Victor W. “Poppy” Fiske

Wellsville, NY - Victor W. “Poppy” Fiske, age 71, of 28 South Broad Street passed away on Friday, January 27, 2017, in his home. He was born on August 18, 1945 in Olean to Gerald and Lottie Fiske.

Poppy was a long time resident of Wellsville who attended school in Bolivar. Along with his father he drove a mail truck, worked at Cuba Cheese and had been a machinist Wheel Puller in Scio and later for Dresser Rand in Wellsville. Poppy enjoyed roller skating, dancing and his grandchildren. He was a very determined man who even though he had trouble walking walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Poppy will be remembered for his soft heart who never turned anyone away.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Tonja (Ron) Baldwin of Wellsville and Stacey Plants of Monroeville, PA.; the mother of his children, Shari Hull of Wellsville; 4 grandchildren, Kali Beardsley, Kyle Lockwood, Nathan Lockwood and Colten Beardsley; several nieces and nephews and a longtime friend Craig “Beazzer” Brown.

Poppy was predeceased by his parents; a sister Marietta Genaux; a daughter Tamie Lockwood.

Friends are invited to call on Friday February 3, 2017 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday at 11 am in the funeral home. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

M. Maxine Jackson

Wellsville, NY - M. Maxine Jackson, age 93, of the Byrnes Road passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Highland Park Health Care Center with her niece Joan Dahill by her side. She was born on March 21, 1923 in Alma to Harry and Ida Gowdy Aldrich. On September 3, 1940 in Wellsville she married Lloyd Jackson who predeceased her on December 4, 1992.

Maxine was a lifelong resident of the Wellsville area who retired from Dresser Rand. She enjoyed playing cards at the Senior Citizens Center, bowling, and gardening. Maxine was bowling and mowing her own lawn until her 90th birthday and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church. Maxine loved her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed her almost weekly visits at Manor Hills from her granddaughter Tammy Latham and great grandchildren, Evan, Eryn and Logan McDowell and at times their friends too.

Maxine is survived by her son, Stanley “Mike” (Marlene) Jackson of Wellsville; her daughter, Marlene (Robert) McDowell of Wellsville; Glenn (Diane) Aldrich of Penfield who was her nephew but was brought up as her brother; grandsons, Lloyd ( Brandy) Rifenburg of Rochester, H. Glenn (Dionne) Rifenburg of Wellsville, Harley (Melissa) Lamphier of Scio, Chadwick (Rose) Jackson of Byron, David (Michele) Jackson of Spencerport, Eric (Emma) McDowell of Wellsville, Todd (Elizabeth) McDowell of Wellsville and Marc (Meadow) McDowell of Elmira Heights; a granddaughter, Tammy (Ronald) Latham of Belmont; a son in law, Robert Burton of Wellsville; sisters in law, Carol Aldrich of Scio and Lynn Aldrich of Tucson, AZ.; several great and great great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.

Maxine was predeceased by her parents; her daughter, Corrine “Pat” Lamphier; several great and great great grandchildren; 11 brother and sisters, Edward Aldrich, Theresa Aldrich, Josephine Griffin, Loretta Halladay, Doris Brown, Frank Aldrich, Betty Russell, Donnie Aldrich, Carol “Kato” Aldrich, Harley Aldrich and Ida “Peg” Aldrich.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, February 2, 2017, from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. A prayer service will be held on Friday at 10:30 am in the Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11 am in the Immaculate Conception Church. If desired memorials in her name may be made to the Manor Hill Activities Department. Burial will take place in Sacred Heart Cemetery and to leave on line condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Kevin James O’Boyle

Wellsville, NY - Kevin James O’Boyle of the Pump Station Road passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday January 27, 2017. He was born on March 3, 1963 in Manhasset to James Warner and Betty Eileen Reinisch O’Boyle.

Kevin was a former resident to Kane, Pennsylvania from where he graduated from High School in 1981. In 1987 Kevin graduated from Penn State University and began his career at Air Preheater in Wellsville where he currently was the Director of Research and Development. Kevin loved to fish. He especially enjoyed fishing with his family in the Kane, PA. Area and near the Kinzua Dam. Kevin was very much about his children and his beloved grandson.

Survivors include his son Jeffrey (Samantha) O’Boyle of Wellsville; his daughter, Sara O’Boyle of Rexville; his mother, Betty O’Boyle of Kane, PA.; his grandson Liam O’Boyle; his sister, Daria (James) Byham of Kane, PA.; the mother of his children, Annette Meunier of Rexville; several nieces and nephews.

Kevin was predeceased by his father, James O’Boyle and his sister, Debra Nourse.

Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. On Wednesday friends are invited to call at the Cummings Funeral Home in Kane, PA. from 2 to 3 pm, followed by a graveside service at 3:30 pm in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Kane, PA .Memorials in Kevin’s name may be made to the Air Preheater Benevolent Club, 3020 Truax Road, Wellsville, NY.  14895 To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Gary A Swetland

Belmont, NY - Gary A Swetland of 13 Schuyler Street, Belmont, NY passed away Monday, January 23, 2017 at the VA Hospital in Buffalo, NY following a brief illness surrounded by his loving daughter Brittni and family.

