Blog Archives

Michael "Mikey" Kinchla

10/29/2023

                                                                    In Loving Memory of Michael (Mike, Mikey) Kinchla, aged 35, who passed away on October 29, 2023 after a brief illness. He was a beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
                                      Mike was born on Valentine’s Day 1988 in Falmouth, MA, and grew up in Sandwich, MA. His lifelong passion for golf began at Sandwich Hollows Golf Club and in his Senior year at Sandwich High School, he accomplished his goal of helping to lead the Blue Knights to a Massachusetts State Championship. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Northeastern University on scholarship and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication.
          His professional career in Sports Marketing began with Comcast SportsNet New England and NBC Sports Boston, affording him the opportunity to work in conjunction with the sports scene he cared about so much and witness in person countless games and moments over the historic run of success his favorite teams experienced. A more intense Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Tiger Woods fan would be impossible to find. Most recently, he proudly worked as the Manager of Marketing Content & Strategy for Syracuse University Athletics. Throughout his career, he was known for his hard work and dedication and was beloved by his colleagues.
          Above all,   Mike was an extremely loving friend, brother, uncle and son. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and friends; sharing stories, watching sports, playing games, dancing, and listening to music. He enjoyed skiing, playing recreational softball, and participating in any competitive activity imaginable. A talented golfer, he could always be counted on to participate in charity tournaments and enjoyed the privilege of traveling to visit some of the country’s best courses, both as a PGA Tour fan and as a competitor.
          Mike will forever be remembered most for his genuine kindness, being a loving family man, a loyal friend, the brightest light in every room he entered.
        Mike is survived by his mother Michele Kinchla (Marty Castle), his sisters Sarah O’Connor (Paul O’Connor), Elizabeth Taylor (Eric Taylor), his brother Daniel Kinchla Ballard (Luke Ballard), and his nephews and nieces Devin, Aidan, and Gavin O’Connor, Ella and Layla Centofanti, and Caleb Taylor.
                                                                                                                                             Mike’s light will forever shine in our hearts, and his memory will continue to inspire us to live our lives with the same kindness, humor, and passion that he displayed every day.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A funeral service will be held for family and close friends at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home 49 Jordan Street Skaneateles, New York 13152 on Monday November 6th, 2023 from 11:00am to 1:00pm with a service at 1. Followed by a Reception at the American Legion 3808 Jordan Rd. Skaneateles, NY 13152.
At a later date there will be a Celebration of Life in Massachusetts.

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Rosemary S. Harms

10/24/2023

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              Rosemary S. Harms passed away peacefully at home in Skaneateles, NY on October 24, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Rosemary was born on October 25, 1941, in Stafford, UK,
the daughter of Barbara and David Duff. She graduated from Stafford High School in 1960, the University of Liverpool’s I.M. Marsh College of Physical Education in 1963, and Texas Tech University’s graduate interdisciplinary landscape architecture program in 1996.
                                           She married the love of her life, Martin J. Harms, at Castle Church in Stafford in May 1963. Rosemary and Martin recently celebrated 60 years of marriage and their love for one another. Their lifetime together spanned across multiple countries and states and through their shared passion for travel, exploration, and design.
                                  Rosemary started her career as a high school education teacher in Cambridge, UK. In 1973, Rosemary and Martin moved with their beloved daughter, Rachel, to Ithaca NY, where Martin taught architecture at Cornell University. For Rosemary, the move opened a whole new world of opportunity to pursue her creative gifts as a dance choreographer and festival producer by founding the Kaleidoscope Children’s Dance Center and organizing the Ithaca Arts Festival. Her love for gardening also first blossomed in Ithaca, where she created wonderful outdoor landscapes that complemented Martin’s architectural designs. Rosemary’s passions found further expression during subsequent moves to Raleigh, NC, where she served as the student affairs director of the American Dance Festival, and to Philadelphia, PA, where she worked as alumni director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and director of The Tree House, a children’s creative expression exploration center at the Philadelphia Zoo.
                                       Rosemary’s life-long interest in the natural environment was further stimulated by moving to Lubbock, TX in the 1990s. There, she conceived and planted her own semi-desert garden at a new home designed by Martin. In parallel, she accomplished a graduate degree dissertation focused on a section of the western desert eco system of Big Bend National Park. During the couple’s next stop, Rosemary had a notable impact on California Central Coast’s spectacular natural beauty as the first executive director of the fledgling San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden.
                                                                                                                                                  Finally, coming back home to the upstate New York Finger Lakes region in 2018 to be close to her daughter’s family in Skaneateles, Rosemary collaborated with Martin in renovating their 1930s cottage home. The design and installation of its south-east facing garden was her crowning achievement.
               Rosemary is survived by her beloved family; husband Martin, daughter Rachel (Steve Datz), granddaughter Lily Datz, sister Catherine Bhageerutty (Robin), and extended UK family.

