 2005 at the Mid-Valley Hospital in Peckville.
The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lucy Torre Scribano, she was born in Manhattan, NY.
She was a member of the Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Amedia Spinelli, and her second husband, Bart D’Albora.
She is survived by her sons, Frank Spinelli of Rowlands, Samuel Spinelli of Sunrise, FL, and Amedio Spinelli of Margate, FL; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Saturday, March 3 at the Queen of Roman Peace Catholic Church with the Reverend William B. Healey, pastor, officiating.
Interment is at the Green Gates Cemetery in Hawley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hawley Ambulance and Rescue Company, 219 River Street, Hawley, PA 18428.
DENISE A. FISHER
BARRYVILLE, NY — Denise A. Fisher, a lifelong area resident, died suddenly on Thursday, March 17, 2005 in the Town of Lumberland. She was 46.
The daughter Kenneth and Florence Comisky Thornton, she was born on March 19, 1958 in Norfolk, VA.
She worked as a supervisor for the Eldred Preserve restaurant.
She is survived by her husband, David K. Fisher; two sons, Brian of Middletown and Kevin of Barryville; one daughter, Erin Amato and her husband, Chuck, of Barryville; her parents, Kenneth and Florence Thornton of Port Jervis; one sister, Lori Acton and her husband, Bill, of Sparrowbush; two brothers, Mark Thornton and his wife Donna of Barryville and Daniel Thornton and his wife Mary of Brenham, Texas; her maternal grandmother, Emily Comiskey of Middletown; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Beatrice, and her grandson, Alex.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at the Drew United Methodist Church with the Reverend Robert Cassidy and the Reverend Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in the memory of the entire family to: Lori Acton, c/o Cuddeback and Onofry, P.O. Box 1114, Port Jervis, NY 12771.
ALEx FISHER
BARRYVILLE, NY — Alex Fisher, a lifelong resident of the area, died suddenly on Thursday, March 17, 2005 in the Town of Lumberland. He was 2.
The son of Kevin Fisher and the late Ruth Wildrick, he was born on September 12, 2002 in Port Jervis, NY.
He is survived by is father, Kevin Fisher; one brother, Austin; his maternal grandparents, Henry and Brenda Wildrick of Port Jervis; his paternal grandfather, David Fisher of Port Jervis; his great-grandmother, Ruth Hardick of Port Jervis; and several aunts and uncles.
He was predeceased by his mother, Ruth Wildrick; his paternal grandmother, Denise Fisher; and his cousin, Beatrice “Dixie” Amato.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at the Drew United Methodist Church with the Reverend Robert Cassidy and the Reverend Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions can be made in memory of the entire family to: Lori Acton, c/o Cuddeback and Onofry, P.O. Box 1114, Port Jervis, NY 12771.
JOANN M. KOLVENBACH
MATAMORAS, PA — Joann M. Kolvenbach, a lifelong area resident, died on Thursday, March 17, 2005 at home. She was 55.
The daughter of the late Samuel Vicchiariello and Lois Koenig Vicchiariello, she was born May 10, 1949 in Port Jervis.
She worked as a secretary for Chant Realtors and a communicant at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Matamoras.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond D. Kolvenbach, at home; two daughters, Megan and Jennifer Kolvenback, both at home; her mother, Lois Koenig Vicchiariello of Huguenot; two brothers, Samuel and his wife, Sue, of Huguenot, and Michael and his wife Vicki of Sparrowbush; one sister, Susan Vicchiariello and her fiancé Kevin Carmody of Winter Park, FL; three aunts, Janet Meyers, Winifred Vicchiariello and Mary Calvario; one brother-in-law, John Kolvenbach and his wife Dolores; one sister-in-law, Joan Doss and her husband Robert; her mother and father-in-law, Dorothy and John Kolvenbach of Port Jervis; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Tuesday, March 22 at the Knight-Archmoody Funeral Home with the Reverend August Ricciardi officiating.
