RAQUEL CRUZ

Raquel Cruz of Port Jervis, NY, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2008 with her family by her side. She was 76.

She was born February 9, 1932 in Puerto Rico, the daughter of the late Esteban and the late Concepcion Ribie Mercado.

A family statement reads: “Raquel was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a devoted Christian who loved Jesus. She loved to cook and enjoyed gardening. She was a very kind person that would be the first person to lend a hand to help someone in need. She will be greatly missed.”

She is survived by her husband, Gilberto Cruz, at home; three sons, Hector Vega of Port Jervis, Felix Vega of Newburgh, NY and Gilberto Cruz Jr. of Newburgh; three daughters, Alma Perez of Middletown, NY, Raquel Ortiz of Pfafftown, NC and Blanca Karcher of Anaheim, CA; one brother, Esteban Mercado of Georgia; four sisters, Christina Mercado of Puerto Rico, Casta Mercado of Jersey City, NJ, Haydee Irizarry of Maryland and Rosin Mecado of Sparrowbush, NY; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 5, 2008 in the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis, with Pastor John Torres officiating. Burial was at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis.

ROSEMARY A. DELANOY

Rosemary A. Delanoy of Milford, PA, passed away Thursday, July 3, 2008 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, NY. She was 82.

She was a retired director of nursing for St. Agnes Hospital, White Plains, NY.

The daughter of the late Patrick and Agnes Meier Sweeney, she was born June 7, 1926 in Hazelton, PA. She was married to the late Robert E. Delanoy on January 20, 1951 in Hazelton, PA. She was a member of St. Ann’s Church, Shohola, PA.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Cosentino and husband Charles of Milford; granddaughter Jennifer Cosentino of Milford; grandson Robert Cosentino and his wife Nicole of Shohola; great-granddaughter Lily; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one brother and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Ann’s Church, Shohola, on Tuesday, July 8, with Rev. Thomas Major officiating. Burial took place in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Shohola.

ELFRIEDE DIETZ

Elfriede S. Dietz of Beach Lake, PA died Monday July 7, 2008 at her home after an illness. She was 73.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Erwin E. Dietz. The couple married August 18, 1956.

Born December 23, 1934 in Hausen-Rhoen, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Otto and Beate Trabert Link. A homemaker, Elfriede also worked as a seamstress in different companies. She enjoyed the outdoors and skiing with her husband. She was a member of the Lake Wallenpaupack German American Club and of St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church in Beach Lake.

Also surviving is her son Edward and wife Mary of Queens, NY; brothers Hilmar Link and wife Edith of Queens, Werner and wife Gerda and Bernd and wife Ursula, all of Germany; grandchildren Michael and Allison; and caretaker Anne Doherty.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday July 10, 2008 at St. Bernard’s R. C. Church in Beach Lake at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be Friday at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, NY.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL.17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.

HARRY JOSEPH FISHER

Harry Joseph Fisher, a lifetime resident of Hortonville, NY, died Sunday, July 6, 2008 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, NY. He was 76.

The son of Charles and Catherine Kutsher Fisher, he was born October 30, 1931 in the town of Delaware.

Harry was a retired inspector and 31-year employee for the NYS Department of Transportation. He was a member of the Tamarack Hunting Club; former member of the Hortonville Fire Department and a U.S. Navy veteran.

Survivors include his children, Joan Canfield of Damascus, PA, James Fisher of Copenhagen, NY, Thomas Fisher of Callicoon, NY and Cathy Fisher of North Carolina; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by 12 brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 11, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon.

Funeral services will follow at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Cremation will be private.

CAROLYN M. 'NANA' HESS

Carolyn M. “Nana” Hess went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT. She was 66.

She was a former resident of Middletown, NY and a four-year resident of East Haven, CT.

The daughter of the late Roy W. Ehly and Clara M. Whitmore Ehly, she was born on February 21, 1942 in Paterson, NJ.

