February 26, 2010

Barbara Ann Jaskula Irwin, 51, of the Town of Oswego, passed away Friday at home with her family by her side, following a long illness.  She was born in Oswego, New York, on February 17, 1959.  Barbara graduated from Oswego High School and from SUNY Oswego.  She worked for Auxiliary Services as a clerk buyer in the college bookstore at SUNY Oswego for 24 years.  Barbara attended Christian Missionary Alliance Church.  She enjoyed photography, painting and was a very devoted wife and mother to her children.  Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin and Victoria (Orel) Jaskula.  She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Gary Irwin; son, Allen Howard Irwin of Oswego; daughter, Katherine Victoria Irwin of Oswego; two brothers, Benjamin Jaskula, Jr. of New Jersey and James (Joyce) Jaskula of Oswego; father and mother-in-law, Carl and Barbara Irwin of Oswego; several nieces and nephews.  Funeral services are 11 am Monday at Foster Funeral Home, Hannibal.  Calling hours are 2-5 pm Sunday at the funeral home, 837 Cayuga Street, Hannibal.  Spring burial will be at Fairdale Rural Cemetery.  Contributions in memory of Barbara may be made to Friends of Oswego County Hospice, P.O. Box 102, Oswego, New York 13126.

February 24, 2010

Edna Dawn Riddell went to be with her Lord February 24, 2010.  She leaves behind a loving husband, Clyde; three children; six stepchildren; 14 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and two beautiful great-great-granddaughters.  She also leaves behind a sister, Dale, and a brother, Walt.  Dawn will be missed.  There are no services or calling hours.    Foster Funeral Home, Fulton has care of arrangements.

February 20, 2010

Patricia Cheely Snow, 48, of Syracuse, died Saturday, February 20, 2010. Patty grew up in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Darlin in the town of Maine, NY.  She graduated from Maine-Endwell High School in 1981 and went on to get her Associate’s Degree as an Executive Assistant in Syracuse.  Later on, Patty was married to James Snow of Syracuse who predeceased her.  Patty’s greatest achievement was realizing she needed Christ in her personal life.  She accepted Christ as her personal Savior when she was a teen and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Maine.  Patty had many struggles in her life, but was a very loving person and her family will always remember the best of times. In addition to her husband, Patty was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Lois Cheely. She is survived by her step-parents, Rick and June Darlin and three brothers, Tim Cheely of Marietta, GA, Gordon Darlin of Anaheim, CA and Randy Darlin of Boca Raton, FL.  There are no calling hours.  Memorial services will be held at a later date to be announced by her brother, Tim.  Foster Funeral Home, Fulton has care of arrangements.

February 19, 2010

Bruce L. “Wooby” Wilson, Jr., 42, of Fulton, died Friday at University Hospital. Born in Oswego he was a life resident of the Fulton area. Bruce had worked as a welder for Hardy Construction and was previously employed as a truck driver for Eck Miller Trucking Company, Werner Trucking Company and was a driver for Ace Cab Company in Fulton. He was a member of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club in Fulton where he was known as Wooby. He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Stella Hinman. Surviving: his mother, Joyce Wilson of Fulton; father, Bruce Wilson, Sr. of Bolingbrook, Illinois; three half brothers, Bryce, Brett and Blake Wilson all of Illinois; his loving pit bull, Sasha several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton. Spring burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fulton. Contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 356 Midler Ave, Syracuse, 13206

February 18, 2010

Donald B. Champagne, 76, of Oswego, passed away Thursday in Zephyrhills, FL.  Born in Oswego, he was a life resident of the area. Donald retired in 1994 from the Oswego County Health Department.  He had previously worked at Columbia Mills in Minetto and at Crucible Steel in Syracuse.  He enjoyed spending time in Florida and watching his family grow.  Donald was predeceased by his parents, Alton and Marjorie (Kane) Champagne and his daughter, Theresa Champagne.  Surviving: his wife of 24 years, the former, Velmacelia Parsons; children, Donna, Donald C., Alton and Fred Champagne, Rick, Victoria and Scott Shaw; an aunt, Gertrude Branshaw; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several cousins.  Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday with a service to immediately follow at 7 p.m. at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay St., Fulton.  Spring burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Oswego.  Contributions may be made to Friends of Oswego Co. Hospice, P.O. Box 102, Oswego, 13126 or American Diabetes Assoc., 356 No. Midler Ave., Syracuse, 13206.