Interment will be in the Pine Hill Cemetery in Sparrowbush.
Contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 96286, Washington, D.C. 20090-6268 or to the American Cancer Society, 407 East Main Street, Middletown, NY 10940.
REGINA POTRATZ
HONESDALE, PA — Regina Ann Polt Vannatta Poratz, a resident of Honesdale, died on February 28, 2005 at Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart. She was 90.
The daughter of the late John and Catherine Bracey Polt, she was born on November 1, 1914 in Honesdale.
A housewife and mother, she was employed at the former Katz Company in Honesdale as a seamstress. She retired as a floor lady after many years. She was one of the original “Katz Kittens.”
She attended St. Mary Magdalen’s Church and was a former member of the Texas No. 4 Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary. She was an avid gardener.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Lee Vannatta in 1966; her second husband, Clifford Portratz in 1992; her son, Jean Vannatta; four brothers, Jack, Leo, Bob and Vincent Polt; and two sisters, Helen Kelly and Mary Martin.
She is survived by a son, Daniel Vanatta and a close friend Jean of Honesdale; two stepsons, Gordon Potratz and his wife Judy of Hawley and Gilbert Portratz of Congers, NY; a step daughter, Diana Waight of San Francisco, CA; a sister, Mrs. Catherine Lester Holbert of Honesdale; a grandson, Shawn Vannatta; and several nieces and nephews.
Cremation will be at Maple Hill Crematory in Archbald.
Memorial contributions may be made to Texas No. 4 Fire Col, P.O. Box 1065, Honesdale or to Dessin Animal Shelter, RR 3, Box 3043, Honesdale.
OLLIE PRISCO
PORT JERVIS, NY — Ollie Prisco, a lifelong area resident of Port Jervis, died on Saturday, March 19, 2005, at Mercy Hospital in Scranton, PA. He was 80.
The son of the late Carman and Marion F. Maillet Prico, he was born August 2, 1924 in Port Jervis.
A 1942 graduate of Port Jervis High School, he was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Port Jervis and of the Pole Bridge Hunting Club. He was a veteran and prisoner during World War II where he served in the Army Air Corps. He also worked for Hosking Electric for many years and served on the City of Port Jervis Electric and Plumbing Board.
He is survived by his wife, Alice J. Hinkley Prico, at home; two daughters, Jean Eberhard and her husband, David of Port Jervis and Ann Myott of Sparrowbush; one son, Ollie A. Prisco and his wife, Barbara, of Port Jervis; three grandchildren, Renee Prico of Scranton and Heather and Matthew Prisco, both of Port Jervis; one sister, Marilyn Hinkley of Port Jervis; three sisters in law, Mary Prisco of Port Jervis, Ann Garrity and her husband, Joseph, of Port Jervis and Patricia Biondi and her husband, Dominic of Wayne, NJ; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Carmen “Chub” Prisco, Jr. and Joseph.
Services were held on Tuesday, March 22 at the Grey-Parker Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Resurrection in Most Sacred Heart Church with the Reverend Dennis M. Dinan officiating.
Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Port Jervis.
DEBRA RIZZO
BARRYVILLE, NY — Debra Rizzo, a resident of Barryville, died on Thursday, March 17, 2005 in the town of Lumberland. She was 45.
The daughter of Harold and Cordela Thompson Tilly, she was born January 31, 1960 at the Karismar Air Force Base in Turkey.
She was a loving mother and wife, who cared for many elderly residents of Barryville.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph Nicolosi of Barryville; her parents, Harold and Cordella Tilley of Many, LA; two sons, Paulie and JoJo Rizzo, both of Barryville; four daughters, Melissa Rizzo of Brooklyn, Jennifer Regenstreich and her husband Brian, of Brooklyn, and Christine and Megan both of Barryville; two brothers, Douglas Tilley of Houston, TX and Kevin Tilley of Salinas,CA; and one sister, Kim Price of San Francisco, CA.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home with the Reverend Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Interment will be at Montoza Cemetery in Eldred.
