WINIFRED E. HYLAS

Winifred E. Hylas died on Saturday, October 13, 2007.

The daughter of the late Charles and Marguarite (Feron) Liska, she was born in Congers, NY on December 6, 1927.

Winifred is survived by her husband, Michael Hylas of Forestburgh, NY; her children, Michael Hylas of Port Jervis, NY, Jamie Hylas of Osterville, MA, Mark Hylas of Sparrowbush, NY, Jennifer Seidel of Forestburgh and Alexander Hylas of Pine Bush, NY; her grandchildren, Maggie Seidel, Mark Hylas, Johanna Seidel and Connor Hylas; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at TJ McGowan Sons Funeral Home in Garnerville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at the Church of St. Paul in Congers.

ALICE J. JENKINS

Alice J. Jenkins, of Honesdale, PA, formerly of Lake Ariel, PA, died Saturday, October 6, 2007 at Ellen Memorial Health Care Center in Honesdale.

The daughter of the late Clarence and Mary (Vail) Tegler, she was born in Damascus, PA.

Alice was married to the late Edgar F. Jenkins, former superintendent of the Western Wayne School District. She was a member of the Lake Ariel United Methodist Church. She graduated from Damascus High School in 1936 and Ryder College in 1939 with a bachelor’s degree in business. Prior to her marriage, she was employed as a secretary in Trenton, NJ.

She is survived by a son Thomas and wife Beverly of Honesdale; her sisters, Irene Teglar of Honesdale and Evelyn Glatz of Maine; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a son, Paul; her brothers, Otto and Fred; a sister, Betty; and a granddaughter, Katie Jenkins.

Services were held on Thursday, October 18, 2007 in the Lake Ariel United Methodist Church. The Rev. Rebekah B. Sweet officiated. Interment was in Fairview Memorial Park in Elmhurst, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wayne County Unit of the American Cancer Society, Wayne Memorial Hospital Hospice Unit, 601 Park St., Honesdale, PA 18431 or the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center Patient Activities Fund, Golf Hill Road, Honesdale, PA 18431.

SHIRLEY ANN KAYS

Shirley Ann Kays of Beach Lake, PA died Monday October 8, 2007 at her home after a brief illness. She was 47.

The daughter of Marietta Appel Kays of Honesdale, PA and the late Harry Kays, she was born September 3, 1960 in Carbondale, PA.

Shirley was a nurse’s aid for several years in southern California and later in Rhode Island before returning to Honesdale where she worked at Ellen Memorial. A loving mother and grandmother, Shirley was known to many of her children’s friends as “Mom.” She enjoyed taking care of other grandchildren and other kids and was known as a “baby-sitter to all.”

She is survived by her son Dave Smith of Beach Lake; her daughters, Amy Martincak of Honesdale, Jessi Eldred and Annmarie “Fuzz” Eldred, both of Beach Lake; a stepdaughter, Marie Ann LaMon and husband Jay of Fieldsboro, NJ; “Mom Mom” and grandmother to Alexandra Jade Smith and Nathan Wayne LaMont; and her dog and best friend Malakai.

Her funeral was held Friday, October 12, 2007 at the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St., Honesdale. Interment was in Calkins Union Cemetery in Calkins, PA.

MARY OESTRICH

Mary Oestrich, a lifelong resident of Fernwood (Long Eddy), NY, passed away on October 9, 2007 at the Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY. She was 98.

The daughter of the late Ernest and Ida Bertha Tinklepaugh Emerich, she was born March 16, 1909 in Rock Valley, NY.

Mary was a homemaker until she and her late husband began Walt’s T.V. Sales & Service in Callicoon, NY where she worked side-by-side with Walter in the early days of local television. Mary was a member of the Rock Valley Church and a member and organist of the Hankins Methodist Church for many years. Mary and Walter had been married for 60 years on June 6, 1988.

Mary is survived by two daughters, Ethel Miller and husband Walter John of Jeffersonville, NY and Alice Hadley Fredo and husband Pat of Fremont Center, NY; two sisters-in-law, Katherine Lindberg of Fernwood, NY and Mabel Oestrich of Long Island, NY; three sons-in-law, Walter J. Miller of Jeffersonville, NY, Theodore Kutschera of Callicoon and Pat Fredo of Fremont Center; 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by four daughters, Eleanor Clark of Freeport, FL, Phyllis Schaefer of Jeffersonville, Irene Oestrich of Fernwood and Linda Kutschera of Callicoon; three sons-in-law, Clarence Schaefer, Walter Clark and Robert Hadley; one grandson, Gary Clark of Tennessee; two brothers, Emmett Emerich of Hancock, NY and Fred Emerich of Deposit, NY; and four sisters, Jennie Peterson of Spokane, WA, Thelma Hubbard of Otega, NY and Elizabeth and Emily Emerich.

Services were held at the Stewart Murphy Funeral Home on Saturday, October 13, 2007. The Reverend Dennis Ubertini officiated. Burial was made in the Rock Valley Cemetery in Rock Valley.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hankins Methodist Church, 20 Hankins St., Hankins, NY 12741 or the Delaware Youth Center, Creamery Road, Callicoon, NY 12723.

