Our Obituaries

Irene R. Snee, age 98, late of Matamoras, PA, passed away Monday, June 23, 2008 at The Little Flower Manor Health Care Facility, Wilkes-Barre, PA.She was born on April 19, 1910 in Luzerne, PA, the daughter of the late Jacob and Stella Katetsky Mikoychik. She married Martin W. Snee, who predeceased her.Irene was retired from The Consolidated Cigar Co. at Wilkes-Barre, PA. She was a member of St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, PA and the Alter and Rosary Society of St. Joseph's.She is survived by her daughter, Irene Yakupcin and her husband, Ronald of Matamoras, PA; her three grandsons, Mark, Neal, and Sean, and three great grandchildren, Jack, Anna and Payton. She is also survived by her two sisters, Constance Pierce of NYC and Helen Peers of Tallahassee, FL and several nieces and nephews.She was predeceased in death by her sisters, Sylvia Dicton, Anna May Pugh, Estelle Smalley and Jean Reese. She was also predeceased by her five brothers, Joseph, Bernard, Thomas, and Walter Mikoychik and Victor McCoy.Friends may call Wednesday, June 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. The vigil wake service will be held Wednesday afternoon with the Rev. August Ricciardi officiating.Prayers will be offered Thursday, June 26 at 9:45 a.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, PA. Interment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carverton, PA.Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody funeral Home. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com.

William Kenneth Geary age 56, late of Westbrookville, NY passed away Monday June 16, at the Catskill Regional Medical Ctr., Harris, NY, He was born April 9, 1952 at Garden City, Long Island, NY., the son of Donald Geary and the late Florence Connely Geary.. He was the owner and operator of Charter Sales Agency, at Westbrookville, NY. He married Adrian Lee Rudisill Geary, who survives. He was a member of Holy Name R.C. Church, Otisville, NY. a family statement read he was a brilliant farmer and enjoyed music group "Grateful Dead" as well a the Opera. He is survived by his wife Adrian at home, his father Donald Geary of Port Charlotte, Fla. , his 2 sons, William and Kevin Geary at home, and his daughter Julianne Geary at home. He is also survived by his brother Donald Geary of Nevada and 1 nephew. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday June 23, at 1pm at Holy Name R.C. Church, Otisville NY. Interment will follow at Holy name Cemetery, Otisville. Please feel free to call Adrian at 845 754-8440 for any additional information. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home., 154 E. Main St. Port Jervis, NY for information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com

James A. Buchanan, age 87, late of Matamoras, PA, passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at The Albright Ctr., Retirement Village in Myerstown, PA.He was born June 11, 1921 in Matamoras, PA, the son of the late Homer L. Buchanan, Sr. and Lillian Smith Buchanan.James was a retired finisher for Crescent Silverplate Co., Port Jervis, NY. He was a member of the Hope Free Church, Matamoras, PA, and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving with Seabees during World War II, and the Korean War. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Milford Lodge of Masons F&AM, Milford, PA.He was married to the late Elizabeth Denk Buchanan. Survivors include his two daughters, Patricia Sabold and her husband, Carl of Robesonia, PA and Jane Elizabeth Curry and her husband, Daniel of Leesport, PA; his three grandchildren: Amy, Bret, and Rebecca; five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Homer and Carl Buchanan.Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc. in James Buchanan's name.Arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY; Knight-Auchmoody.com or 845-856-3312.

Mildred Cohen Kaplan, a lifelong resident of the area, entered into rest on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at home in Port Jervis. She was 85.Daughter of the late Max Cohen and Pauline Helicher, she was born January 22, 1923 in Greenville, NY. She was the widow of Max Kaplan.A business owner of Lacine Handicrafts in Port Jervis, NY, Mildred was a member of the of Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El in Port Jervis, NY; Treasurer for the Artswalk for many years, and volunteered at Bon Secours Community Hospital gift shop. She was a member of a group of activists that fought construction of the Tocks Island Dam Project, successfully defeating it.Survivors include her daughter, Alyta Faye Adams, at home; one son, Harold David Kaplan and his wife, Adrienne, of Beavercreek, OH; one sister, Beatrice Weinstein of Florida; one brother, Edwin Cohen of Port Jervis; three grandchildren: Kyla Megan Adams Ryman, Aaron Ryan Kaplan, and Ian Charles Samuel Kaplan; great-grandchildren: Samuel Justice Ryman and Calvin Tracey Ryman.Graveside Services will be held at 10 a.m. at Beth-El Cemetery, Port Jervis, NY.Arrangements have been entrusted to Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. To send condolences or for directions, please visit Knight-Auchmoody.com or call 845-856-3312.

Alvord Phillips, 83, a life long resident of Port Jervis, NY, and an Operating Engineer for Spear's Sand and Gravel died Thursday, June 12, 2008 at St. Joseph's Place.The son of the late Alvord Phillips, Sr. and Mary Mason, he was born June 6, 1925 in Greenville. He was married to Helene Phillips who survives him at home.He was a member of The Drew United Methodist Church in Port Jervis, a member of D.A.V. (Disabled American Veteran's), life member of the VFW Post #161 and member of the Operating Engineers Local #825.In addition to his wife, Helene, he is survived by his two sons, Gary and wife, Kathleen of Port Jervis, NY and Russell Phillips and wife, Katherine of Port Jervis, NY; two daughters, Laurie Phillips of Middletown and Helayne Phillips of Port Jervis, NY; two sisters, Carol Tufano and Rotha Pedlock; one brother, Richard Phillips; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, Madge Benjamin; and one daughter, Jacqualyn Savannah.Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Monday, June 16, at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771, with the Rev. Robert Cassidy. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.Contributions may be made to VFW Post #161 in Port Jervis, NY.Funeral arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 845-856-3312.

Ronald C. Halpin, a lifelong resident of the area, entered into rest on June 13, 2008 at Kindred Hospital in Dover, NJ. He was 89.The son of the late Burdette E. Halpin and Louisa Roberts, he was born July 10, 1918 in Port Jervis, NY.A veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Force, he was a Prisoner of War (WWII) and was awarded the Purple Heart medal. Ronald was a printer at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ. He was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church; Matamoras Fire Department; Roosa-Fleming V.F.W. Post #161, Port Jervis; High Bridge Hunting Club in Westfall Twp., PA; Civil Air Patrol in Sussex, NJ; Matamoras Rod & Gun Club, and Councilman for the Borough of Matamoras (1990-1997). He was an avid carpenter and loved to fly.Survivors include his wife, Betty Jean Bopp Halpin, at home; three daughters: Ronna Jean Halpin of Minersville, PA, Betsy Messerle and her husband, Richard of Port Jervis, Peggy Majos and her husband, Thadeus of Newton, NJ; one son, Karl Halpin and his wife, Magda of Bellville, NJ; four grandchildren: Richard and Robert Messerle, Debra and Stellamarie Halpin; one niece and three nephews.Visitation will be held on Monday, June 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 17, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Port Jervis, with the Rev. Patt Kauffman officiating. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.Arrangements by Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 156 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY; Knight-Auchmoody.com or 845-856-3312.

Cheryl Anne Guszick, age 50, late of Sparrowbush, NY, passed away June 7, 2008 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis, NY.Cheryl was an educator for the Port Jervis School System. She is the daughter of Dave and Geraldine Rouilliard Payne, who survive. Cheryl was born at Hancock, NY on May 13, 1958.She is survived by her son, David Guszick and her daughter, Rachel Guszick, both at home. In addition to her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Colleen Baggetta of Fairfax, VA, Sharon Demchak of New Haven, CT, and Alexis Johnson of Archbald, PA; two brothers, Davy Payne and his fiance, Wendy of Daytona, Beach, FL and Thomas Payne of Forest City, PA; four nieces, Adrianna, Danielle, Samantha and Domonique, and two nephews, David and Michael. She is also survived by her former husband, David Guszick.Cheryl was an active member of St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, PA and a CCD Teacher. She is a three time cancer survivor, and a member of the Look Good, Feel Good Program of the American Cancer Society. She was appointed Grand Marshall and a member of the Relay For Life Team, Port Jervis, and a member of the Avon Cancer Awareness Program. Cheryl was a former long term Board of Education Member for the Port Jervis School Dist. She was a coordinator for the Club Rec Program at the Port Jervis School and a coach for Port Jervis Softball Little League Team. Cheryl was a graduate of Keystone College, La Plume, PA.A family statement reads "She was a courageous, compassionate, strong hearted mother, sister and friend, she will be greatly missed by all."Friends may call Tuesday, June 10 from 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday, June 11 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY.The vigil wake service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. August Ricciardi officiating.A Mass of Resurrection will be held Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, PA with the Rev. Raj as celebrant. Interment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit www.knight-auchmoody.com.