Robert Leonard "Bob" LaLonde

Belmont, NY - Robert Leonard "Bob" LaLonde of Noble Street passed away suddenly at the age of 64 on Friday October 29, 2010. He was a beloved son of Robert and Ann Panella LaLonde of Budd Lake, NJ. and a loving spouse to Arlene. Bob was a devoted father to six children; Margie, Katie, Annie, Shawn, Sal and Tad and was a fun grandfather to 14 grandchildren. He was a brother to Lenny, Richie, Hazel and Dennis.

Bob was an Air Force Veteran serving from 1965 to 1969 and was a self employed general contractor in Belmont for over 20 years. He will be missed by his church and community as a hard working, compassionate, god loving man. In death, he will continue to selflessly help others through his generous tissue donation. Bob will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, from 7-9 pm and on Thursday, November 4, from 10 am to 12 noon at the Gospel Fellowship Church on Hood Road in Belmont. His funeral will take place a 12 noon following calling hours in church with Pastor Patrick Lyons presiding. Memorials in Bob's name may be made to the Family Life Ministries at PO Box 506, Bath, New York 14810. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery and arrangements are under the direction of the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Elizabeth "Betty" J. Slocum

Allentown, NY - Elizabeth "Betty" J. Slocum, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, of the Hogbrook Road passed away on Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at the Jones Memorial Hospital. She was born on January 11, 1932 in Hornell to Albert and Ruth Kemp Burgess. On August 19, 1946 in Bolivar she married the love of her life Howard Slocum who survives.

Betty was a switch board operator for Jones Memorial Hospital from where she retired after 15 years of service. She loved country music, dancing and cross word puzzles. Betty will be fondly remembered as the rock of her family.

Including her husband Betty is survived by: 2 daughters, Ruth (Keith) Swift of Dansville and Janice Slocum of Allentown; 4 sons, Fran (Carol) Slocum of Wellsville, Charles Slocum of Scio, Gerry (Louann) Slocum of Scio and Dennis (Debbie) Slocum of Wellsville; 15 grandchildren and several great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Alice (Jim) Berry of Florida and Mary (Fran) Slocum of Wellsville; a brother, Dale Burgess of Wellsville and a brother in law, Harry "Bud" (Carol) Slocum of Shinglehouse, PA.

She was predeceased by: a son Howard Slocum Jr. in 1974, a grandson, Gerry Slocum in 2001, a great grandson Jonathan Benson in 2001; 3 brothers, Johnnie Burgess in 1947, Ernest Burgess in 1968 and Lewis Burgess in 2000.

At Betty's request there will be no prior visitation and a private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. To leave on line condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Donald Floyd Hall Sr.

Alma, NY - Donald Floyd Hall Sr., 81, of 1401 Alma Hill Road, passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the VA Medical Center in Bath, NY with his family at his side. He was born October 25, 1928 in the Town of Ward, the son of Floyd and Ruth (Cornelius) Hall. On May 19, 1948 in Genesee, PA he married Dorothy Rarick who survives.

Don was a Veteran if the U.S. Army. He was formerly employed by Bradley Producing of Wellsville, Felmont Corporation of Olean and was a union brick layer for Local 3 of Jamestown. He helped build the Washington Street School in Wellsville and several projects at Alfred State College. He was a member of several antique gas engine associations and the Grange. He also enjoyed raising and racing coon dogs.

Surviving in addition to his wife of 62 years are eight children, Gloria (William) Hamlin of Wellsville, Donald (Debra) Hall Jr. of Wellsville, Ronald (Edith) Hall of Vestal, Dennis W. Hall of Friendship, Diane (Lauren) Caward of Canisteo, Glenn (Cindy) Hall of Wellsville, Denise Perkins of Friendship and Crystal Dutton of Olean, 25 Grandchildren, 43 Great grandchildren, three sisters, Clara Cornell of Wellsville, Helen Turner of Jamestown and Roberta Johnson of Dayton, two brothers, Ronald "Sam" (Anita) Hall of Sinclairville and Harold Hall of Dayton, as well as several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by a son Vernon Hall in 1985, five sisters, Shirley Hall, Arletta Dixon, Betty Anderson, Mary Butler and Donna Neal, and one brother Nelson Hall.