February 14, 2010

William H. Polson, 91, of Fulton, died Sunday at St. Joseph’s Hospital after a long illness.  A native of the Pulaski-Sandy Creek area he had resided in Fulton since 1948.  Bill retired as a Captain of the Fulton Fire Department in 1986 where he worked since 1951. He also owned and operated The Polson Press from 1948 to 1990.  He was a member of the First Congregational, United Church of Christ in Fulton where he served as a trustee.  Bill was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose #1280, Hiram Lodge #144 F.&A.M., V.F.W. Post #569 and the American Legion Homer Russell Smith Post #587. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in both the European and Pacific Theatre of Operations.  Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.
Surviving are his wife, of 67 years, Margaret Maxam Polson of Fulton; his sons, James (Karen) Polson of Media, PA and Ross (Sharon) Polson of Newark, NY; two grandchildren, William and Kristina Polson    Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, February 20th at Foster Funeral Home, Fulton.  Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

February 13, 2010

Mary S. Procopio, 93, of Fulton, died Saturday at Francis House in Syracuse.  Born in Fulton she was a life resident. Mary was a homemaker and had previously been employed at the American Woolen Mill in Fulton. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church in Fulton.  Mary enjoyed antiques, traveling and bowling.  She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Procopio, who died in 2004. Surviving: a son, Joseph (Linda) Procopio of Baldwinsville; three grandsons, Mark, Matt and Tim Procopio; a brother, Johnny Santora of Fulton; several nieces and nephews; many loving and caring friends and neighbors. A calling hour will be held Friday 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a 11 a.m. service to immediately follow at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton. Spring burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fulton. Contributions may be made to Francis House, 108 Michaels Avenue, Syracuse, 13208.

February 11, 2010

David J. “Stick” Eichmann, 59, of Fulton, died February 11, 2010. He was a life resident of Fulton and graduated from Fulton High School in 1969. David was a plumber and worked with his father in his business, Al Eichmann Plumbing and Heating and later worked for Maselli Plumbing and Heating. He loved golfing and worked part-time at Emerald Crest Golf Course. David was a member of the Fulton Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #830. He was a coach with the Fulton Knee-High Basketball League. David was predeceased by his parents, Virginia Burnett Eichmann who died in 2003 and Elwin “Al” Eichmann, who died in 2008. He is survived by his wife of six years, Sherry Sherman Eichmann; daughter, Audrey Sherman of Fulton; three sisters, Laurie Weir of Georgia, Mary Rios of Kingston and Lisa (Mark) Schremp of Fulton; brother, Steven (Trisha) Eichmann of Pennellville; several nieces and nephews. Memorial services are 11 a.m. Thursday, February 18, 2010 at State Street United Methodist Church, 357 State Street, Fulton. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton. Contributions in memory of David may be made to the Amputee Coalition of America, 900 East Hill Ave., Suite 205, Knoxville, TN 37915-2566.

February 10th, 2010

Robert L. Stephens of Oswego, NY and formerly of Hudson Falls, NY unexpectedly ascended on the morning of Feb. 10, 2010 to be with the lord and to teach all the children in heaven about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies.  Robert was affectionately known as Bob or Bobby to those with whom he was acquainted.

Bob was born August 1948 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, the son of the late Robert F. and Kathleen “Gert” Stephens.  Following graduation from Hudson Falls High School, he enlisted in U.S. Army in 1967 and served with the military police in Vietnam from November 1968 until October 1969 finishing out his service at Fort Dix, NJ.  Bob was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant (E-5) August, 1970.

