RUSS D’AMBRA

Russ D’Ambra, a resident of Waymart, PA for the past 10 years, died Saturday at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA after a lengthy illness. He was 69.

His wife of 17 years is the former Beth Gasker.

Born in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Mary Torisi D’Ambra.

He graduated from high school in Brooklyn and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Engaged in farming, he resided in Beach Lake, PA on the family homestead for most of his life. He was a talented woodworker and enjoyed making furniture with his son.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Ensign Adam J. D’Ambra, USN, South Carolina; brother Santo V. D’Ambra of Florida; stepsons Wayne and Jason Kenyon of Honesdale, PA; two brother-in-laws; four sister-in-laws; nieces and nephews; and life-time friends Paul and Mel Meyers of New York.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Helen D’Ambra.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 6 at the Jenkins Funeral Home, Waymart, officiated by the Rev. Kenneth Buckwalter, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Honesdale.

Interment was in Canaan Corners Cemetery.

ELLA BARTHOLOMEW

Ella Bartholomew of Youngsville, NY passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 28, 2009. She was 96.

Born on October 3, 1913 in Youngsville, she was the daughter of the late Fritz and Caroline Sammann. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Muzuruk of Youngsville; grandchildren Dwight Muzuruk and wife Debbie of Callicoon Center, NY, Douglas Muzuruk and wife Kerri of Youngsville, Scott Bartholomew and wife Terri of Greene, NY, Louise Hurlburt and husband Guy of Greene; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a very special great-nephew.

She was predeceased by her husband Chester L. Bartholomew; son Frederick E. Bartholomew; and brothers Julius, William and Edmund Sammann.

Funeral services were on Saturday, January 2, at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville.

Donations may be made to the Youngsville United Reformed Church, c/o Patricia Norris, PO Box 251, Youngsville, NY 12791.

FRED W. DEFEO JR

Fred W. DeFeo Jr. of Eldred, NY , a longtime resident of the area, died Sunday, January 3, 2010 at Sullivan County Adult Care Center, Liberty, NY. He was 85.

The son of Fred E. and Pearl E. Owen DeFeo, he was born November 23, 1924 in Clifton, NJ. He was married to Pamela Fischetti DeFeo for 61 years, who survives.

Fred was a retired president of Comex Clearing Association in Manhattan and had worked in the Twin Towers. Fred was a WWII U.S. Army veteran. He was in the 106th infantry and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the Eldred Methodist Church; the VFW Eldred; American Legion, Eldred; Lions Club; and the Highland Seniors in Eldred.

A family statement reads: “Fred was a loving husband, brother and uncle. He was a fun-loving guy who had a heart of gold. He will greatly be missed.”

He is survived by his wife Pamela; sister Alice D. Riker and husband Robert of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ; and nephew Robert Riker Jr. and wife JoAnn.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 6 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday, January 7 from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the Harrison-Rasmussen Funeral Home, 3412 Route 97, Barryville, NY 12719.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Linda Bohs officiating.

Burial will take place in Montoza Cemetery , Eldred, NY.

Donations may be made to the American Legion Ambulance Service, PO Box 63, Eldred , NY 12732.

EVA EVANS FURK

Eva Evans Furk of Cochecton, NY, formerly of Pennsylvania, died Sunday, December 27, 2009 in the Kindred Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, PA after a lengthy illness. She was 73.

She and her husband Paul Furk celebrated 23 years of marriage on July 4, 2009.

She was born in Magdeburg, Germany. She was an honorary member of the Stony Brook Hunting Club, Cochecton, and prior to retirement was self employed as an independent upholsterer.

Also surviving are sons John Frank Evans of Moscow, PA, Michael Jeffrey Evans of Lake Ariel, PA, Mark Doster Evans of Honesdale, PA, Todd James Evans of Scranton, PA and Frank James Evans and wife Lisa of Beach Lake, PA; brothers Clause and Horst, both of Germany; 11 grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by son Glenn Warren Evans; and daughter Claudia Moell.

Funeral services and interment was held privately at the convenience of the family.

Contributions can be made in her memory to the Stony Brook Hunting Club, 41 Brook Road, Cochecton, NY 12726-5202 or to the Town of Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corp Inc., PO Box 4, Lake Huntington, NY 12752.

ELLA B. MILLS

Ella B. Mills of Calkins, PA passed away Thursday, December 24, 2009 at home. She was 63.

Ella was born in Weston, OR of the late Daniel and Permelia Conklin Grey.

Ella was a member of the Calkins Union Baptist Church and a graduate of Damascus High School. She worked hard on the farm in Calkins with her husband for many years. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed berry picking. She had many cats and dogs. Ella took in several foster children and cared for them as her own.

She is survived by daughters Nettie Joyce Else and Judith E. Warnott, both of Calkins, and Rebecca Tyler of White Mills, PA; one brother and three sisters from a family of 12; grandchildren Stephanie, James, Charles, Raymond, Curtis, Torrey, Isaac, Lydia, Michael and Brianna; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Mills; a daughter Carolyn; and a grandson Wesley .

