Our Obituaries

Jeanne E. Hoek, a retired school teacher for the Orange, New Jersey School System, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at her home. She was 75.The daughter of the late Simon W. Gruys and Anne J. Koster Gruys, died March 18, 1930 in Chandlee, Minn.Jeanne graduated from Edgerton, MN Public High School and received a BA in English from Central College in Pella, Iowa. She furthered her education at Denver University earning her MA in English. Jeanne taught English at Denver Christian High School for 25 years and was a friend and mentor who touched the lives of many students. She was also a highly accomplished pianist and was deeply interested in art and music. She was an active member of the Faith Reformed Church in Centerville, N.Y., where she worked on the annual vacation Bible School and befriended many of the Church youth.Survivors include one sister, Sophia Hinshalwood and her husband Robert of the Town of Mount Hope; and several nieces and nephews.She was predeceased by her brother, Peter Gruys.Memorial services will be held at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 3 at the Faith Reformed Church, South Centerville. The Rev. Michael Weber.Interment will be private.Contributions may be to the Building Fund of the Faith Reformed Church, PO Box 454, Slate Hill, NY 10973.For information directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com

Lila G. Waycie, a retired registered nurse for St. Francis Hospital in Port Jervis and life-long area resident, died Wednesday, April 27, 2005 in St. Joseph's Place in Port Jervis. She was 86.The daughter of the late Stewart and Phyllis Avery Rippon, she was born July 17, 1918 in Port Jervis.She was the widow of John "Jack" Waycie.She was a member of the Drew United Methodist Church, Port Jervis; Girl Scout Leader for 25 years; member of Port Jervis AARP; and the Alumni Association of Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis.Survivors include her son, John W. Waycie and his wife Marsha of Milford, Pa.; one sister, Virginia Rippon of Goshen; two grandchildren Amy Waycie of Albany and Matthew Waycie of Port Jervis; two great-grandchildren, Derek Smith and Jerika Waycie.She was predeceased by her daughter, Maureen Cassidy and granddaughter Kathleen Cassidy.Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, April 29 at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at the funeral home. The Rev. Robert Cassidy will officiate.Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Port Jervis.Contributions may be made to the Port Jervis Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Box 33, Port Jervis, NY 12771 or St. Joseph's Place, 160 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771.Arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home.For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com

Charles "Charlie" Presto Jr., presently of Titusville, Pa. and a lifelong resident of Matamoras, Pa., a retired lineman for GTE, Port Jervis, a retired salesman for TSE Plumbing, Port Jervis and Cooper's Dairy, Port Jervis, and the Flo-Jean Restaurant, Port Jervis, died Friday April 15, 2005 at Pittsburgh V.A. Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was 69.The son of the late Charles J. Presto and Minnie Scheels Presto, he was born May 26, 1935 in Port Jervis, N.Y.He was married to Catherine "Kay" Caliciotti Presto.He was a member of St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, Pa.; a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Korean War, serving from 1954 to 1957, specializing in heating certification.He was actively involved with the Pop Warner Football League. He sang with the St. Mary's and Port Jervis Barber Shop Choir, and he also appeared on the Artist's Guild Show, singing many Italian songs. He had a love for music, especially country, enjoyed watching WWE Wrestling and cooking. His love for his children and grandchildren were never unnoticed.Survivors include his wife, Catherine "Kay" Presto, at home; seven sons: Charles Presto III and wife, Vicki, of Port Jervis, Richard Presto of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Tyrone Presto Sr. and wife, Loretta, of Plymouth, Pa., Jeff Presto and wife, Becky, of Pleasantville, Pa., Dwayne Presto of Bedford, N.J., Dana Presto Sr. and wife, Barbara, of Port Jervis, Timmy Presto Sr. of Matamoras, Pa.; and one daughter, Lisa Presto of Scranton, Pa.; 16 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Mr Presto is also survived by two brothers, Larry Presto of Pleasantville, PA, and Joseph Presto of Sun Valley, Nevada; three sisters, Dorothy Tippens of Lancaster, Ohio, Rose Wentz of Port Jervis, NY and Connie Davenport of Port Jervis, NY.He was predeceased by his infant son, Gregory; a sister, Mildred Tampier; and a brother, Anthony "Tony" Presto.Friends may call Tuesday April 19, 2005 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, N.Y. Father Antony will officiate a vigil wake service to be held at 3:00 PM.The funeral will be on Wednesday, April 20 at 10:15 AM in the funeral home.A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 AM in St. Mary's Church, Port Jervis with the Rev. Antony Iqnaci officiating.Burial with military honors will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Jervis, N.Y.Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans)Funeral arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc.. For information, directions or to send a condolence note, please visit Knight-Auchmoody.com.