ELIZABETH ‘BETTY’ SCHMIDT
BETHANY, PA — Elizabeth “Betty” Schmidt, a resident of Bethany Village in Bethany and a former resident of Lehighton and Hawley, died on March 8, 2005 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale. She was 79.
The daughter of the late Edward B. and Estalla Koons Schmidt, she was born in Lehighton.
She worked as a teacher for the Hawley and Wallenpaupack schools and she was a member of the Hawley United Methodist Church. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science from Mansfield State College and received her master’s degree from the University of Scranton. She is a past member of several area civic organizations.
She is survived by her nephews, Edward Schmidt II of Perkasie and Richard K. Schmidt of Northampton; her grandniece, Sarah Elizabeth; and her grandnephews, Shane Elias and Philip Andrew Schmidt.
She was predeceased by a brother, Alvin.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Interment will be at Green Gates Cemetery in Hawley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hawley United Methodist Memorial Fund.
BERTIL PAUL SOLVERSEN
ROWLANDS, PA — Bertil Paul Solversen, a 71-year resident of Rowlands and a former resident of South Dakota, died on March 17, 2005 at his home. He was 88.
The son of the late Harold Sigve Solversen and Marie Mary Snorteland Solversen, he was born in Langford, SD.
He was a retired carpenter and an Army World War II veteran, having served from 1942 to 1945. He was a member of the Central Volunteer Fire Department.
He is survived by two sisters, Marquerite Blomstrand of Riverdale, NJ and Thelma Saaf of Rowlands; one brother, Myron A. Solversen of San Leandro, CA; and eight nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at Teeters’ East Chapel with the Reverend Norman R. Beighley, pastor of the Bethel Lutheran Church, officiating.
Interment will be in the Rowlands Cemetary.
BEATRICE C. TEEPLe
EQUINUNK, PA — Beatrice C. Teeple, a resident of Equinuck, died on Friday, March 11, 2005 at the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center in Honesdale. She was 97.
The daughter of Grant and Lena Adams Caffrey, she was born on August 31, 1907.
She was a former schoolteacher in several Damascus and Manchester Township schools and a member of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service and the Union United Methodist Church in Equinunk.
She is survived by her husband, Virgil Teeple, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Grant and Barbara of Equinunk, PA; a daughter, Sylvia Gutowski of Endwell; two sisters, Freida Stalker of Damascus and Patricia Baum of Callicoon; one grandson and his wife, Dale and Ella Teeple; one granddaughter, Cynthia Rowe; five great-grandchildren, Theresa, William and Elizabeth Teeple and Justine Rowe and Melissa Houghtaling; a great-great-granddaughter, Brianna Houghtaling; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 15 at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel in Hancock, NY with the former pastor of the Union United Methodist Church, Reverend Wilbur Black, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union United Methodist Church, Equinunk, PA, 18417 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions can be made in memory of the entire family to: Lori Acton, c/o Cuddeback and Onofry, P.O. Box 1114, Port Jervis, NY 12771.
RUTH C. WILDRICK
BARRYVILLE, NY — Ruth C. Wildrick, a homemaker and lifelong area resident, died suddenly on Thursday, March 17, 2005 in the Town of Lumberland. She was 25.
The daughter of the late Henry Wildrick and Brenda Bensley Wildrick, she was born January 30, 1980 in Newton, NJ.
She is survived by her fiancé, Kevin Fisher, at home; one son, Austin; her parents, Henry and Brenda Wildrick; two brothers, Henry and George Wildrick; and her paternal grandmother, Ruth Hardick, all of Port Jervis.
She was predeceased by her son, Alex Fisher.
Services were held on Monday, March 21 at the Drew United Methodist Church with the Reverend Robert Cassidy and the Reverend Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in the memory of the entire family to: Lori Acton, c/o Cuddeback and Onofry, P.O. Box 1114, Port Jervis, NY 12771.
| 
