NORMAN L. LOEFFEL

Norman L. Loeffel passed away peacefully from heart failure on September 2, 2008 in Dade City, FL. He was 92.

Norm was born February 21, 1916 in Jersey City, NJ to Henry G. and Madeline Leslie Loeffel.

He grew up in Liberty, NY and served in Europe during WWII.

He married Lillian Myers on March 14, 1948. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Norm’s first and lifelong love was music. He ran his own business, Loeffel’s Music Center, renting and repairing musical instruments. He played tenor saxophone and organ in the Norm Loeffel Band, which played weddings and dances in Sullivan County, NY for decades. Norm built his own house in Kenoza Lake, NY and then did it again in Zephyrhills, FL.

He was a prankster, master of the pancake griddle and barbeque grill, fisherman, camper, handyman and lover of life. He loved people and people loved him. He will be missed.

He is survived by his wife; daughter Leslie Loeffel and son-in-law David Deutch of Fruit Heights, UT; and several nieces and nephews.

Donations can be sent to the Kenoza Lake United Methodist Church, Kenoza Lake, NY 12750.

BARBARA JANE MAKARENKO

Barbara Jane Makarenko died peacefully on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, NY. Barbara spent her last seven years on dialysis. She was 72.

It was Barbara’s faith, the wonderful care that she received and the love for her family that gave her the strength to fight as long as she did.

She was born on September 26, 1935 at Hackensack Hospital in Hackensack, NJ to the late Henry John Hazen and Mabel Wilhelmina Pankow.

Barbara attended Midland Park, NJ schools and was a longtime resident of Ramsey, NJ while her children were young. She moved to upstate NY and then spent the last 10 years in Milford and Shohola, PA.

Barbara worked as a waitress and as a color matcher for Revlon and Clairol.

She loved music, dancing, animals, her dogs Navaho Sunrise and Navaho Sunset, the ocean, nature and Maine with all its blueberries. Most of all, she loved her children. All those who knew Barbara will remember her infectious smile and happy personality. We will all feel the loss of such a wonderful woman.

She is predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, Henry and Nicholas.

She is survived by her husband of 16 years, Nicholas Makarenko of Shohola, PA; her twin brother, Barry “Bing” Hazen and his wife June of West Milford, NJ; sister-in-law Mary Hazen of Sanford, ME; her children, Larry W. Calabrese and his wife Beth of Pine Bush, NY, Noreen A. Joly and her husband Gerald of Union, ME, Moreen A. Pinto and her husband John of Milford and Michael J. Heslep and his fiancé Lori Christopher; her grandchildren, David and his wife Karen, Peggy and her husband John, Larry Jr. and his wife Nicole, Joseph C., Kayla, Jacquelyn, John Jr., Joseph, Domenique and Charles; her great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Devon, Ashleigh, Isabella, Abigail and Landon; ex-husband Charles Heslep; friend Maureen Bonkowski; cousin Ruth Philpot; nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews; and many friends.

Services were held on Saturday, September 6 at the St. Vincent DePaul Church in Milford, PA. Reverend Paul Mullen officiated.Donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation.

ROBERT WILLIAM WEIDEN

Robert W. Weiden, son of Mathias H.J. Weiden and Ernstine Heckert Weiden, died September 5, 2008 at Wayne Woodlands Manor Nursing Home in Waymart, PA after a seven-year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Robert was a loving father, dedicated educator and devout Catholic throughout his life. His extraordinary example has influenced many.

Robert believed strongly in preserving the heritage both of his family and New York State. He was a life member of the Sullivan County Historical Society, the Tusten Historical Society, and the Tusten Settlement Association. Robert also contributed to the Cochecton Preservation Society, the Cochecton Center Community Center, the Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance, the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills, and the International House Friendship Program. He spent many years caring for the family home, Neweiden, in Narrowsburg, along with his brothers and their families, where a Christmas Tree Farm was in operation until several years ago.

Robert was an active member of the Roman Catholic Church Communities of St. Barnabas, Bronx; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Yorktown Heights; St. Francis Xavier, Narrowsburg, and St. Anthony’s in Yulan (all in NY). He was a Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Barnabas and was instrumental in its creation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish and St. Anthony’s. He was a member of the Catholic Teachers Organization, a life member of the United Federation of Teachers and a member of ANYSEED (Association of NYS Education of the Emotionally Disturbed).

His compassion and dignity will be sorely missed by his devoted wife, Mary Duerr Weiden of Narrowsburg, NY; his daughters and their families, Elizabeth Weiden Philipbar of Poughkeepsie, NY, her husband Patrick, and their children Emma and Theodore, and Ann Maria Weiden Lowe of Gastonia, NC, her husband Brian and their son William; his sisters-in-law Marie Weiden of Chapel Hill. NC and Betty Weiden of Valhalla, NY; his Duerr sisters and brothers-in-law in Arkansas, California, and Oregon; and many nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends.

He was welcomed into heaven by his parents; brothers Matthias and Peter; and cousin Ann Sparks.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 12:00 noon on Monday, September 8, 2008 at St. Francis Xavier RC Church, Narrowsburg, with Rev. William Scully O.F.M. officiating. Burial took place in the parish cemetery.

Donations can be made to St. Francis Xavier Outreach Program or the Food Pantry, 151 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764.