Funeral services were held on Saturday January 2, 2009 in the Calkins Union Baptist Church with Rev. Lane Jones officiating.

PHILAMENA (FAY) FIRENZE

Philamena (Fay) Firenze of Callicoon, NY passed away on Monday, December 28, 2009 at Achieve Nursing Home in Liberty, NY. She was 95.

She was the widow of the late Robert Firenze; they were married for 35 years.

She is survived by her daughter, Judith McCauley and husband Robert of Callicoon; and son Robert Firenze and wife Patricia of Bloomington, IN; grandchildren Robert Firenze Jr. and wife Linda and Douglas Firenze, all of Bloomington, IN, Gina Bartolotta and Kristie Stauch and husband Scott, all of Callicoon; five great grandchildren; step-grandchildren Robert McCauley and wife Betty of Bethel, NY, Michael McCauley and wife Cindy and son Matthew of Bethel and Lynn Monroe and husband Robby and sons Ryan and Dylan of Dacula, GA.

A Funeral Mass was held on Monday, January 4 at St. Anthony’s Church, 36 West Nyack Rd., Nanuet, NY. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Nanuet.

JOHN HENRY SPOERRI

John Spoerri of Narrowsburg, NY, via New York City, died December 28, 2009 after a long bout with Parkinson’s disease. He was 77.

John was born in NYC to Emil and Maria Spoerri.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army in the Korean era. He then worked as an art teacher at Brooklyn Tech and at Stuyvesant High School, touching the lives of several thousand students in his long career. John was also an accomplished painter, exhibiting his work in many New York art galleries. His large family, loved ones, friends and colleagues will deeply miss this warm, charismatic and gentle man.

John is survived by his children Stefan, Johanna, Elizabeth and Paul; two grandsons Emil and Mark; brothers William and Max; and wife Marjory.

A memorial will take place in the spring.

ERNEST J. WAGNER SR

Ernest J. Wagner, Sr. of Belleair, FL, formerly of Middletown, NY passed away peacefully on December 20, 2009. He was 85.

He was born in Callicoon, NY on December 28, 1923 to Margaret Sheehan and Adolph Wagner. He grew up in Middletown, the Bronx and College Point, Long Island.

Ernie served with the U.S. Army in World War II and went ashore on the 1st assault wave, known as the Big Red One, Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His battles included Normandy, The Battle of the Bulge, The Ardennes, Central Europe Rhineland. He was awarded many medals, among them, the Bronze Star and the Croix de Guerre for exemplary bravery by the Belgium Government in Brussels.

As Ernie entered the last town of the war, Loket, Czechoslovakia, he met and fell in love with Arnoska Richterova, whom later became his war bride. In 1946 they came to America. Ernie was known for his patriotism and his great sense of humor. He was always helping others. He loved boating at Lake George and the Gulf of Mexico. He also enjoyed working with wood and making furniture. His wife’s family in Europe was like his own.

He is survived by his wife, Arnoska (Anna) Wagner of Belleair, FL; daughter Margaret Curabba of Belleair; sons Ernest J. Wagner Jr. and wife Emmy of Point Pleasant, NJ and Ronald H. Wagner and wife Lisa of Chester, NY; grandsons Todd Curabba and wife Rhonda of Dade City, FL, Jason Curabba and wife Dawn of Shohola, PA, Steven of Point Pleasant and Michael and Nicole Wagner of Chester; five great-grandchildren; sister Kay Pearson and husband Bob of Kelseyville, CA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by brothers Barney, Charles, Adolph, Otto, Eddie, Phil and Art.

Cremation was private. A Memorial Celebration of Ernie’s life will be announced at a later date.

JANET W. WILSON

Janet W. Wilson of Beach Lake, PA passed away on Monday December 28, 2009 at the Lehigh Valley Medical Center, Allentown, PA. She was 76.

She and her husband, Robert W. Wilson, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 2 of this year.

She was born in Honesdale, PA to the late Earl M. and Mabel L. Lutz Wilcox.

Janet owned and operated a school bus for 38 years and was formerly employed by Katz Underwear Co. She was an active member of the Beach Lake United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and a member of the choir. Janet enjoyed shopping and word puzzling, and especially enjoyed her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Holly Nober of Beach Lake, Judy Wilson Cain of Independence, MO and Pamela S. Wilson of Damascus, PA; grandchildren Charles Nober of Honesdale, April Henshaw of Beach Lake and Ashley Nober of Beach Lake; four great-granddaughters; and one great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Bobby Wilcox.

Funeral services were held on Monday, January 4, 2010 in the Beach Lake United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark Terwilliger officiating.

Contributions can be made to the Beach Lake United Methodist Church, PO Box 387, Milanville Road, Beach Lake, PA 18405 and the Dessin Animal Shelter, 138 Miller Drive, Honesdale, PA, 18431