                                                                                                  Calling hours will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home in Skaneateles.

                                                        A    celebration of Rosemary’s life will take place in the
spring of 2024 as her garden comes back into bloom.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

                Rosemary and her family will be forever grateful for the three wonderful caretakers who ensured that she was comfortable and at peace in her own home throughout the last stage of her rich and varied life.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Marian Isabel Bower

10/21/2023

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        Marian Isabel Bower, our beloved “Gram”, was called to heaven on October 21, 2023. Isabel was born on August 15, 1923 in Wapwallopen, PA. She was the eldest of five daughters, born to the late L. Bruce and Verna Thomas.
            Isabel graduated from Berwick High School in 1940. She went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Marvin T. Bower, in 1943. Isabel worked for WISE Potato Chip Factory for 32 years. When asked if she ever snuck a chip, she would reply, “I sure did, a lot of them,” followed by her lovable laugh. Eventually retiring from Sears at the age of 80, Isabel continued as an active member of the Summerhill Ladies Auxiliary and Bethany United Methodist Church. She also spent hundreds of hours volunteering on election days and at the Berwick Hospital Gift Shop. At the young age of 90, she moved from Berwick, PA to Skaneateles, NY to live with her daughter, Judy, and son-in-law, Ed. It was here that she spent the last ten years of her life, always surrounded by love and family.
                     Isabel had her faith, family, and an abundance of feistiness.
                                                                                                                  All qualities that allowed her to live a wonderfully long life. She spent summers at the family cottage in White Lake, Ontario and her winters soaking in the Florida sun. She loved reading, fishing, bowling, dancing and sports. She was always routing for her favorite sports teams, the Berwick Bulldogs, Penn State football and of course, Syracuse basketball. Her greatest joy of all, was her family. A true matriarch, who will be so greatly missed.
                                                                                In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Bower, who passed away in 1980; four sisters, Betty Birge, Shirley Veale, Ethel McQuown, Janice Kishbaugh; two nephews, Larry Schnorr and David Bower. She sadly had to say goodbye to so many close friends over the years, as well.
                                                                                She is survived by her daughter, Judy (Ed) Fenstermacher of Skaneateles, NY; two grandchildren, Scott (Janine) Fenstermacher of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Suzan (Jared) Ryan of Owasco, NY; three great grand-children, Grayden and Nora Fenstermacher and Benjamin Ryan.
                                                In addition to her immediate family, she is also survived by several nieces and nephews; Susan Varner and her partner William Hoffner, of Bloomsburg, PA; Sherry Kishbaugh of Bloomsburg, PA; Deborah Esper and her husband Dr. Alan Esper of Erie, PA; Cathy Siak of Hunlock Creek, PA; Dennis Veale and his wife Donna of Southampton, PA; and George McQuown of Berwick, PA.
                                 A special thank you from the family to Dr. James Connelly, Cardiologist and Colleen Saxton, NP, for their excellent care. Isabel thought very highly of you both. Also, to Donna Brazee, thank you for loving our Gram and helping with her care over the past year.
                       To honor Isabel’s wishes, there will be a family ceremony held at White Lake, Ontario next summer. A private burial will be held at a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery, Berwick PA. Memorials may be made in her name to: Bethany Church of Berwick, 116 Summerhill Avenue, Berwick, PA 18603 or Four Town First Aid Squad, PO Box 28, Moravia, NY 13118.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Richard Gustav Niebuhr