Friends are invited to call on Monday, October 25, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will follow visitation at 3:00 pm in the funeral home with Rev. Doug Childress presiding. Burial, with military honors will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Edward Eugene "Ed" Whitney

Belmont, NY - Edward Eugene "Ed" Whitney, 57, of 3630 Baker Valley Road died unexpectedly on Thursday, October 21, 2010, shortly after arrival at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville. He was born on October 14, 1953 in Wellsville, the son of Leonard and Catherine "Cate" (Horn) Whitney Sr.

Ed was a life long resident of Belmont and a graduate of Belmont High School. He was formerly employed at Dresser-Rand Corporation in Wellsville and later was a self employed contractor in the Belmont area. He was currently employed by the Town of Amity, where he served as the cemetery sexton for the past 12 years. Ed took great pride in the appearance of the cemeteries and loved to hunt, fish and spend time with his family.

He is survived by his fiancé Christine Hoffman of Belmont, two daughters, Christina (Alan) Maynard of Fairfax, VT and Sara (Dane) Young of Angelica, two sons, Kenneth Whitney of Belmont and Curtis Whitney of Jamestown, three grandchildren, Dahlia and Payton Maynard and Whitney Young, four step children, Amber Reed and Ashley, Amanda and Joshua Batjer, two step grandchildren, Jessie Vincent and Julia Robson, one brother, Leonard Whitney Jr. of Wrentham, MA, two sisters, Dawn (Jim) Reniff of Belmont and Raquel Schmidt of Belmont, the mother of his children and wife of 30 plus years, Marta Whitney of Belmont as well as several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and a nephew, Eric Lowe.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday, October 24, 2010, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 17 Schuyler Street in Belmont. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 am in St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Belmont with Rev. Cole Gruberth presiding. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Belmont. Memorial donations are suggested to the Amity Rescue Squad or the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Janet M. (Ross) Tapogna

COCONUT CREEK, FLA. — Janet M. (Ross) Tapogna, 61, of 1786 Hammock Blvd., died Aug. 30, 2010, at the University Hospital/Medical Center in Tamarac, Fla., following a long illness. She was the daughter of William E. and Shirley B. (Enos) Ross.

Janet was a 1966 graduate of Wellsville High School and received a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. She was employed as the human resource manager for CCS of South Florida.

She is survived by her mother, Shirley E. Ross of Wellsville; a brother, Robert W. (Vicky) Ross of Big Flats; and two nephews, William R. Ross of Columbus, Ohio, and Stephen M. Ross of Bagram Air Force Base. She was predeceased by her father in 1992.

A memorial service in Pompano, Fla., will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations are suggested to any charity of the donor’s choice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Mary Catherine Brace

Wellsville, NY - Mary Catherine Brace, 100, of 230 West State Street died on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at Wellsville Highland Healthcare Center. She was born August 13, 1910 in Elmira, NY the daughter of Charles Henry and Mary (Regan) Lewis. On December 28, 1938 in Elmira she married Eugene Otis Brace.

Mary graduated from Elmira College in 1931. She taught French and English at Mayville High School in Mayville, NY and at Elmira Free Academy in Elmira, NY. She later taught second grade at Schererville Elementary School in Schererville, Indiana.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the Monday Club and the Immaculate Conception Parish in Wellsville. She also served as the Juliet Lowe Chairman for the Girl Scouts of America.

She is survived by two daughters, Mary Barbara (Russell Lee) Wood of Oglesby, IL, and Jeanne Suzette (Joel Yves) Le Bigot of Paris, France, and six grandchildren: Michael A. Wood, Mary Wood Clausen, Corinne Wood Goode, Julien Le Bigot, Leslie Le Bigot and Marianne Le Bigot Levinson. Also surviving are 10 great grandchildren as well as several nieces & nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Eugene Otis Brace, in 1992, and by a grandson, Brian Brace Wood, in 1972.

Friends are invited to call on Friday, October 22, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and on Saturday from 10:00 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville with Monsignor Vincent Becker as celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations are suggested to Highland Healthcare Center, 160 Seneca Street in Wellsville or to the Immaculate Conception Church, 6 Maple Avenue, Wellsville, NY 14895. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Damien A. Hadsell

Weedville, PA. / Bolivar, NY - Damien A. Hadsell a former resident of Bolivar died unexpectedly, Monday October 11, 2010. He was born on November 15, 1994 in Wellsville.

