HELEN COLE

Helen Cole of Columbia, KY and formerly of Equinunk, PA, died Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at the Westlake Regional Hospital in Columbia after an illness. She was 76.

She was the daughter of the lake Elwood and Stella Haynes Stalker of Equinunk. She attended the Purdy Separate Baptist Church in Columbia and was a member of the Pine Mill United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. She was retired from BardParker Medical Equipment in Hancock, NY.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Cole of Columbia; two sons, Elwood Cole of Stroudsburg, PA and Donald Cole Jr. of Beach Lake, PA; two sisters, Elnora Malone of Scottsdale, AZ and Dawn Gajeski of Brooking, OR; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and special friends Junior and Dorothy Holmes, Frank Neer, and Karola Grover, all of Columbia.

Funeral services were held Monday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home with the Rev. Alice Pedrone officiating. Burial will take place in the spring at Pine Mill Cemetery, Equinunk.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice House, 502 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

PATRICIA F. CRAWFORD

Patricia F. Crawford of Sparrowbush, NY, passed away Saturday, February 23, 2008 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, NY. She was 71.

Pat was born on December 9, 1936 in Sparrowbush, the daughter of the late Robert K. Felter Sr. and Anna Mortimer Felter. She married David L. Crawford Sr., who predeceased her. Patricia was a member of the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her two sons, David L. Crawford Jr. and wife Joy of Kenmore, NY and Lynn Crawford and wife Leslie of Port Jervis; two daughters, Joanne Juliano and her companion Gary Dew of Lake Peekskill, NY and Janice Nealis of Matamoras, PA; two brothers, Robert K. Felter of Lancaster, PA and James D. Felter of Basking Ridge, NJ; six grandchildren; her son-in-law William Nealis; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were held Wednesday, February 27 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis, with the Rev. Robert Mayer officiating. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sid’s Barn. Make checks payable to Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, write “Sids Barn” on memo line. Mail contribution to Sid’s Barn, c/o The Gazette, 158 Pike St., Port Jervis, NY 12771.

JOAN M. O’HARA HARRISON

Joan M. O’Hara Harrison, of Archbald, PA died on Friday, February 22, 2008 at Meese Countryside Hospital, Clearwater, FL. She was 78.

She was born in Scranton on June 25, 1929, the daughter of the late William J. and Alberta Weisenburg O’Hara. She was the wife of Eugene J. Harrison for 55 years. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Archbald. She was formerly a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital and Clarks Summit State Hospital and a board member of Catholic Social Services.

As well as her husband, she is survived by six sons: Timothy Harrison and Eileen Vargo, of Naples, FL; Kevin and wife Jane of Archbald, Bryan and wife Carol of Clarks Summit, Michael and wife Wendy of Forty Fort, John and wife Lynn, Archbald, and Patrick and wife Peggy, owner of Rasmussen Funeral Home and Furniture Store in Narrowsburg, NY; a brother, Robert O’Hara of Clinton Township, MI; 17 grandchildren and a niece. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Owen Peter Harrison.

The funeral will be on Thursday, February 28 at 10:30 a.m. from the Harrison Funeral Home, Archbald, with a mass at 11:00 a.m. in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Archbald. Interment will be in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow.

Memorial contributions may be made to Westchester Rehabilitation Hospital, Clearwater, FL.

JULANE EDYTHE MEYER

Julane Edythe Meyer of Beach Lake, PA, died on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, at her home. She was 76.

Her husband, Herbert R. Meyer, died in 1999.

Born December 13, 1931, in Clifton, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Edith Anne Kulich Pristas.

Surviving are a son, with whom she resided, John Meyer, of Beach Lake; four daughters, Julane Meyer of Arizona, Mary Meyer of Ohio, Jo-Anne Meyer-Herrera of New Jersey and Frances Meyer of Scranton, PA; a brother, Stephen Pristas of Pennsylvania; a sister, Patricia Pristas, of New Mexico; and several grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister, Virginia.

As per her request, cremation services will be private.

WILLIAM RIEGER

William Rieger, a longtime area resident, entered into rest on February 15, 2008 in Virginia Beach, VA. He was 88.

The son of Wilhelm and Else Protung Rieger, he was born January 21, 1920 in New York City, NY.

A retired poultry farmer, William was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #4478, Callicoon, NY, the Cochecton Ambulance Corps and Holy Cross Church in Callicoon, NY.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Bestenheider Rieger, at home; children, William Rieger Jr. of Callicoon, NY, Susan Pointer and husband Richard of Pleasant Valley, NY, Steven Rieger and wife Lore of Wilmington, DE, Michael Rieger and wife Karen of Virginia Beach, VA, Mary Priebe and husband, Richard Jr. of Beach Lake, PA; his “adopted” daughter, Julie McCormick and husband Danny and their children, Robert and Shannon; seventeen grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, February 23 at Holy Cross Church in Callicoon with Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be in Conklin Hill Cemetery, Conklin Hill, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Lake Huntington, NY 12752, or Holy Cross Church, Callicoon, NY 12723.

DOUGLAS F. ROMER SR

Douglas F. Romer Sr., a salesman for Gasko & Meyers in Lake Huntington, NY and lifelong area resident, died February 22, 2008 at home.

The son of Charles A. and Marion F. Bennett Romer Jr., he was born May 25, 1938 in Maybrook, NY.

He was a United States Air Force veteran serving from 1955 to 1962, and a member of the Walden VFW, the American Legion Post in Newburgh and a bowling league in New Windsor.

Survivors include his wife, Doris V. Scott Romer; three sons, Douglas Romer Jr. of Middle Hope, NY, Brian Douglas Romer of Georgia and Greg A. Romer of Montgomery, NY; seven daughters, Teresa Malonsen of Houston, TX, Kathy Davenport of Dallas, TX, Brenda Ferguson of Dallas, Denise Cooper of New Mexico, Beth MacNear of Walden, NY and Lisa Sowers of Marlboro, NY; five brothers, George Romer of Walden, Charles A. Romer III of Ardonia, Donald Romer of Florida, Raymond Romer of Florida and Wayne Romer of Modena, NY; one sister, Charlotte Sorrentino of South Carolina; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 27 at Gridley-Horan Funeral Home Inc. in Walden with the Rev. Brian King officiating. Cremation will be in Cedar Hill Crematory, Newburgh, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

VERONICA SIMONSON

Veronica Simonson of Lackawaxen, PA died February 7, 2008 in the Wayne Memorial Hospital after an illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Simonson.

Born in Bloomington Township, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Martha Smith Whritenour. She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Shohola, PA.

Surviving are a brother, Roger; and a sister, Pauline, both of West Milford, NJ.

Also preceding her in death were two brothers and five sisters.

A Memorial Mass was celebrated on Saturday, February 23 at St. Ann’s Church in Shohola.