MAUREEN SCHEUTZOW ALDRICH

Maureen Scheutzow Aldrich of Jeffersonville, NY, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Orange Regional medical Center, Horton Campus in Middletown, NY after a brief battle with kidney cancer. She was 43.

The daughter of Mary and Jim Scheutzow, Maureen was born January 31, 1966 in Liberty, NY. She graduated from the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School with the class of 1986.

Maureen worked enthusiastically with her husband Bruce in training their horses at the Aldrich Sr. Racing Stables at Monticello Raceway.

Maureen is survived by her husband; sons John and Nicholas Simon; parents Mary and Jim Scheutzow; brothers Michael and partner Paul Burke and Steve and wife Jan; and children Amanda, Peter and Jack. She is also survived by her husband’s children, Bruce and April Aldrich and Shelly and John Hallett; and their four children, Jesse and Jonathan and Brianna and Jorden.

Friends are invited to call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville (845/482-4280) on Monday, December 21, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, December 22 at St. George’s Catholic Church in Jeffersonville.

Donations may be made to the Kidney Cancer Assn. at www.KidneyCancer.org.

EUGENIA LA ROCCA

Mrs. Eugenia La Rocca of Shohola, PA, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2009 at Belle Reve. She was 96.

She was born May 10, 1913 in New York City, the daughter of the late Charles and the late Anna Fedak Canolla. She worked as a supervisor for AT&T in New York for many years.

Surviving are her niece Lucille and husband John; nephew Dominick La Rocca; great nephew John M. Nikolai; and great grand nieces Michaella Yeutter and Melinda Whisler.

She was predeceased by her husband, John La Rocca.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Ann’s R.C. Church, Shohola, PA with the Rev. Thomas Major officiating. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside.

MILDRED ‘SHEA’ PLESS

Mildred “Shea” Pless of Monticello, NY passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, NY. She was 84.

She was born September 2, 1925 in New Jersey. She had worked as a waitress at the Homestead Restaurant in Bridgeville, NY and as a cook for the Monticello Central Schools, and was a member of the Eldred and Glen Spey Senior Citizens.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Robert A. Pless at home; son Robert M. Pless and wife Debbie of Virginia Beach, VA; daughter Lynn Whalen and husband Bill of Monticello; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother, Michael O’Shea.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 23 at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, Kauneonga Lake, NY with The Rev. Ivan Csete officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Bethel, NY.

BARBARA A. SANTANGELO

Barbara A. Santangelo, 68, of Montgomery, NY died Saturday, December 19, 2009, at home after a courageous battle with cancer.

Barbara was born June 29, 1941 in Queens, the daughter of the late Thomas P. Lamb and Ann (O’Shea) Lamb.

She was employed as chief information systems officer at Middletown State Hospital, Middletown NY. Prior to that, she was a program analyst and quantitative analyst and statistician for the NYC Department of Mental Health and Retardation.

She married to Martin L. Zeitchick, and together they built a beautiful home and retirement, including involvement in the K-9 Bandaiders with their dogs, Bonnie and Clyde, the Metropolitan Maltese Rescue of the NY Metro area. They fostered three dogs and adopted their Maltese-Bichon Friese mix, Ollie.

Barbara is survived by her husband Martin, at home; sons Carlo and wife Kirsten of Goshen, NY and Christopher and wife Jennifer of Montgomery; grandchildren Landon and Chloe of Montgomery; sister Patty Ann Croissant of Mongaup Valley, NY; nephews Billy Croissant and Michael Croissant, both of Mongaup Valley; and her dog Ollie.

She was predeceased by her parents; and sister Carol Lamb.

Graveside services and burial was held on Wednesday, December 23 at Hamptonburgh Cemetery, Hamptonburgh, NY.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550; or the Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, PO Box 20395, New York, NY 10011.

DALE H. SWENDSEN

Dale H. Swendsen of Manheim, PA, formerly of Milanville, PA, died Monday December 14, 2009 at home. He was 52.

He is survived by his wife, the former Trudy L. Vail.

Dale was born in Sussex, NJ, the son of Alberta Dunn Swendsen of Milanville and the late William Swendsen. He graduated from Damascus High School in 1975. Dale was a member of the Beach Lake United Methodist Church. Dale operated a dairy farm with his wife for over 20 years. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and deer hunting.

He is also survived by children Danita and husband Robert Brooks of Owego NY, Matthew, Nicholas, Angela and Sandra Swendsen, all at home; brothers Rick Swendsen and wife Cindy of Cooperstown, PA, Harvey Swendsen and wife Carla of Milanville and Gary Swendsen of Milanville; sister Lori Heckman and husband Perry of Mohrsville, PA; grandchildren Aiden and Madelyn Brooks of Owego.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Lloyd and Fred.

Funeral services were held on Friday, December 18 in the Calkins Union Baptist Church, Calkins PA with the Rev. Lane Jones officiating.

Interment will be in the Calkins Cemetery.

There was a reception in Dale’s memory on Monday, December 21 in the fellowship hall at Chiques Church of the Brethren, 4045 Sunnyside Road, Manheim, PA 17545.

ROBERT C. THOMSON SR

Robert C. Thomson Sr. of YuIan, NY, a longtime resident of the area, died Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at home. He was 70.

The son of the late William and Janet Dickson Thomson, he was born January 26, 1939 in Passaic, NJ.

Robert was a retired plumber for Local Union 24 and was code enforcement officer for the Town of Highland. A family statement reads: “Robert was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a big part of the family and will dearly be missed.”

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Gloria Krosnicki Thomson; son Robert C. Thomson Jr. and wife Amy of Carlstadt, NJ; daughter Lisa Pisciotta and husband Steve of Rutherford, NJ; grandchildren Michael Pisciotta, Steve Pisciotta, Peter Pisciotta and Robert C. Thomson III; sister Elizabeth Imsande; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Robert is predeceased by his brother William Thomson Jr.

The funeral service was held at 8:00 p.m. at the Harrison-Rasmussen Funeral Home, Route 97, Barryville, NY. Nancy Vonderhorst officiated. Cremation followed at Maple Hill Crematory. Archbald. PA..

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, NY 12401.