Gary was born August 29,1959 in Chateuroux, France and was a son of Jack P. Swetland Sr. and Sally (Bearfield) Swetland. Gary was a graduate of Olean High School and carried on the family tradition of military service when he enlisted in the US Navy in 1979 where he was assigned to the USS. California (CGN/36). After four years of military service, Gary received an honorable discharge and then pursued careers in trucking and construction. Gary was an active member of American Legion Post 808, in Belmont NY, AmVets Post 1 of Cuba, NY and the VFW Post 2530 in Wellsville, NY.

Gary is survived by daughter Brittni Swetland and Grandson Joey Monachino of Rochester, NY, former Wife and friend Nikki VanDixon, Mother Sally Swetland of Hinsdale, NY, Siblings Jack (Valerie) P. Swetland Jr. of Belmont, NY, Debra (Joe) Baer of Olean, NY, Patty (Donnie) Bland of Sherrodsville, OH, Michael (Carol) Swetland of Hinsdale, NY, Laura (Tom) Rogers of Allegany NY and Sue Giardini of Allegany NY and several nephews and nine nieces.

Gary was predeceased by Father Jack Paul Swetland Sr of Olean,NY, Uncles Richard Swetland of Olean NY.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, January 26th at Embser Funeral Home in Belmont from 5 to 7 PM.  A service will be held immediately following visitation.  If desired, memorials may be made to the donor's choice.  To leave on-line condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Jessica Ann Hanchet

Wellsville, NY - Jessica Ann Hanchett, 27, formerly of 3293 Proctor Road died on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in Buffalo. She was born October 18, 1989 in Wellsville the daughter of Michael and Lisa (Forness) Ainsworth. 

Jessica was a 2007 graduate of Whitesville High School and attended Finger Lakes Community College. She was employed as a private duty healthcare aide in the Wellsville and Whitesville area for several years; until she moved to Buffalo a year ago. She loved playing softball, Basketball and Soccer for Whitesville while in high school and soccer for Fingerlakes. For the past several years she played with the Wellsville Women’s Slow Pitch Softball League. She enjoyed spending time with her family; who will miss her wonderful sense of humor.

Surviving in addition to her parents of Whitesville, are two sisters, Courtney Ainsworth and Serena Ainsworth both of Whitesville, one brother, Joshua Hanchett of Wellsville, maternal grandparents, Tom and Marilyn Forness of Wellsville, paternal grandparents, Bonnie and Terry Timmerman of Whitesville, aunts and uncles, Kelly and Dan Goodridge, Chris and Jamie Forness, Kara and Michael Bowers, and Kim Forness, two great grandmothers, Dot Lerch of Ulysses, PA and Ruth (Lemar) Solley of Zephyrhills, FL, as well several beloved cousins. She was predeceased by two uncles, Pat Forness and Dan Ainsworth. 

Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, January 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State Street in Wellsville. The funeral follow visitation at 7:00 pm in the funeral home. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Please consider memorial donations to the Wellsville Women’s Slow Pitch Softball League. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.  

Maxine E. Whitesell

Wellsville, NY- Maxine E. Whitesell, age 84, of the Stannards Road passed away on Thursday January 12, 2017 at Jones Memorial Hospital. She was born on September 13, 1932 in Wellsville to Lowell and Mae Reynolds Morrison. On February 25, 1949 in Wellsville she married Alvin Whitesell who predeceased her on August 11, 2015.

Maxine was a lifelong resident of the Wellsville area who had worked for the former Towne Motel on the Bolivar Road. Every year she looked forward to the Wellsville Balloon Rally and the Andover Fourth of July celebration. She enjoyed traveling with her family and bowled in the Wellsville Woman’s Bowling League. Maxine was a long time member of the Brookside Wesleyan Church of Wellsville.

Maxine is survived by 4 sons, Gerald (Mary) Whitesell of Kodak, TN., Tom (Lottie) Whitesell of Johnsonburg, PA., Randy (Sylvia) Whitesell of Andover and Danny Whitesell of Ithaca; 2 daughters, Cindy (Gary) Smith of Akron, OH., and Kay (Thomas) Simkins of Wellsville; a sister, Ardell Krause of Tonawanda; 14 grandchildren; 43 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Maxine was predeceased by her parents; her husband; 3 brothers, Andy, Ron and, Don Morrison as well as her sister Evelyn Dressig.

Friends are invited to call on Monday, January 16, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville. Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11 am in the funeral home with Reverend Robin George presiding. Memorials in Maxine’s name may be made to either the Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps or the Andover Volunteer Ambulance Corps. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Harold Eugene Lehman

Bluffton, Ohio - Harold Eugene Lehman, age 84, died on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton, Ohio, where he resided since December 2014.