Maryann McGaw, of Port Jervis, New York, a life-long area resident and a retired switchboard operator for Bon Secours Comm. Hospital, Port Jervis, NY, died Thursday, April 14, 2005 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, NY. She was 60.The daughter of the late Jack Clarke and Florence Collins Mineau, she was born October 10, 1944 in Port Jervis.She was married to James McGaw.She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Port Jervis, NY.Survivors include her husband, James McGaw at home; four daughters: Tammy Wolf and her husband Eric of Wallkill, NY, Sandra Simpson and her husband Greg of Sparrowbush, NY, Cathy Bogert and her husband Shawn of Port Jervis, and Nancy Costello and her husband Matt of Sparrowbush, NY; six grandchildren, Nicole and Trevor Wolf, Hunter Simpson, Sharon and Austin Bogert, Ryan Costello; two special aunts, Betty Collins of Port Jervis and Alice Rynearson of Matamoras, PA.Funeral services will be held Monday, April 18 at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Port Jervis, NY. Rev. Stephen Huston officiating.Interment will be private.Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 8 Broome St., Port Jervis, NY 12771 or Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771.Funeral arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, New York. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit Knight-Auchmoody.com.

Pamela J. Westbrook of Sparrowbush, a seamstress for Andmore Sportswear, Port Jervis, N.Y. and a life long area resident died Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Bon Secours Comm. Hosp., Port Jervis, NY. She was 56.The daughter of the late Lenny H. Race and Freida Muller Race, she was born February 9, 1949 in Utica, NY.She was married to John W. Westbrook.She was a member of the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church and attended the Walton Baptist Church, Walton, NY; member the Ladies Auxiliary Tri-State Naval Ship # 7241, Port Jervis, NY; Pam was a talented crafter and enjoyed giving her handmade crafts to her friends and organizations.Survivors include her husband at home John W. Westbrook; one daughter, Sherry Finch of Deposit, NY; four sons, Donald and Clifford Finch, both of Walton, NY and Michael Charles Finch and Warren Donald Finch, both of California; three sisters, Linda Race of New York, Sheila Meeker of Stamford, Fla, Robin Race of Seattle, Wash; two brothers, Charles Race of Seattle, Wash and Charles Goodrich and his wife Gail of Loomis Brook, NY, also 11 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, also several great nieces and great nephews. Pam was raised by her adopted parents the late Ernest and Emma Feltman Goodrich.Memorial services will be announced at a later time.Interment will be private.Contributions may be made to the Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771.Funeral arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com

Robert Dickinson, a retired school teacher from the Port Jervis School System in 1984, and longtime area resident, died Saturday, April 3, 2005 at Wingate at Dutchess Nursing Facility in Fishkill. He was 78.The son of the late Issac and Lottie Diamond Dickinson, he was born November 28, 1926 in Albany.He was a veteran of WW II, US Navy and was a graduate of Albany State Teacher's College, achieving his Master's Degree in Education.Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Brown Dickinson at home; one daughter, Shelley Dickinson of Enfield, Conn.; two brothers, Edward Dickinson of Kennebunkport, Maine, William Dickinson of Watervliet, N.Y.; one sister, Margaret Michalec of Ballston Lake, N.Y.; one granddaughter, Leah Freschette; and several nieces and nephews.Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7 at the funeral home. The Rev. Betsy Diver will officiate.Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush.Contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit www.knightauchmoody.com. Funeral arrangements are by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home.

Clara Neenan, a retired Registered Nurse for St. Francis Hospital and Sunnyside Hospital, and a lifelong area resident, died at Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown on Friday April 1, 2005. She was 84.The daughter of the late Bernard and Clara Brink O'Neil, she was born December 20, 1920 in Pond Eddy, N.Y.She was married to the late Joseph Neenan.She was a member of St. Mary's RC Church in Port Jervis.Survivors include one son, Jerry Neenan and his wife, Cheryl, of Vero Beach, Fla.; one daughter, Joanne Spitler of Port Jervis; six grandchildren; a special grandson, Joseph Neenan; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.She was predeceased by two sisters, Arlene Adams and Frances Kean; and one brother, Jack O'Neil.Friends may call Monday April 4, 2005 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home,154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, N.Y.Funeral services will be on Tuesday, April 5, at 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's R.C. Church, Port Jervis with the Rev. Dennis Dinan officiating.Vigil services will be held Monday evening at the funeral home.Contributions may be made to American Diabetes Assoc., 50 Colvin Ave., Albany, NY 12206-1106.Funeral arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, New York. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit Knight-Auchmoody.com