10/20/2023

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    Richard Gustav Niebuhr, a journalist and author whose reporting on religion fundamentally changed how the subject is covered by journalists and perceived by readers, died at his home in Skaneateles, N.Y. on Oct. 20. The cause of death was long-term complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
    Niebuhr was among the first journalists to recognize what political reporters today take as axiomatic: despite the waning influence of mainline denominations, religious belief plays a central role in American political and civic life. His work helped move coverage of religion out of traditional “church news” columns and onto the front page of national newspapers.
Raised in Arlington, Mass., Niebuhr worked summers during his teen years as a wrangler and horseback riding guide at Ring Lake Ranch, an ecumenical retreat center in Wyoming. After graduating Pomona College in 1977 and earning a master’s in history from Oxford in 1980, Niebuhr began his journalism career in 1980 at the Berkshire Eagle in Massachusetts. He worked at the New Orleans Times-Picayune before lobbying the Atlanta Journal-Constitution - ultimately successfully - to hire him to cover religion and politics in 1986. He not only wrote about the US but also traveled on behalf of the paper to report on the growing influence of evangelicals in Central America and tension between Marxism and Christianity in Cuba.
    In successive stints at the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times and as an occasional guest on National Public Radio, Niebuhr explored the broad impact of religion on society in the U.S. and globally. He interviewed the Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh, explored President Bill Clinton’s use of religious language and interviewed Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel for a 2000 Turner Classic Movies documentary. In 1994, he swept the top awards given by the Religion Newswriters Association for stories that included an analysis of the tragedy at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. “You can’t write about the modern world without knowing about religion," Niebuhr said in 2010 upon receiving the William A. Reed Lifetime Achievement Award.
    In 2001, Niebuhr moved to academia as a scholar in residence at the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. In 2004, he joined the faculty of Syracuse University, later becoming an associate professor of religion and the media. He held an honorary doctorate from Elmhurst College, where his grandfather H. Richard Niebuhr served as president, and taught and lectured widely, including at Union and Princeton Theological seminaries, the Chautauqua Institution, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and in Japan for the U.S. Department of State. His October 2011 Harvard Divinity School talk at the centennial celebration of the Andover-Harvard Theological Library testifies to the potential transformative power of dialogue across faiths and political divides that is so needed today.
    Niebuhr authored two books. Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America (Viking, 2008) explored interfaith cooperation in US history, beginning with George Washington’s 1790 letter assuring the members of Touro Synagogue in Newport, R.I. that the “government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction.” Lincoln’s Bishop: A President, a Priest, and the Fate of 300 Dakota Sioux Warriors (HarperOne, 2014), told the story of the Episcopal prelate who convinced Abraham Lincoln to grant clemency to 265 Sioux men condemned to die by a Minnesota military tribunal.
    Niebuhr came from a family that exerted an outsized influence on American religious thought. He was the great-nephew of renowned 20th century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, the grandson of theologian H. Richard Niebuhr, and the son of Richard R. Niebuhr, a professor at Harvard Divinity School.
    A soft-spoken man with a gentle, dry wit, Niebuhr balanced serious intellectual pursuits with warmth and generosity of spirit inherited from his mother Nancy Mullican Niebuhr. His articles included vivid descriptions of a former investment banker stocking an underground bunker with canned squash and gold coins to wait out the coming end of the world and a heated fight between the Vatican and biologists seeking to preserve a rare squirrel.
    In 1994, Niebuhr married his former Atlanta Journal-Constitution colleague Margaret Lillian Usdansky, now a sociologist and founding director of the Center for Learning and Student Success at Syracuse University. As Niebuhr told it, the New York Times proposed to him shortly before he proposed to Usdansky, and he turned the Times down until editors there agreed to let him work in Washington while Usdansky completed a master’s degree at Georgetown University. Niebuhr took Usdansky to the Clinton White House, Japan, India, Windsor Castle and Greece. The couple raised two sons: Christopher George Niebuhr, a senior research analyst at Beacon Policy Advisors in Washington, D.C., and Jonathan Richard Niebuhr, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
    Beginning in their infancy, Niebuhr took his sons on outings and reporting trips, sharing his love of discovery, reading, and travel with them and creating time and space for Margaret to pursue her research. In the summer of 2007, his family met him in the UK, where he was teaching a summer course. After exploring London museums and the neighborhood where Charles Dickens set Oliver Twist, the family went on to Wales. In 2012, they made their first trip to Argentina.
    Despite his illness, diagnosed in 2013, the family continued to travel widely in the U.S. and abroad, to Canada, Patagonia, and Peru. In December 2022, they traveled down the Nile, fulfilling Niebuhr’s lifelong dream of visiting Egypt. Niebuhr also took his sons on solo trips, including to New Hampshire to meet presidential candidates ahead of the 2016 primary (Christopher) and a 79-mile hike in Scotland (Jonathan) in 2017.
    Niebuhr is also survived by his sister, Sarah Niebuhr, her husband Lynn Coale, nieces, Katie Jennings and Lisa Coale and their husbands Lance Jennings and Eric Shaeffer. In recent years, Niebuhr drew great joy from exchanging drawings and letters with his grandnieces Analise and Ella Jennings and Maeve Shaeffer and grandnephew Finn Shaeffer.
    A memorial service will be held on Dec. 29 at Syracuse University. Donations may be sent to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, https://www.fllt.org/donate/

