LEAH BRANNING

Leah Branning of Honesdale, PA, died Tuesday, March 24, 2009 in the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center Honesdale, PA. She was 89.

She was married to the late Arnold Branning, who died in 1980.

Leah was born in Hancock, NY, the daughter of the late Leo and Lilian Rose Schuman.

She was a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Leah attended the Pine Mill Methodist Church.

She is survived by two sisters, Grace Kean of Equinunk, PA and Ilene Meckle of Narrowsburg, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Marie.

In accordance with Leah’s wishes, there will be a private funeral service to be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in the Pine Mill Cemetery, Pine Mill, PA.

GLADYS DEGROAT

Gladys DeGroat of Cuddebackville, NY, a lifetime resident of the area, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at Park Manor Rehabilitation Center. She was 109.

She was born in Westbrookville, NY, the daughter of the late David and the late Mary Culver Platt. She was married to the late Millard DeGroat. He died August 24, 1981.

Survivors include one grandson, Chester Sparling and his wife Joann of Glen Spey, NY; three granddaughters, Beverly Walsh and her husband Richard of Liberty, NY, Barbara Cisco of New Providence, PA and Gladys Turell of Otisville, NY; nine great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; six great-great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two daughters, Dora Sparling and Beatrice DeGroat.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 28 at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis, NY. Burial was in Westbrookville Cemetery, Westbrookville, NY.

LISA ERNST

Lisa Ernst of Cochecton, NY, a 27-year resident of the area and retired co-owner of Ernst’s Pastry Shop in Glendale, Queens, died March 27, 2009, at home. She was 80.

The daughter of the late Heinrich and Ida Bohnsack Rappe, she was born August 15, 1928 in Hildesheim, Germany.

Lisa was a member of the Jeffersonville Lutheran Church, Jeffersonville, NY.

Survivors include her husband, Willi Ernst, at home; one son, Michael Ernst and his wife Kathy of Union, NJ; two granddaughters, April Ernst and Monica Ernst of Union, NJ; and one sister, Irmgard Tiessen of Hildesheim, Germany.

Private funeral services were held at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville, NY, with Pastor Kit Robison of the Jeffersonville Lutheran Church officiating.

WILLIAM D. GANZ

William D. Ganz of Lake Worth, FL, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2009, at the Robert Jay Lauer Hospice Center, Atlantis, FL. He was 89.

He was born on April 27, 1919 in Matamoras, PA, the son of the late William John Ganz and Lottie Wilson-Ganz.

Mr. Ganz was a lifelong resident of Sparrowbush, NY until his move to Florida in 2005. Bill was a retired gas foreman for Orange and Rockland Utilities. His proudest accomplishment was serving his country as a tech sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served his community as a volunteer firefighter for the Sparrowbush Fire Department and was also a life member of the Elks Lodge #645, Port Jervis, NY, the V.F.W. Post #161, lifelong member of the Sparrowbush Methodist Church and a member of the Run-A-Muck Hunting Club.

Mr. Ganz is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty M. Ganz; a son, David Ganz and wife Patricia; a daughter, Nancy McKeague and husband Steve; two sisters, Catherine Canfield and husband Martin, and Margaret Tarkett and husband Jim; a brother, Russell Ganz, and wife, Claire; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held Friday, March 27 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis, NY. Interment was in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sparrowbush Fire Department or the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church.

MARIE M. MEYER

Marie M. Meyer, a longtime resident of Cochecton, NY and formerly Saddle Brook, NJ passed away at Catskill Regional Medical Center on March 30, 2009. She was 89.

She was born in New York City on March 30, 1920 to the late William and Minnie Roth Weingartner.

She was the widow of Charles A. Meyer, who had passed away on September 18, 1997. Marie was a member of Our Lady of The Lake RC Church, Lake Huntington, NY and of its Rosary Society, and a former member of Saint Philip the Apostle Church and in Saddle Brook and its Rosary Society.

A family statement read, “Marie enjoyed gardening, dancing, crocheting, visiting with her many friends, flying in her son’s plane, swimming in the pond and was always a fantastic cook. She loved her sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but most of all her husband of 54 years, her beloved Charlie.”

She is survived by her three sons, Robert Meyer and his wife Kathleen of Cochecton, and Charles Meyer and his wife Mary Ann and Stephen Meyer and his wife Joanne, all of Oak Ridge, NJ; 10 grandchildren, Terri Devizzio. Kristen King, Melissa Butte, Charles Meyer, Jamie Lynn Meyer, Jessica Strauch, Shannon Chapman, Robert Meyer, Stephen Meyer and Michael Meyer; 13 great-grandchildren; brother John Weingartner and his wife Irene; goddaughter Debra Parisi; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, April 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 90 Main Street, Narrowsburg, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday April 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lake RC Church, Lake Huntington, Rev. William Scully O.F.M. will officiate. Burial will be in Laurel Cemetery, Cochecton Center, NY.

Donations may he made to Our Lady of the Lake RC Church, c/o St. Francis Xavier RC Church, 151 Bridge St. Narrowsburg, NY 12764, or the Town of Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corp Inc. PO Box 4, Lake Huntington, NY 12752.

DONALD JAMES TEGELER

Donald James Tegeler, formerly of Jeffersonville, NY, died Thursday, March 26, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 67.

The son of the late Edson J. and Mary Huff Tegeler, he was born on July 21, 1941 in Callicoon, NY.

Mr. Tegeler was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and an avid sports and music fan. He was fortunate to spend many decades in the radio broadcasting business in New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

He is survived by two sisters, Mary Margaret Kasiewicz and husband Richard of West Redding, CT, and Kathleen Ambrosino and husband Tom of Neversink, NY; a sister-in-law, June Tegeler of Jeffersonville; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, William D. Tegeler and Thomas F. Tegeler.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25 at St. George’s R.C. Church, Jeffersonville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Connecticut Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, One Selleck Street, Suite 500, Norwalk, CT 06855.