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Florence A. Porter
PITTSFIELD — Florence A. Porter, 91, of Pittsfield, died Thursday, May 16, 2002, at Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown.
She was born Jan. 3, 1911, in Portlandville, the daughter of Henry and Eva Goodrich.
In 1932 in Milford Center, she married Stanley Porter. Stanley predeceased Florence in 1992.
Florence was a homemaker and along her husband, Stanley, started the Pittsfield Country Store in 1949. Florence attended the Second Baptist Church and enjoyed her family and friends, the hobby class, senior citizen outings and crocheting. She will be remembered as a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Florence is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Mary Porter; a daughter-in-law, Genevieve Porter; seven grand-children, Jeffrey Porter and Val Digsby, Kelly and Bob Kalka, Krista Porter, Jolene Porter, Janette and Matthew Slentz, Scott and Laura Porter and Jaclyn Porter and her fiancé, Randy Lund; and seven great-grandchildren, Courtney and Chelsea Slentz, Madison, Mackenzie and Miranda Porter and Lauren and Jonathon Kalka.
In addition to her husband, Florence was predeceased by her son, Reginald; daughter, Sharon; two sisters and one brother.
Funeral services for Florence will be held on Monday, May 20, at 2 p.m. at the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home in Edmeston, with the Rev. Beverly Butler officiating.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the funeral home.
Private interment will follow the services at Fairview Cemetery in New Berlin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Pittsfield Emergency Squad would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements by Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home of Edmeston.
Mary F. Sopko
BAINBRIDGE — Mary Frances Sopko, 77, of Bainbridge passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City.
She was born July 22, 1924, daughter of the late Joseph and Constance (Zelinsky) Millus in Forest City, Pa.
Mary Frances married Peter A. Sopko on July 17, 1943, in Forest City, Pa. Peter predeceased her on June 2, 1996.
Mrs. Sopko was employed by Borden Chemical Co. in Bainbridge. She retired on Aug. 1, 1986.
She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Bainbridge.
Mrs. Sopko is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Heidi Sopko of Randolph, N.J., and Ronald and Jenifer Sopko of Vestal; a daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Robert Evans of Bainbridge; four grandchildren, Alex and Gregory Sopko and Bryan and Lindsay Evans; a brother, Joseph Millus of Sidney; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was also predeceased by a brother, Victor, and two sisters, Helen Yenson and Blanche Millus.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, May 20, at St. John the Evangelist Church at 11 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Donald Bourgeois, pastor, will officiate.
Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, at 21 Main St. in Sidney.
Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Bainbridge at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Church in Bainbridge
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Inc. of Sidney.
Helen M. Beijen
ONEONTA — Helen M. Beijen, 91, of Oneonta died on Thursday, May 16, 2002, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.
She was born on March 11, 1911, in Ramapo, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Plouski) Matoske.
She married Louis K. Beijen on Aug. 10, 1946, and he passed away on Oct. 9, 1993.
Mrs. Beijen has been an area resident since 1998, moving here from Clearwater, Fla., where she lived for nine years. Before that she lived in Oswego.
She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 259, Oneonta.
She is survived by her children, Kenneth W. "Skip" Beijen and his wife, Peggy, of Oneonta, and Jacqueline Beijen-Lukens and her husband, Larry, of Brattleboro, Vt.; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Beijen of Oneonta, Kendra Beijen of Oneonta and Lisa Cameron-Norfleet and her husband, Justin, of Groton; two sisters, Jean Wentz-Gillis of the Bronx and Theresa Athearn of Houston, Tex.
She was predeceased by a son, Karl Beijen, in 2001.
There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Alexander Rabeler
BOVINA CENTER — Alexander William Rabeler Jr., 85, of Suits Us Farm in Bovina Center, died April 7, 2002, from complications of a stroke in New Bern, N.C., where he also had a home.
He was born May 3, 1916, in Leigh, Neb.
He graduated from the University of Nebraska, served in the Army and moved to Bovina in 1940.
He had a passion for flying, machinery, reading and people. He was a dairy farmer and recently operated a summer resort.
He belonged to Immanuel Lutheran Church of Delhi.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Elisabeth Sellhorn Rabeler; and his five children, Monique Farley of Delhi, Renate Fishtorn of St. John, Ind., Sheela Chapman of Sarasota, Fla., Frederick Rabeler of Bovina Center and Lawton Rabeler of Cary, N.C. He was blessed with nine loving grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Raymond and Charles Rabeler, also survive him.
Donations may be made to the Medical Foundation of N.C. Inc., for the Dana Elisabeth Rabeler Memorial Fund for Heart Research at 980 Airport Road, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514.
Mildred L. Beck
BINGHAMTON — A memorial service for Mildred L. Beck, who passed away Sunday, May 12, 2002, will be held 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2002, at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, at 83 Main St. in Binghamton.