To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Michael (Mike) William Allen

10/13/2023

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In Loving Memory of Michael (Mike) William Allen
April 29, 1947 – October 13, 2023 Boca Raton, Florida –
    It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Michael, a man whose kindness and generosity left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
    Born in Rochester, New York, Mike was a unique individual who found his greatest joy in making others happy through the gift of his warm spirit and thoughtful gestures. Mike found joy in the simple things, like the warm embrace of family and friends, the laughter of loved ones, and in timeless melodies.
    A gifted communicator with a lifelong passion for politics, real estate, and a successful career as a CFO, Mike was a consummate promoter and a true cosmopolitan at heart. Mike's unwavering confidence and positive outlook on life made him a source of inspiration to many. His sense of humor was legendary, and he possessed the remarkable ability to entertain with ease, all while displaying an impeccable taste that was uniquely his.
    Mike's journey began at Skaneateles Central High School and continued at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He later served as Deputy County Clerk for Monroe County, leaving his mark on the community he called home.
    In the early 1970s, Mike joined the family businesses, L-Tron and Skan-a-Matic Corporation(s), in Skaneateles, NY, where he played an instrumental role in the company's growth as its CFO. Under his leadership, a new division was established in Boca Raton, Florida, before the company's sale to Hawker Sideley Corporation in 1988. Transitioning into entrepreneurship, Mike became a respected real estate broker and investor, splitting his time between Boca Raton, Florida, and his beloved Rochester, New York. In 2016, he made Boca Raton his full-time residence, where he continued to pursue his passion for real estate, design, and development.
    Mike's legacy will forever be cherished by those who had the privilege of sharing his life. His quick wit, unforgettable one-liners, unwavering commitment to politics, discerning tastes, and the boundless love he held for his family and friends will remain in our hearts.
    Mike was the cherished eldest son of M.W. (Bill) and Becky Allen, and he leaves behind his loving sister, Jody Allen of Boca Raton, Florida, and his brother, Bill Allen, along with their families in West Linn, Oregon. He is predeceased by his brother, Patric Allen.
    In honor of Michael's memory, a celebration of his life will be planned for a later time and place to be determined. There will be no calling hours or services. The family kindly requests donations be made to The Lynn Cancer Institute at 701 NW 13th St in Boca Raton, FL 33486.
Michael's light will forever shine in our hearts, and his memory will continue to inspire us to live our lives with the same kindness, humor, and passion that he displayed every day.
    "A warm smile is the universal language of kindness." - William Arthur Ward
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Shirley Hendricks Perry

10/12/2023

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Shirley Hendricks Perry, 94, died peacefully on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at the Finger Lakes Center for Living in Auburn, New York. Most recently a resident of Skaneateles, New York, Shirley led a long and accomplished life: she was a spy, an educator, an activist, a consultant, an author, and a loving daughter, sister, wife and mother.