Harold was born August 6, 1932 in Lancaster County, PA to Daniel and Ada (Hossler) Lehman who preceded him in death. On February 3, 1954, he married Beulah (Kinsey) Lehman who died August 5, 1998.  On November 18, 2000, he married Bonnie (Krantz) Lehman who survives.

Harold was a dearly loved brother, husband, Daddy, uncle, Grandpa, Great Grandpa and friend.  He worked as a farmer as well as a cost estimator at Air Preheater Company in Wellsville, NY.  Following his retirement he traveled the region to sell and install Taylor furnaces.  Harold loved Jesus and enjoyed people; often engaging with singing and story telling that he incorporated into his various roles as Sunday School worship leader and Bible School superintendent.  He delighted in playing with and interacting with children, doing tricks to teach a moral or lesson, working with his children on the farm and in the garden.  Many children and youth spent time in the Lehman home in foster care. Harold recorded memories of his growing-up years and the years of raising a family in his two-book series.

Harold is survived by eleven children: Vernon Lehman (wife Mary) of Cuba, NY; Louise Matthews (husband Lawrence) of Bluffton, Elaine Zello (husband Jim) of Canon City, CO, Wayne Lehman (wife Vicki) of Westfield, PA; Anita Eastlack (husband Karl) of Allentown, PA, Eugene Lehman of Fennville, MI; Mervin Lehman of Knoxville, TN; Alma Thompson (husband Brent) of Columbus, OH, Daryl Lehman (wife Virginia) of Jamestown, NY; Pauletta Schenck (husband Roger) of Landis, NC and Paul Lehman (wife Renee) of Buffalo Junction, VA; as well as 43 grandchildren and 30 great grand children.  Four siblings also survive: John Lehman (wife Elizabeth) of Westfield, PA; Betty Gerlach of Manheim, Verna Habecker (husband Chet) of Lititz, PA and Leroy Lehman (wife Nancy) of Manheim, PA.  Harold is also survived by his wife, Bonnie Krantz Lehman as well as three step-sons: Tim Krantz (wife Kim), Jeff Krantz (wife April) and Mike Krantz, as well as eight step-grandchildren, all of Clarence Center, NY.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Beulah, son Glenn Lehman and siblings Marlin Lehman and Mildred Pott.

A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15 at Yorks Corners Mennonite Church, 3350 Co Rd 29, Wellsville, NY 14895. Burial will be at Yorks Corners Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4:00 p.m. and 7-9:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14 at Embser Funeral Home at 34 West State Street in Wellsville, NY, 14895 and one hour before the funeral at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Penn-York Camp, 266 Northern Potter Road, Ulysses, PA 16948 or Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 West Elm Street, Bluffton, OH 45817. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Evelyn F. (Bartell) Reed

Wellsville, NY - Evelyn F. (Bartell) Reed, 99, of 160 Seneca Street, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Highland Park Healthcare Center. She was born November 12, 1917 in Erie, PA, the daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Phillips) Bartell.

 

She was a 1935 graduate of Randolph High School in Guys Mills, PA. She made maintaining the family home and raising her children her highest priority. She was a member of the first LPN training course of Hamot Medical Center. Later, she worked as a private duty LPN, at the Sarah Reed Retirement Community, the Hamot Medical Center, and the Visiting Nurses Association of Erie County, where she retired from in 1967.  

 

Over the years she was a member of the Girard Presbyterian Church, the Calvary Christian Church of Erie and the Bethel Presbyterian Church of Cranesville, PA. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, exercise, walking, and was a member of the Nautilus Club of Erie, Curves of Northeast, PA, the Audubon Society of Sun City, FL., the Battered Women and Children’s Association of Ruskin, FL, the Hospice of Tampa, the Sun City Emergency Squad, and the Sun City Lawn Bowling Association.

 

She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia A. Carey of Walnut Creek, CA. and Martha“Marti” Cinque and her husband Donald of Wellsville, NY, a step-son, Fred W. Reed and his wife Sally of Erie, PA, two step-daughters, Sally Southard and her husband Jack of Oxford, OH, and Karen Prior and her husband Frank of Denver, CO, two sisters, Gail Trace of Meadville and Kathryn “Kay” Derrough of Omaha Falls, NE seven grandchildren, Scott, Christopher, and Todd Carey, Brian and James Eastman, Douglas Cinque, and Michelle Cinque-Guarglia, and her husband Anthony, six great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

 

She was preceded in death by her first husband, James Eastman; her second husband, Edwin Gray; her third husband, Fred A. Reed; a son, Edward J. Eastman, a step daughter, Nancy Ross, and three sisters, Virginia Kahlor, Edith Anderson, and Mary Turner  

 

Friends are invited to call on Saturday, January 7, 2017, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Daniel R. Edder Funeral Home, 309 Main Street East, in Girard, Pennsylvania. A Memorial service will follow the visitation at 3:00 pm in the funeral Home. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Erie Pennsylvania. Please consider memorial donations to the SPCA Serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.