Ruth Novak, 90, mother, homemaker
ALBANY—Ruth M. Novak, 90, a resident of Delmar Place in Delmar died Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn.
Born in Stuyvesant Falls, February 1, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Martha (Knitt) Schools.
Mrs. Novak was a homemaker.
She is survived by: her daughter, Jill Mary Novak of Santa Fe, NM; a son, Paul R. Novak, Sr. of Albany; two sisters, Marion Thorpe of Delmar and Jeanette Shannon of Stuyvesant Falls; two brothers, William Schools of Hudson and Carl Schools of Stockport; three grandchildren, Paul Novak, Jr., Tara Novak and Cory Vogel; one great grandson, Braeden Novak and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Martin W. Novak and brothers and sisters, Alice Frick, Virginia Marchionne and Henry Schools.
A memorial Mass will be held at a later date. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be in the St. John the Baptist Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Hospice Inn, 315 South Manning Boulevard, Albany 12208.
Walter Daniels, 88, worked for railroads, storyteller
HUDSON—Walter A. Daniels, 88, of Germantown died Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born May 29, 1923 in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Joseph and Sophie (Heinrich) Daniels.
Mr. Daniels graduated from the Newtown High School in Queens. He attended the first National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1937 in Washington, D.C. and was later scoutmaster for Troop 95 in Brooklyn. He worked as a ship fitter for the U.S.S. Missouri for nine years and for the Packard Motor Company in New York City. He was a towerman for Penn Central Railroad, a brakeman for the New York Central Railroad and conductor for 33 years with Conrail. He was a life member of the Hudson Elks Lodge #787, member of the UTU Railroad Retirees Club. He served as treasurer for 10 years for the Christ Lutheran Church of Viewmonte. Mr. Daniels was known for his jokes and story-telling.
Surviving are: his wife, Margaret (Allers) Daniels; son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Allison of Maryland; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Phillip Bour of Virginia; grandchildren, Whitney, Alexander, Arthur, Sophie Daniels, Lauren Davenport, Martin Bour, Nathan Bour and six great grandchildren.
Funeral services were February 13 at Christ Lutheran Church of Viewmonte. Burial was in the Viewmonte Rural Cemetery of Clermont.
Memorial donations are requested to Christ Lutheran Church, Germantown 12526. Arrangements were with the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, Germantown.
Laura Heinsohn, 78, nursing assistant
POUGHKEEPSIE—Laura Heinsohn, 78, a longtime resident of Gallatin, passed away, Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Vassar Brother’s Medical Center.
She was born in Danbury, CT, January 26, 1934, the daughter of the late Joseph and Winnfred (Barrett) Laury.
Mrs. Heinsohn was a certified nursing assistant for more than 25 years. She worked for the Baptist Home in Rhinebeck and retired in 1999 from the Sharon Health Care Center in Sharon, CT. For the past four years she worked part-time for the compass group at Bard College, a job she dearly loved.
On November 18, 1965 in Kingston, NH, she married Andrew Heinsohn, Jr. He survives her at home.
In addition to her loving husband, Andrew, survivors include: a daughter, Vickie and her husband Richard Boissonneault of Old Orchard Beach, ME; a step-son, David Heinsohn of Fayetteville, NC; three grandchildren, Jason and his wife Mimmette Boissonneault of Sydney, Australia, Ryan and his wife Sam Boissonneault of South Portland, ME; Lauren Heinsohn of Sunset Beach, NC; three great grandchildren, Tori, Jake and Brayden Boissonneault; three brothers, Alfred, William and Richard Laury; many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Jane Gilbert and Margaret McManus.
There are no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the American Cancer Society, 159 Green Street, Kingston 12401 or the VA Medical Center c/o Volunteer Services, Castle Point 12511.
Harriet Renfro, 99, volunteer, liked to travel with family
CHATHAM—Harriet Von Sholly Renfro was born in New York City, December 23, 1912 and died February 9, 2012.
She was the daughter of I. James Von Sholly and Bertha Jones Von Sholly and sister to Frederick W. Von Sholly.
She was married to George E. Renfro and is survived by her son, James G. Renfro; her daughter, Anne R. Macheski; along with five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Renfro graduated from the Spence Academy, class of 1932. She volunteered at the Flushing Hospital and enjoyed spending time and traveling with family. Mrs. Renfro was loved dearly and will be missed by the many lives she touched.
Funeral services will be private in accordance with her last wishes.
Arrangements are with the Wenk Funeral Home, Chatham.
Josephine Giacomo, 80, kind to others, enjoyed family time
RHINEBECK—Josephine M. Giacomo, 80, a longtime resident of Pine Plains, died Sunday, February 12, 2012 at the Northern Dutchess Hospital.
She was born October 11, 1931 in Yonkers, the daughter of Matthew and Anna (Alfano) Porcello.
In 1951, she married Louis Giacomo in Yonkers. He survives her at home.
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by: her two daughters, Annie Manzi and her husband Vincent of Pine Plains and Caroline Giacomo of Millerton; two grandchildren, Annette Decker of Pine Plains and Vincent Manzi, IV, of Ancram; as well as, two great-grandchildren, Madison and Giana Manzi of Ancram.
She was predeceased by five siblings, Anthony, Angie, Salvatore, Edith and Sylvia.
Mrs. Giacomo was always loving and kind to others. She enjoyed spending time with her family.
Funeral services and interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 7749 S. Main Street, Pine Plains.
To send an online condolence visit peckandpeck.net.
Betty Stevens, 90, elementary school teacher, church member
GT. BARRINGTON, MA—Betty R. Stevens, 90, of Copake died peacefully at Fairview Commons, February 5.
She was born in Oswego, October 18, 1921, the only child of Charles and Edna Sponenberg Reid.
She graduated in 1943 from Oswego State Teachers College and taught elementary school for more than 30 years at the Roeliff Jansen School.
On February 14, 1943, she married James S. Stevens, who predeceased her in 2003.
Mrs. Stevens was a long-time communicant and member of the Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Copake Falls, supporter of the community’s 4-H horse program and an avid member of the Hudson-Mohawk Chapter of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International.
She is survived by: a son, James (Sarah) of East Greenbush; a daughter, Deborah Addabbo of Copake; four grandchildren, Adriana Delaney, Joseph (Crystal) Addabbo, James Stevens and Elizabeth Stevens; three great-grandsons; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Laverne and Doris Stevens of Scriba; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family thanks all of those members of community who have helped Mrs. Stevens during her last years.
A memorial service will be held at the Church of St. John in the Wilderness, 261 Route 344, Copake Falls, Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 1 p.m. Interment will be in Oswego in the spring.
Those wishing to donate in Mrs. Steven’s memory may contribute to St. John in the Wilderness’s Rector’s Discretionary Fund, or the Bell Tower Fund c/o St. John in the Wilderness, P.O. Box 180, Copake Falls 12517, the National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 5018 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515 Northampton, MA 01061-0515.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Copake.
To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net