Shirley grew up in Moro, Illinois, and attended high school in neighboring Alton. She majored in English and drama at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating summa cum laude with a Phi Beta Kappa key in 1950. After spotting a cryptic message on a university job board announcing that a “government agency” was interviewing graduates, in 1952 Shirley found herself working as a case officer for the CIA in Vienna, Austria. Reporting to the head of operations, she worked on the Soviet desk handling undercover surveillance, photographic analysis and profiling measures targeting Soviet agents.

Returning from a ski trip to Salzburg, Austria aboard the daily U.S. military train known as “The Mozart Express,” Shirley met U.S. Army Sergeant Robert S. Perry of the 430th Counter-Intelligence Detachment; the couple married in Vienna in 1954, after Robert received CIA clearance to marry an operative. Shirley and Robert continued their intelligence careers until 1964, serving in Washington D.C. and Munich, Germany after their tour in Vienna. In 1970, Robert’s new job with the First National Bank of Boston brought them back to Europe, to Luxembourg, where Shirley founded the American School of Luxembourg, the first English-language school in the country, and served as its director and board chair.

Upon the family’s return to the States in 1974, Shirley settled with her family in Manchester, Massachusetts. There she became involved in political groups centered on women’s issues, including the local League of Women Voters and the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, for which she chaired the Education Committee. Shirley became an ardent advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment and attended the 1977 National Women’s Conference in Houston, Texas. Increasingly more engaged with politics, in 1980 she spearheaded local campaign efforts on behalf of Republican presidential candidate John B. Anderson and was named a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1981, the family relocated again, to Toronto, Ontario, where Shirley attended graduate school and earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 1984. She worked at the consultancy Arthur D. Little in Toronto, and then, back in Massachusetts, served as the political and economic adviser to the Canadian Consulate in Boston from 1987 to 1994. During this time, Shirley rekindled her love for the theater as a member of the Fenway Players and the Chekhov Company at Boston University. With the Fenway Players she performed the lead role of Arkadina in The Seagull in 1992, and the following year traveled to Russia with the Chekhov Company for the Chekov Drama Festival in Yalta.

After several years in the pharmaceutical industry, Shirley retired in 1999 and settled in Oxford, Mississippi, the home of one of her favorite authors, William Faulkner. Inspired by the rich literary history of this college town, Shirley worked on a memoir, receiving encouragement from writers such as Barry Hannah. She also volunteered at the Interfaith Compassion Ministry, served as a board member of the local Arts Council, and became secretary of the Lafayette County Democratic Committee. Shirley even found time to continue her thespian pursuits, performing with Theater Oxford and appearing as an extra in several movies filmed in nearby Memphis, Tennessee, including the Academy Award-winning 21 Grams.

Shirley published her memoir, After Many Days: My Life as a Spy and Other Grand Adventures, in 2010 and embarked on a speaking tour around the country, which culminated in a talk at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. (available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spycast/id201680433?i=1000089826750).

After 16 years in Oxford, Shirley moved to Skaneateles in 2015 to be closer to family. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed attending her grandson’s school and sports events.

Shirley will be remembered for her adventurousness and passion for travel, her independence, her conviction and resolve, her abiding faith, her devotion to her family, her generosity to her friends, her erudition and grammar, her grace and style, and her fondness for liberal pundits, leopard print and espresso.

Shirley is survived by her children, Andrea and Robert (Andrea), her grandson George, and her sister, Marilyn. A funeral/memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 20, at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home in Skaneateles. To send condolences, visit: https://www.robertdgrayfuneralhome.com/.

Andrea and Robert would like to thank the staff at the Finger Lakes Center for Living for their kindness and compassion in caring for Shirley, particularly in her last days.

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Daniel F. Kehoe, Jr.