Following his service, Bob attended Onondaga Community College where he studied Criminal Justice from Sept. 1970 until June. 1972.  In 1973, he began a career in law enforcement that spanned 30 years.  During his career, he worked both independently and for several agencies; as a deputy sheriff, and later a senior investigator, for Washington County, N.Y. Sheriff’s Department, he continued on his path as Lieutenant of Police for Delaware and Hudson Railroad.  In his later years of enforcement, Bob established his own business, Stephens Confidential Investigations; in addition to his own business, he also performed investigative services for a law firm in the Albany area.  In the law enforcement community, Bob was known as a force to be reckoned with; his acute attention to detail and photographic abilities were valuable in justice being served in courts on a number of occasions.  He finally retired from law enforcement in 2002; until the end however, he was an investigator at heart.

Bob lived his life big and was a lover of life with a passion for helping other and for having fun. To him family was very important and he supported them all as if he was cheering as a spectator at a sporting event; in his heart he cheered for them to succeed in their life goals.  Things important to Bob were being a Christian, his nieces and nephews, his Canadian heritage and family, and his American citizenship and military service.

As a Christian, he was proud of his faith.  Bob was involved in a number of youth ministries; he had special ability to touch the heart of youth and displayed the skill while involved in several organizations.  He was engaged with youth programs at Bay Road Presbyterian Church of Lake George, NY, the Pathfinder Lodge Camp of Cooperstown, NY, and as a Youth Leader and Sunday School teacher at Village Baptist Church in Ft. Edward, NY.  Many familiar with Bob have been enamored by his skill at campfire stories and songs such as “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and “Hermie the Wormie.”  In addition to youth ministries, he was also involved in Clown Ministry and was a participant in Walk to Emmaus.

Bob’s hobbies and interests included camping, kayaking, canoeing, board games, horseshoes, Lawn Jarts, story telling and sitting around the campfire, photography, drums and percussion instruments and he was recently licensed as a real estate agent.  Bob was involved in a number of organizations including VFW, American Legion, Royal Canadian Legion, and Fulton Lions Club. He was a former member of the Adirondack Bagpipe Band/Vagabond Drum & Bugle Corps.

During his last and best decade, Bob met and married the love his life, his wife Theresa.  She brought to him a peace and happiness in his life that he never had before her; with Theresa by his side he found new meaning to each day and different approach to life. Bob referred to her as his “gift from God.”  Bob will be fondly remembered as big guy with a big heart and big laugh who would be there for anyone who asked.

Surviving are his wife Theresa who he was proud of for who she is and who she helped Bob to become; a sister, Maureen (Nick) Baker of Haddonfield, NJ; a brother, Steven (Barbara) Stephens of Glens Falls; two nephews, Jacob Stephens and Colin Baker; two nieces, Jessica (Brandon) Hoag and Courtney Baker; an uncle, Ronald Stephens and an aunt, Jean Stephens.

Calling hours are 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton, NY with services at 11 a.m. Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LIVESTRONG, National Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 6003, Albert Lea, MN 56007-6603 or the Fulton Lions Club, P.O. Box 727, Fulton, NY 13069.

February 5, 2010

Kathleen G. Carley, 77, of Hannibal, died Friday, at Oswego Hospital. Born in Fulton she was a 60 year resident of Hannibal. Kathleen enjoyed crafts and collecting snowmen. She was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Gladys Erb; brothers, William and Alfred Erb; sister, Edith Pooler and granddaughter, Connie Gombas. Surviving: her husband of 60 years, Floyd Carley of Hannibal; children, Barbara (Mark) Hough of North Carolina, Susan (John) Gombas of Hannibal, Linda (Damen) Morrell of Hannibal, Judy (Tom) Blanchard of Martville, Floyd (Darlene) Carley of Hannibal, Debbie (Jon) Cardinali of Hannibal and William (James VanNorman) Carley of Rochester; a brother, Richard Erb of Fulton; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Foster Funeral Home, Hannibal. Burial will be at Fairdale Rural Cemetery, Hannibal. Calling hours are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 837 Cayuga Street, Hannibal. Contributions in memory of Kathleen may be made to a charity of choice.