The Rev. Stephen R. Heiss will officiate.
The family will receive friends in the church narthex from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.
Burial will be private at Vestal Hills Memorial Park.
Debra Hassick
ONEONTA — Debra Bennett Hassick lost her long and courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, May 18, 2002, at home in the presence of her loving family. She was 46.
She was born on Aug. 5, 1955, in Meshoppen, Pa., the daughter of Clifford and Mildred (Atkinson) Bennett.
She married David E. Hassick on Sept. 20, 1980. Her greatest devotion and pride were for her three children, Scott (Scooter), Michelle (Princess), and Jason (Fluffy).
She graduated from Elk Lake High School in 1973. She then attended and graduated from Broome County Community College in 1975, with a degree in nursing. She obtained her LPN license.
She was voted Miss Hope for the Cancer Society in 1975.
She was employed by The Meadows in Cooperstown from July 1977 to August 1987.
After sustaining a back injury, she pursued a career in the legal field. She obtained a paralegal degree and also graduated from the Utica School of Commerce with a secretarial degree in 1992.
From 1992 to 2001, she was employed by the town of Oneonta as a senior court clerk.
She was a member and a director for the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks.
She enjoyed playing the piano, decorating cakes, working with her flowers and being around her children and their friends.
Debbie is survived by her loving husband, David; and three children, Scott, Michelle and Jason; and a close friend, Marie Jones, all of Oneonta; her parents, Clifford and Mildred Bennett of Rushville, Pa.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale and Jeanne Bennett of Towanda, Pa., Rodney and Susan Bennett of Floral City, Fla., and Gary Bennett of Rushville, Pa.; one sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Michael Halaquist of Windsor; a sister-in-law, Lorie R. Bennett of Dowling, Mich.; her mother-in-law, Flossie Jordan of Oneonta; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins, all of whom will remember her with much love and affection.
She was predeceased by her brother, Larry Bennett, who also fought a long and courageous battle with cancer, who she so dearly loved; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Arvilla Jordan.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St. in Oneonta, with the Rev. Keith Marlett officiating.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2002, at which time the family will be present.
Burial will follow at the Rushville Presbyterian Cemetery, Rushville, Pa.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks Scholarship Fund, care of Richard Szarowicz, 121 Miriam Ave., Blasdell, NY 14219.
The family also wishes to express sincere gratitude to Catskill Area Hospice, Oneonta, for their loving care and support.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Ralph A. Petri
ONEONTA — Ralph A. Petri, 81, of Oneonta, passed away Friday, May 17, 2002, following an extended illness.
He was born April 26, 1921, at the Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, the son of Phillip and Ida (Zbinden) Petri.
He spent the majority of his childhood in Gloversville and on Cornish Hill near Cooperstown.
He graduated from Milford Central School as valedictorian of the Class of 1939. Spurred on by his education and interest in agriculture, he had a business raising strawberries and raspberries along with a poultry farm.
In 1947, Ralph was employed by the Second National Bank, which after mergers was known as National Commercial Bank and Trust Co., The Bank and then Key Bank. Working first as a custodian, then a bookkeeper, he eventually became a regional auditor. He was employed about 40 years.
He married Elsa Marian Wells on April 12, 1952, in Cooperstown. They operated a small dairy farm while he continued to work at the bank. In 1961, because of a job transfer, they sold the farm, which is now the location of the Brookwood School in Toddsville.
Four years later they were transferred to Oneonta, were he later retired. They recently observed their 50th wedding anniversary.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Elsa, of 50 years; a daughter and son-in-law, Jan and John Gurule of Arvada, Colo.; a son, David Ralph of Cooperstown; two grandchildren, Sara and Owen of Arvada, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law, Philip and Phyllis of Cooperstown; one niece, Karen Atwood of Cortland; and several cousins.
Until his death, Ralph was an active member of the Elm Park United Methodist Church and served as treasurer for 25 years.
In his earlier years he was a member of and treasurer for the First Baptist Church in Cooperstown.
He sang in the church choir at Elm Park with his wife for many years.
His hobbies were cutting firewood, gardening, traveling, square dancing, doing taxes for the elderly and working with his family making maple syrup.
His ability to make the most of God's provided resources was unsurpassed and he had "an amazing ability to tinker things along." He had a genuine appreciation for God's creation.
Ralph strove to be fair and honest at all times, often giving of himself for the good and well-being of others. The family hopes he will be remembered in that way.
A memorial service for Ralph will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at the Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St. in Oneonta, with the Rev. Eileen Cornwell officiating.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial contributions may be made to the Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St., or to the Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 542 Main St., Oneonta NY 13820.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service in Cooperstown and Milford.