10/11/2023

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    Daniel F. Kehoe, Jr., 86, of Skaneateles, passed away peacefully at the Commons on St. Anthony, on October 11, 2023, after a long illness.
    Daniel was born on May 3, 1937, in Plattsburgh, NY to Daniel F. and Maude Garvey Kehoe. He graduated from Willsboro High School in 1955 and SUNY Albany with a B.S. in 1960 and an M.S. in 1965. He taught science courses in Pine Bush High School for 5 years, and then taught Chemistry, Electronics, and Earth Science at Cayuga Community College for 34 years. He received the CCC Excellence in Teaching Award for 1994-1995.
    Daniel was predeceased by his father, mother, and sister Mary Consadine. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wilma Kuhl Kehoe, daughter Kathleen (William) Cobb, son Daniel W. (Laura) Kehoe, son Michael J. (Shannon) Kehoe, and grandchildren Kayden Warren, Haley Kehoe, Miranda Cobb, Geoffrey Cobb, Tara Kehoe, Julia Kehoe, sister-in-law Sister Ellen Kuhl, and brother-in-law William Kuhl.
    Daniel was a ham radio operator for many years. He enjoyed boating, camping, working on his small farm, antique tractors, caring for his indoor and outdoor cats, and spending time with family. Upon retirement, he and his wife traveled to Ireland many times to explore his Irish heritage.
    A funeral Mass will be held on October 17, 2023, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, Skaneateles. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Skaneateles.
    In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to SAVES Ambulance, Skaneateles NY.
    The family would like to thank the staff at the Commons on St. Anthony for their compassionate care and support over the past few months.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Donald A. McCall

10/11/2023

8 Comments

    Don McCall, 92, of Skaneateles, died peacefully with family by his side on Wednesday, October 11, following a brief illness. Born in Syracuse to Ed and Loretta McCall, Don graduated from St. Anthony’s High School on the South Side in 1949, where he played basketball and football in the famous Syracuse Parochial League. He was a member of the third graduating class at Le Moyne College in 1953, where he received his BS degree in economics.
    After graduating from LeMoyne, Don served as a waterworks engineer in the US Army in France, where he was a member of the first integrated squadron in the Army and successfully defended the French populous from foreign invasion and non-potable water sources during the Korean War. Don spent his entire career in the finance industry, working his way up from chasing down delinquent payments and repossessing cars for GMAC—where he once had to collect a past-due payment from former Syracuse University football great Jimmy Brown. He retired as Vice President of Leasing with Chase Manhattan Bank after 25 years of service.
    Always active in community service, Don was a communicant of St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church and a member of the Skaneateles Rotary Club and American Legion Post 239—as well as a long-time volunteer for the Francis House, FISH, Laker Limo, and Meals on Wheels, among others. An avid—although admittedly not particularly skilled—golfer and skier, Don continued to enjoy those pursuits for most of his life, skiing in the Italian Dolomites at 83 and playing the championship courses at PGA West at 88.
    In addition to his parents, Ed and Loretta, and younger brother, Jim McCall of St. Augustine, FL, Don was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife Anne P. McCall. He is survived by his three children Tim (Cindy) McCall of Cazenovia, Tom (Vicki) McCall of Bonita Springs, FL, and Sue (Michael) Boughton of Pensacola, FL, three stepchildren Debbie McInerney of Bloomfield, CT, Tara Gwynn of West Hartford, CT, and Brooke Mayger of Ft. Lauderdale FL, 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
    Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, at St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Skaneateles, after which Don will be buried next to Anne in Lake View Cemetery.
    A celebration of life reception will follow at the Sherwood Inn. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Don’s name to The Francis House, 108 Michaels Ave, Syracuse, NY 13208.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Lynn Ottman