Damien had moved from Bolivar to the Bennett's Valley area a year and a half ago and was a sophomore attending St. Mary's High School. He enjoyed writing music under the pen name "Damz".

Survivors include: his parents, David and Teresa (Lewis) Gray of Weedville, PA.; a sister, Chelsea Lewis of Bolivar; 2 step brothers, Joel Hadsell and Zachary Hadsell of North Carolina; 2 half brothers, Dustin Layman and Nathanial Rose of North Carolina; maternal grandmother: Sandra (Denning) Lewis of Bolivar; paternal grandparents: Tom and Mary Layman of Belmont.

Damien was predeceased by: his father Larry Hadsell and maternal grandfather George Lewis.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, October 14, 2010 from 6-8 pm at the Ralph M. Geer Funeral Home, Penfield, PA and on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 12 noon to 2 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. The funeral service with be held at 2 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home with Rev. David Herne.

Carrie H. Decker

Belmont, NY - Carrie H. Decker, 100, a former resident of 3746 Irish Settlement Road died on Monday, October 11, 2010 McAuley Manor in Hornell. She was born June 21, 1910 in Bowmansville, PA the daughter of John W. and Maud L. (Grove) Stiles. On March 10, 1928 in Johnstown, PA she married Joseph C. Decker, Sr. who predeceased her on November 8, 1995.

Carrie was a former resident of Cleveland, Ohio and Johnstown, PA. She was a graduate of the Johnstown High School, a member of the Phillips Creek Methodist Church and had attended the Phillips Creek Mennonite Church.

A loving mother and grandmother, she is survived by a son, Joseph (Patricia) Decker Jr. of Belmont, 15 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, a number of great-great grandchildren, one sister, Wilver Decker of Covington, KY, a daughter-in-law, Tuyet Decker of Wellsville, a son-in-law, Roderick Freeland of Belmont and several nieces & nephews. She was predeceased in addition to her husband by one son, David W. Decker in 1993, two daughters, Audrey J. Freeland in 2008 and Beverly C. Saxton in 2009, one brother, Delbert Stiles and one sister, Pearl Clarey.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 17 Schuyler Street in Belmont. The funeral will be Thursday, October 14th at 1:00 pm in the funeral home with Pastor David Decker II presiding. Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Belmont. Memorial donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Amity Rescue Squad. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Florence V. "Flo" Skillman

Wellsville, NY - Florence V. "Flo" Skillman a former resident of Johnson Street passed away on Sunday, October 3, 2010, at the Wellsville Manor Care Center. On December 17, 1920 in Cleveland Ohio she was born to Arthur and Lillian Dean Earl. In Whitesville on March 28, 1947 she married Franklin A. Skillman who predeceased her on September 13, 1974.

Flo grew up in Irondequoit and moved to this area in the early 1940's. While raising her 6 daughters she worked for the Giant Food Mart and later retired from Peterson's Drug Store after many years of service. Flo had a passion for bowling, at one time she was on 5 different leagues and she bowled up until 2009. She enjoyed baseball and rooted for both the Yankee's and the Met's. Flo will be remembered for her hand made coasters and perpetual calendars as well as always having a camera. She had been a former member and officer of the Women of the Moose, the Cheery Circle in Whitesville and the Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Mulberry Twig. Flo truly loved her family and will be missed by them all.

Survivors include: 6 daughters, Marilyn (Bill) Edwards of Irondequoit: Sheila (Bill) Greene of Andover: Linda Weinreber of Wellsville: Sandra (Timothy) Aiken of Wellsville: Kathy (Dale) Mills of Port Edward and Carol (John) Spicer of Wellsville; 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; a former son in law Rick Dodd; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by: a son Frank in 1960; 3 son in laws, David Hullihen in 1999, Mark Weinreber in 2008 and Edward Klein in 1992; a grandson Jesse Dodd in 1992; 2 sisters, Leona Snyder and Louella Stilwell and a brother Howard Earl.

Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, October 6, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home. Her Funeral service will take place Thursday at 11am in the funeral home with Rev. Ralph Eastlack presiding with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the SPCA or to Christian Temple Soup Kitchen or to the Angel Food Ministries.