She was a retired cook for Orange County Community College in Middletown.

A family statement reads: “Carolyn had an immeasurable love for her family and friends, which she expressed through her beautiful paintings, words of encouragement and gentle smile. She was an inspiration to all who met her. Her faith in the Lord touched the lives of so many people throughout her life’s journey.”

Survivors include her sons, Chris Errico of Nolensville, TN, John Errico of Milford, PA and Mark Errico of Newtown, CT; daughters Kim Perdomo of Bethel, NY, Tammy Errico of East Haven, CT and Susan Alejandro of Greenwood Lake, NY; and 13 grandchildren, Michael, Kristen, Regina, Caitlyn, Lindsay, Ryan, Daniel, Andre, Shaina, Trevor, Steven, Colin and Jessica.

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Avenue, Monroe, NY. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home, with Pastor Jose Perdomo and Pastor Joseph McKelvey officiating. Interment will follow in St. Anastasia Cemetery in Harriman, NY.

GARY J. KAVAKOS

Gary J. Kavakos of Sparrowbush, NY, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2008 after a valiant battle with T Cell Lymphoma. He was 53.

He was born September 28, 1954 in Oceanside, NY. He served three years in the U.S. Army during Vietnam and became a firefighter in NYC in 1978. Additional interests were drag racing, skiing and anything that featured speed. He and his wife bred and showed Welsh Springer Spaniels.

Survivors include his loving wife, Teri, at home; his mother, Lois Carr of Auburn, CA; his father, Peter T. Kavakos of Coram, LI; stepson Christopher Sacco of Collins, NY; two brothers, Ted Kavakos of Walnut Creek, CA and Bob Calderone of Ridgecrest, CA; sister Paula Richardson and her husband Michael of Walnut Creek, CA; two nieces, Kelly Scholes and Suzanne Richardson; aunts and uncles; cousins; and two loving dogs, Flame and Isis.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, Isabelle and Ray Morine and Theodore and Claire Kavakos; and his uncle Harold Morine.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 5, 2008 in the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Inc., Port Jervis, with Pastor Amy Garrett officiating.

Cremation was at H.G. Smith Crematory, Stroudsburg, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the DRAW Treasurer, 3221 Rosewood Court, Davie, FL, 33328.

SOL LOEWENSTEIN

Sol Loewenstein of Brookeville, MD, formerly of Hortonville, NY and Callicoon, NY, died at home on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, of a heart attack. He was 93.

Born in New York City on September 10, 1914, he was the only child of the late Sigmund and Bertha Loewenstein.

After high school, he attended Rutgers College, taking courses in animal husbandry and farming. A veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion, he and his wife Ruth moved to a farm in Hortonville in the 1940s. Later they had a farm in Callicoon. Prior to retiring, they farmed in Cuddebackville.

Mr. Loewenstein served as a multiple residence inspector for Sullivan County.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth, at home; daughters Beth Don and her husband Michael, also at home, and Sue Loewenstein and her husband Ernst Harting of Robesonia, PA; grandsons Jay Don and wife Holly of Rosemount, MN and Ethan Don and wife Alanna of Miami Beach; great-grandson Josh of Rosemount; and granddaughter Rebecca Harting of Robesonia.

His son, Seth Loewenstein, died in Callicoon in 1950.

Arrangements are private.

A celebration of life lunch will be held in September in Brookeville.

ARLINE LUSTENBERGER

Arline Lustenberger of Smallwood, NY, died at her home on Saturday, July 5, 2008. She was 78.

The daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth Green Elz, she was born in New York City, on September 1, 1929. She was the widow of the late Fred Lustenberger.

Arline was a retired bookkeeper for Edo Corp. in College Point, NY.

Survivors include her son, Rick Connors and his wife Joellen of Ridgefield, CT; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Courtney and Kathleen Connors.

The family will receive friends at the White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 10, from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. David Coon officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.