10/9/2023

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    Lynn Ottman, aka Lovely Luscious Lynn was a woman with a heart full of compassion and a spirit dedicated to spreading love, passed away on October 9, 2023 at the age of eighty-one.
    She was born on May 26, 1942 to her loving parents, Mary and Forty Belmore, in Tupper Lake, NY. Lynn was predeceased by her parents, sister BJ and brother-in-law Robert Tissiere.
    Lynn's dedication to brightening the lives of others was unwavering. She had a special knack for sending cards and heartfelt notes to those who needed a boost in their spirits. Lynn's commitment to this gesture was so strong that the card industry itself will feel her absence, as she generously supported it, even when she could no longer make the trips to the store herself. She often asked, "Can you pick up a couple of cards for me?" Lynn had a playful side, and if she ever teased or picked on you, consider yourself truly loved and adored.
    Those fortunate enough to be in Lynn's presence were blessed by her warmth, humor and kindness. She cherished every family member and friend who walked through the doors of her home.
    Her love for her husband of sixty-three years, Richard, was unyielding. Lynn's children, Penny Feeney, Derrick (Caitlin Archer), and Melinda DeCola (Chris), as well as her grandchildren Hannah, Devyn, Jonas, Sam, Bella, Caleb, and Libby, were the pride and joy of her life. She cherished moments spent playing cards, watching movies, reading books, and simply being with them. In addition to her immediate family, Lynn's sister-in-law Reba and numerous nieces and nephews brought immense joy to her life.
    Lynn and Richard embarked on various adventures and travels throughout their marriage, and the friends they made along the way became an integral part of their extended family.
    The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Karin Kroeger for her exceptional and compassionate care. After each visit with Dr. Karin, Lynn would often say, "I just feel so much better after talking to Dr. Karin."
    A memorial service to celebrate Lynn's remarkable life will be held on October 14, at 3:00, with calling hours from 1:00 - 2:30 at the Elbridge Community Church.
    In lieu of flowers, Lynn's family kindly requests that donations in her memory be made to the JE Musical Players at JE High School, PO BOX 901, Jordan, NY 13080. Lynn enjoyed attending JE Musicals whenever she could, and this is a fitting way to honor her memory.
    Lynn Ottman's legacy of spreading love and kindness through cards and her warm presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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Diane Judith (Chumley) Fellerman

10/8/2023

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    Diane Judith (Chumley) Fellerman, 81 years old, of Skaneateles, New York, passed away on October 8, 2023, at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York. She was known as a dedicated mother, a devoted parishioner of Skaneateles Presbyterian Church, and an engaged and opinionated member of the Skaneateles community.
    Diane was born to Marion Everett Chumley and June (MacKenzie) Chumley on December 29, 1941, at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Diane graduated from Robbinsdale High School and earned a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics from the University of Minnesota. Early in her career, she taught cooking classes, engineered lighting programs, and did recipe development for Byerly's in Minneapolis, MN.
    Diane married Arthur W. Fellerman (predeceased, December 2013) in 1972. She was fond of re-telling her promise to Art that "I cannot guarantee you'll always be happy, but I'm certain you'll never be bored!" They shared a loving marriage of 41 years filled with growth, adventure, and multiple projects in and around their homes. With sons Gerich and Mark, they camped, skied, and traveled extensively.
    Later in life, as both an empty-nester with Art, and as a widow, she continued to travel, learn, and be delighted by our world. As her family matured, Diane joined the Cornell Cooperative Extension team helping the community connect with resources to support businesses, farms, and families.
    Once her sons had left for college, Diane converted their Victorian farmhouse on West Lake Road into a well-regarded Bed and Breakfast. Her naturally curious and convivial manner, coupled with her love of the Finger Lakes, made her a perfect innkeeper.
    In 1998, Diane was diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer, which she survived, to the surprise of some of America's best surgeons. While a victory, it was not the only battle to be fought. Over the next 20 years, Diane overcame multiple medical issues, leaving her on a first-name basis with local doctors and nurses. Until now, she always came home to the thankful but sometimes bewildered surprise of many. Although she will be missed every second of every day, her family
appreciates the mercy of God for having called her home so quickly and conclusively this time.
    She will be remembered as an optimistic fighter who was always up for a cup of coffee, a conversation, or an adventure. Besides her commitment to her family, Diane was active at Skaneateles Presbyterian Church, The Monday Evening Club, the University of Minnesota Skeewaksurs Club, and as a staunch advocate and fundraiser for the Skaneateles Library.
    Diane is survived by her cat and constant companion, Snicklefritz; son Gerich with wife Wendy and granddaughter Cassidy of Portland, OR; son Mark with partner Jennifer Walton of Jackson, WY; sisters Margaret and Dennis Tuthill of Minneapolis, MN, Joan Chumley of Michigan City, IN, Kathleen Potter of Crystal, MN; in-laws Lynn Fellerman of Aitkin, MN; Harold and Bonnie Fellerman of Maple Grove, MN; and nieces and nephews.
    A Memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023.
    Donations to the Skaneateles Library Fund are encouraged and appreciated in lieu of flowers and to further a project very dear to Diane's heart. (https://www.skanlibrary.org/support/donate/
or 49 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152)
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

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