WILLIAM J. SKINNER JR

William J. Skinner Jr of Port Jervis, NY, a retired meter supervisor for Orange and Rockland Utilities and lifelong resident of the area, died Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Milford Senior Care & Rehabilitation Center. He was 91.

The son of the late William J. and the late Pearl L. Emery Skinner Sr., he was born on July 4, 1916 in Sparrowbush, NY.

Bill was married earlier in life to the Ursula Brown Skinner. She died on November 30, 1984. He later married Betty March Duffy Skinner who survives him. Growing up in Sparrowbush, he attended the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church and was a life member of the Sparrowbush Fire Department. A 1936 graduate of Port Jervis High School, he was an Army veteran of WW II. He served as a 1st Sgt and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and participated in five campaigns. He was a life member of the Roosa-Fleming VFW Post No. 161; member of the 29th Div. Association of WW II; member of the Battle of the Bulge Assoc.; life member and Past Master of Port Jervis Lodge No. 328, F & AM; Neversink Chapter No. 186, Royal Arch Masons; life member, Past Exalted Ruler and Past District Deputy of Elk´s Lodge No. 645; a life member of the Port Jervis Ambulance Corp; and a member of the Minisink Valley Historical Society.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Betty Skinner at home; a daughter, Joann S. Rogers and her husband James of Laguna Niguel, CA; grandson William J. Rogers and wife Sabrina of Frisco, TX; great-granddaughter Kaitlyn Rogers of Frisco, TX; step-daughter Ann M. Romeo and husband Jim of Milford, PA; step-son, Frank D. Duffy and wife Kay of Sanger, TX; step-grandchildren, Shane, Jennifer and Rebecca Gore of Milford, Frank Duffy of Dallas, TX, Patty Duffy of Little Elm, TX, J.R. and Carol Duffy of Lake Wallenpack, PA, Bonnie Clark of Cherry Hill, NJ and Julie Kohn of Mountainside, NJ; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Francis “Pete” Skinner; and two sisters, Martha Kent and Joan Kent.

Visitation and funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be at Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.

Contributions in memory of Bill Skinner may be made to the Relief Fund, Elks Lodge No. 645, PO Box W, Port Jervis, NY 12771 or Relief Fund, Port Jervis Masonic Lodge No. 328 F. & A. M, Sussex Street, P.O. Box 685, Port Jervis, NY 12771.

CAROLINE H. SMITH

Caroline H. Smith, a longtime Smallwood, NY resident and retired New York City public school teacher, died on Saturday, October 6, 2007 in the Amsterdam Nursing Home in New York City, NY. She was 96.

The daughter of Max and Mollie Henner, she was born in New York City on October 24, 1910.

Caroline was a member of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El, the Bethel chapter of Hadassah, the Mothers of Bethel and the Bethel chapter of AARP.

She is survived by a son, Frederick L. Smith of Allentown, NJ; a daughter, Marjorie E. Belson of Brooklyn, NY; granddaughter Esa Robbin Madoff and husband David; grandsons Joshua Stuart Smith and wife Jennifer and Matthew Belson and wife Jodi; and great-grandchildren, Samantha, Noah, Emma and Benjamin.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harry Smith.

Graveside funeral services were held on Thursday, October 11, 2007 in Temple Beth-El Cemetery, Bethel, NY.

HELEN E. STEPHENSON

Helen E. Stephenson, a longtime resident of Bethel, NY, passed away suddenly on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at her home. She was 64.

The daughter of John and Ethel Dotten Groenhoff, she was born on August 31, 1943 in Bronx, NY.

Helen was a department manager at Wal-Mart in Monticello, NY. A family statement reads, “Helen was a loving wife, mother and adoring grandmother and will be missed by all.”

She is survived by her mother, Ethel Dotten of Liberty, NY; her husband, Jesse Stephenson at home; one son, Robert Muller and wife Darlene of Liberty; three daughters, Deborah Somers and husband Walter of Liberty, Lisa Palmer and husband Clarence of Grahamsville, NY and Karoline Parks and husband Michael of White Sulphur Springs, NY; three stepchildren, David Stephenson of Monticello, Terrie Stephenson of Liberty and Keith Stephenson of Rock Hill, NY; a brother, Gary Dotten of Liberty; two sisters, Ann Smyth of Kingston, NY and Elizabeth Groenhoff of Ferndale, NY; seven grandchildren, Trina Vinnek, Helena Chico, Mallory Ruiz, Patrick Somers Jr., Thomas Muller, Jared Palmer and Grady Parks; one great-grandchild, Logan Gleitz; several nieces and nephews; and her ever-faithful canine companion, Samantha.

Funeral services were held at the Ramsay’s Funeral Home in Liberty on Wednesday, October 17, 2007. The Rev. Bridgette LeConey officiated. Burial was made in Laurel Hill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs.