Sharon Springs: Greta Mary O’Connor, nee Nelson, a resident of Sharon Springs since 1985 and previously of Broadalbin, died on Monday December 14, 2020 of a short illness. She was 64.
Born in Amsterdam on November 4, 1956, she was the daughter of the late Waldemar and Mary (Maloney) Nelson.
She was a longtime optometric assistant for Family Vision Care in Cobleskill, retiring in 2010. Greta’s life was a devoted wife, mother,and grandmother. She enjoyed her flowers and her talks with her many beloved friends and sister.
Survivors include her husband, Scott O’Connor; four children, Miranda Prime(Matthew), Kerry O’Connor(Kenyon), Terence McGuure, and Ryan O’Connor(Julie); a sister, Kristina Chandler(Christopher); and six grandchildren; Kacey McGuire, Maximus and Elizabeth Prime, Maddie Giardino, and Ellie and Evan O’Connor. She was predeceased by a son, James McGuire, in 1999.
Services are private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, POB 268, Warnerville, NY 12187.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: George Rzucidlo, a resident of Sharon Springs since 2014 and previously of Garfield, NJ (Bergen County) died on Friday November 13 at his residence. He was 72.
Born in Passaic, N.J. on December 27, 1947, he was the son of the late George and Eleanor Rzucidlo.
George was an auto mechanic in the Army from 1966 to 1969 and then in the Army Reserves until May 1972. Subsequently he was a longtime parts manager for G.O.D Trucking in Newark.
George loved classic muscle cars and the music of the Beatles.
Survivors include his wife; Sophia Rzucidlo; a daughter, Patricia Rzucidlo; a son, George Rzucidlo; and two sisters; Carol Tedesco, and Marilyn Micci.
He was predeceased by his brother, Edward Rzucidlo.
Services are private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, POB 268, Warnerville, NY 12187.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Shirley Bolster, nee Ellerby, a longtime resident of Sharon Springs and previously of Carlisle, died on Wednesday September 30 at her residence. She was 91.
Born in Huntington, NY (Suffolk County) on April 15, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Sidney and Catherine (Topp) Ellerby.
She was a longtime housekeeper in the area, retiring in 2003.
Shirley met her husband, Harry Bolster, in Cherry Valley through her work. They married on May 5, 1946. Harry died on September 27, 1988.
Her favorite pastimes were sewing, crafts, and reading.
Survivors include three daughters, Irene Manchester and Melissa Olsen, both of Sharon Springs, and Joan Rivenburgh of Rotterdam; a son, LaVerne Bolster of Carlisle; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Lawyer in May 2020, a great granddaughter, Cassandra Edwards; and six siblings, Valentine, William, Sidney, Florence, Elaine, and Ruth.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, October 10 in Carlisle Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road – Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Richmondville: Carol E. Brown, nee Hopkins, 98, passed away on September 13, 2020 at Robinson Terrace Nursing Center in Stamford, NY.
She was born on January 26, 1922 in Argusville, NY to E. Ross and Ida (Kinney) Hopkins.
She grew up in Argusville where she attended a one room schoolhouse and in 1940 graduated from Sharon Springs Central School. On
November 8, 1941, she married Lincoln Arthur Brown and they moved to Canajoharie where they raised their four children. When Lincoln
retired, they moved to Richmondville.
For many years, she worked in Canajoharie at the Beech-Nut Plant, the Compton Plastics Company, and the Canajoharie Dress Factory.
Carol was a member of the former Argusville Lutheran Church and later of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Richmondville.
She enjoyed playing pinochle with her friends from church and crocheting hundreds of afghans for family, friends, and patients at the
Albany VA Stratton Medical Center.
Survivors include two sons, Richard (Diane) Brown and Alan (Donna) Brown; two daughters, Patsie (Ed) Brown-Kunath and
Sharon (Andy) Janik; nine grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and
several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1997, by her sister Edna Dunham and her two brothers, Elbert and Lincoln Hopkins.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Slate Hill Cemetery, town of Sharon.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 491, Richmondville, NY 12149.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Barbara Roeper, a resident of Sharon Springs since 2017 and previously of Schenectady County, died on Sunday August 23, 2020 at her residence after a long illness. She was 88.
Born in Beacon, NY on March 7, 1932, she was the daughter of the late James and Theresa Grace (Diantonio) Martin.
Her husband, Walter Roeper, died on January 12, 1994.
Survivors include three daughters, Marjorie Dangerfield of Parish, FL, Ellen Tracey of Daytona Beach, FL, and Karen Jacquot of Sharon Springs; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a son, Frederick Roeper, on July 6, 1980; and five siblings, Francis, Doris, Joan, Carol, and Jerry.
A private interment will be at a later date in Wappingers Falls Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Adam “Eddie” Slinkosky, a resident of Sharon Springs since 1972 and most recently of Cooperstown Center, died on Saturday August 22 at the center. He was 93.
Born in the unincorporated community of Smoke Run, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1926, he was the son of the late Michael and Anna (Kowal) Slinkosky.
Locally, he was a longtime machinist at General Electric in Schenectady. Adam was a World War II veteran who served primarily in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. His wartime occupational specialties were M1 rifle marksman and teletype operator.
Adam was a longtime member of the Sharon Springs United Methodist Church. Additionally, he was a member of the Silver and Gold Club, the VFW, and the American Legion Post #1269.
He was a gifted handyman who liked to tinker, build, and fix things. These pursuits kept him busy all his life and especially during retirement. He also enjoyed following his grandchildren’s scholastic activities and their sports programs. Yodeling and polka music were also pastimes.
His wife of fifty years, Nellie J. Slinkosky, nee Mapes, died in March 2020.
Survivors include four siblings, Delores, Betty, Catherine, and James; four stepchildren, Patty (Eddie) Shipley, Nancy Scarpulla, Susan (Thomas) Lighthall, and Cindy (Tom) Areford, seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by eight siblings, Mary, Michael, Andrew, Joseph, Martin, Edward, Albert, and Frances.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Slate Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, P.O. Box 268, Warnerville, NY 12187 or to the American Legion Post#1269, P.O. Box 273, Sharon Springs, NY 13459.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Seward - James E. Lighthall Sr., a lifelong resident of Schoharie County and most recently of Seward since 1980, died suddenly at his residence on Friday July 31, 2020.
He was 82.
Born in Cobleskill on March 4, 1938, he was the son of the late Everett and Dorothy (Manchester) Lighthall.
Jim had a long and productive work history. Locally, he worked for Valley Pontiac, Ready Mix Concrete, Kiverts Steel, and others. Also, he was owner/operator of Holiday Tree Service of Seward for forty years. Jim never retired, he was answering the phone and lining up jobs the week of his death. Prior to Holiday Tree, he owned Gilboa Construction and Holiday Pools.
His favorite pastimes were hunting and dirt track car racing. Jim was both a longtime dirt track racer and then owner and sponsor of other drivers. He raced primarily in Fonda, Canandaigua, and Morris. He is a member of the Morris Race Car Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Mary Jane, nee Garlock; five children, Cristi, James Jr., Robert, William ‘Bill’ and Mark; two brothers, Richard and Donald; five sisters, Loretta, Patricia ‘Patty’, Marguerite, Elaine, and Paula; ten grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
He was predeceased by three siblings, Larry, Ross, and Alice.
Services are private with respect to Jim’s wishes.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Born in Amsterdam on November 4, 1956, she was the daughter of the late Waldemar and Mary (Maloney) Nelson.
She was a longtime optometric assistant for Family Vision Care in Cobleskill, retiring in 2010. Greta’s life was a devoted wife, mother,and grandmother. She enjoyed her flowers and her talks with her many beloved friends and sister.
Survivors include her husband, Scott O’Connor; four children, Miranda Prime(Matthew), Kerry O’Connor(Kenyon), Terence McGuure, and Ryan O’Connor(Julie); a sister, Kristina Chandler(Christopher); and six grandchildren; Kacey McGuire, Maximus and Elizabeth Prime, Maddie Giardino, and Ellie and Evan O’Connor. She was predeceased by a son, James McGuire, in 1999.
Services are private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, POB 268, Warnerville, NY 12187.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: George Rzucidlo, a resident of Sharon Springs since 2014 and previously of Garfield, NJ (Bergen County) died on Friday November 13 at his residence. He was 72.
Born in Passaic, N.J. on December 27, 1947, he was the son of the late George and Eleanor Rzucidlo.
George was an auto mechanic in the Army from 1966 to 1969 and then in the Army Reserves until May 1972. Subsequently he was a longtime parts manager for G.O.D Trucking in Newark.
George loved classic muscle cars and the music of the Beatles.
Survivors include his wife; Sophia Rzucidlo; a daughter, Patricia Rzucidlo; a son, George Rzucidlo; and two sisters; Carol Tedesco, and Marilyn Micci.
He was predeceased by his brother, Edward Rzucidlo.
Services are private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, POB 268, Warnerville, NY 12187.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Shirley Bolster, nee Ellerby, a longtime resident of Sharon Springs and previously of Carlisle, died on Wednesday September 30 at her residence. She was 91.
Born in Huntington, NY (Suffolk County) on April 15, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Sidney and Catherine (Topp) Ellerby.
She was a longtime housekeeper in the area, retiring in 2003.
Shirley met her husband, Harry Bolster, in Cherry Valley through her work. They married on May 5, 1946. Harry died on September 27, 1988.
Her favorite pastimes were sewing, crafts, and reading.
Survivors include three daughters, Irene Manchester and Melissa Olsen, both of Sharon Springs, and Joan Rivenburgh of Rotterdam; a son, LaVerne Bolster of Carlisle; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Susan Lawyer in May 2020, a great granddaughter, Cassandra Edwards; and six siblings, Valentine, William, Sidney, Florence, Elaine, and Ruth.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, October 10 in Carlisle Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road – Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Richmondville: Carol E. Brown, nee Hopkins, 98, passed away on September 13, 2020 at Robinson Terrace Nursing Center in Stamford, NY.
She was born on January 26, 1922 in Argusville, NY to E. Ross and Ida (Kinney) Hopkins.
She grew up in Argusville where she attended a one room schoolhouse and in 1940 graduated from Sharon Springs Central School. On
November 8, 1941, she married Lincoln Arthur Brown and they moved to Canajoharie where they raised their four children. When Lincoln
retired, they moved to Richmondville.
For many years, she worked in Canajoharie at the Beech-Nut Plant, the Compton Plastics Company, and the Canajoharie Dress Factory.
Carol was a member of the former Argusville Lutheran Church and later of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Richmondville.
She enjoyed playing pinochle with her friends from church and crocheting hundreds of afghans for family, friends, and patients at the
Albany VA Stratton Medical Center.
Survivors include two sons, Richard (Diane) Brown and Alan (Donna) Brown; two daughters, Patsie (Ed) Brown-Kunath and
Sharon (Andy) Janik; nine grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and
several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1997, by her sister Edna Dunham and her two brothers, Elbert and Lincoln Hopkins.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Slate Hill Cemetery, town of Sharon.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 491, Richmondville, NY 12149.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Barbara Roeper, a resident of Sharon Springs since 2017 and previously of Schenectady County, died on Sunday August 23, 2020 at her residence after a long illness. She was 88.
Born in Beacon, NY on March 7, 1932, she was the daughter of the late James and Theresa Grace (Diantonio) Martin.
Her husband, Walter Roeper, died on January 12, 1994.
Survivors include three daughters, Marjorie Dangerfield of Parish, FL, Ellen Tracey of Daytona Beach, FL, and Karen Jacquot of Sharon Springs; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a son, Frederick Roeper, on July 6, 1980; and five siblings, Francis, Doris, Joan, Carol, and Jerry.
A private interment will be at a later date in Wappingers Falls Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Sharon Springs: Adam “Eddie” Slinkosky, a resident of Sharon Springs since 1972 and most recently of Cooperstown Center, died on Saturday August 22 at the center. He was 93.
Born in the unincorporated community of Smoke Run, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1926, he was the son of the late Michael and Anna (Kowal) Slinkosky.
Locally, he was a longtime machinist at General Electric in Schenectady. Adam was a World War II veteran who served primarily in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. His wartime occupational specialties were M1 rifle marksman and teletype operator.
Adam was a longtime member of the Sharon Springs United Methodist Church. Additionally, he was a member of the Silver and Gold Club, the VFW, and the American Legion Post #1269.
He was a gifted handyman who liked to tinker, build, and fix things. These pursuits kept him busy all his life and especially during retirement. He also enjoyed following his grandchildren’s scholastic activities and their sports programs. Yodeling and polka music were also pastimes.
His wife of fifty years, Nellie J. Slinkosky, nee Mapes, died in March 2020.
Survivors include four siblings, Delores, Betty, Catherine, and James; four stepchildren, Patty (Eddie) Shipley, Nancy Scarpulla, Susan (Thomas) Lighthall, and Cindy (Tom) Areford, seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by eight siblings, Mary, Michael, Andrew, Joseph, Martin, Edward, Albert, and Frances.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date in Slate Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marathon for a Better Life, P.O. Box 268, Warnerville, NY 12187 or to the American Legion Post#1269, P.O. Box 273, Sharon Springs, NY 13459.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
Seward - James E. Lighthall Sr., a lifelong resident of Schoharie County and most recently of Seward since 1980, died suddenly at his residence on Friday July 31, 2020.
He was 82.
Born in Cobleskill on March 4, 1938, he was the son of the late Everett and Dorothy (Manchester) Lighthall.
Jim had a long and productive work history. Locally, he worked for Valley Pontiac, Ready Mix Concrete, Kiverts Steel, and others. Also, he was owner/operator of Holiday Tree Service of Seward for forty years. Jim never retired, he was answering the phone and lining up jobs the week of his death. Prior to Holiday Tree, he owned Gilboa Construction and Holiday Pools.
His favorite pastimes were hunting and dirt track car racing. Jim was both a longtime dirt track racer and then owner and sponsor of other drivers. He raced primarily in Fonda, Canandaigua, and Morris. He is a member of the Morris Race Car Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Mary Jane, nee Garlock; five children, Cristi, James Jr., Robert, William ‘Bill’ and Mark; two brothers, Richard and Donald; five sisters, Loretta, Patricia ‘Patty’, Marguerite, Elaine, and Paula; ten grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
He was predeceased by three siblings, Larry, Ross, and Alice.
Services are private with respect to Jim’s wishes.
Arrangements are by Lappeus Funeral Home, Sharon Springs.
