B-6 HOMETOWN ONEONTA
Friday, february 24, 2017
IN MEMORIAM Kay Amatucci, 76; Worked 35 Years At Hartwick ONEONTA – Kathleen “Kay” Amatucci, 76, an active volunteer who worked for 35 years at Hartwick College, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown. Kay was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 21, 1940 the daughter of Thomas and Florence (Lynch) Coakley. She was the third of seven children, having four sisters and two brothers. She worked at the Navy Ships Store Office (NSSO) where she met her husband of 56 years, Sonny Amatucci. They married in 1960 and had two daughters, Gina and Kathleen. Kay and Sonny moved to Oneonta in 1964, a place they came to love. She worked at Hartwick College for 35 years as an Administrative Assistant in the
Academic Affairs office. After retirement, Kay enjoyed volunteer work and joined a Kathleen line dancAmatucci ing class, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She made a number of friends and cherished them all. Kay and Sonny took a number of vacations and visited many countries thanks to their daughter Gina and her husband Bernard being a military family. She was very proud of her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved attending as many sporting events for them as she could.
Kay will be remembered for her beautiful smile and laugh, her joy at the simpler things in life. Some of her favorite mottoes were, “It’s better to laugh than cry,” and “C’est la vie.” She touched the lives of many. She is survived by her husband, Sonny Amatucci of Oneonta; daughter Gina and Bernard Mater of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; daughter Kathleen and Brett Bentley of Westford; grandchildren, Samantha Mater, Jayme, Jessica and Sierra Bentley; three sisters, Pat and Tom Burriesci, Maureen and Dennis Tobin, and Florence and Harry Nespoli; a brother, William Coakley; sister in law Elvera Coakley; brother in law, Pete Menghi; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased
by her parents; a brother, Thomas (Tommy) Coakley; a sister, Susan (Sue) Menghi; her mother and father in law, Joseph and Tesi Amatucci; a brother and sister in law, James and Lena Amatucci; and a sister in law Carmella (Millie) Baldo and her husbands George Baldo and Donald Cetta. A funeral mass was held Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church with Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the spring at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Building Fund, 39 Walnut St., Oneonta, NY 13820. Arrangements entrusted to the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Samuel A. Pondolfino, 97; Dentist Raised 13 Children
ONEONTA – Samuel A. Pondolfino, 97, a dentist who raised 13 children in Oneonta, died peacefully Feb. 16, 2016, at his home in Santa Rosa, Calif. He lived there with his son and daughter-in-law Peter Pondolfino and Lisa McKinney and their children Katie, Grace and Sam. Sam was born to Anthony and Rosario Pondolfino on Dec. 5, 1919 at his parents’ home above their business, Tommy’s Place, on River Street. He was the sixth of seven children, graduated from Oneonta High in 1937, earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and his DDS from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Sam was an Army captain during World War II, stationed in the Philippines. He and Mary were married in Sidney on April 25, 1944, and soon after they started their prodigious (Haas) Tursi, and brothers family. Charles and Harold Haas. The couple raised 13 Friends may call 5-7 children in their hometown p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 at the of Oneonta, where he pracLester R. Grummons Futiced dentistry for more than neral Home, 14 Grand St., 40 years, worshipped at St. Oneonta. Mary’s Church, religiously A funeral mass will be golfed as a member of the celebrated at 10 a.m. SaturOneonta Country Club, and day, Feb. 25 at St. Mary’s was a member of the Elks Church, 39 Walnut Street, Lodge 1312. He also served Oneonta with Rev. David the community in many Mickiewicz, pastor, officifacets, most notably perhaps, ating. Interment will be in as the Oneonta City School the spring at Mt. Calvary District Board President Cemetery, Emmons. in the mid-1970s. Later in In lieu of flowers, donalife, he and Mary devoted tions may be made to the themselves to volunteerism Catskill Area Hospice, 1 working for more than a Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, decade at Memorial Hospital NY 13820. in Santa Rosa. Arrangements are entrustIn his long life, Sam was ed to the Lester R. Grumdefined by his numerous mons Funeral Home. accomplishments, none
Jane Wakin, 80, Served in U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps ONEONTA – Jane Wakin, 80, who served in the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps in WWII, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. Jane was born on Sept. 7, 1927 in Monticello, the daughter of Charles and Ethel (Thompson) Haas. She grew up on a farm in Monticello, and at the age of 16, took a bus to Oneonta attend Hartwick College. She received her degree as a Registered Nurse and served in the US Cadet Nurse Corps throughout the United States during WWII. She met her husband David while working at Homer Folks Hospital in Oneonta, marrying him six months later on June 17, 1948. She worked at A. O. Fox Memo-
rial Hospital for many years, at the Upstate Baptist Home, and for Dr. B. Vakili. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Rosary Society, and Young at Heart, the Red Cross Association, the Heart Association, West Oneonta Fireman Ambulance Association, the Eagles Club, the Moose Club, the 6th Ward Athletic Club and was President of the ARC at the time of the Oneonta workshop formation. Jane enjoyed cooking, baking, growing her garden and tending to her beautiful flowers. She and David loved to dance – square dancing, polka, round dancing, and waltzing. She was also a great seamstress and would make all her square
dance dresses. Jane is survived by her children, David C. Wakin, wife Karen; Harold J. Wakin, wife Denise; Michael S. Wakin; and Virginia Lee, husband Richard. She is also survived by her grandchildren David E. Wakin, wife Dezeree; Melissa Wakin Mostert, husband Stephen; Shawn E. Wakin; Danielle E. Wakin; and Michael W. Lee; and her great grandchildren Trey and Taylor Mostert; and Mercedes, Olivia, Sophia and Cadence Wakin; several nieces and nephews and many friends. Jane is predeceased by her husband David, son Richard, granddaughter Amanda, parents Charles and Ethel, sister Virginia
more so than his 66-year marriage to Mary and their mostly challenging, usually hectic, often humorous, and always loving journey of raising their brood of 13 at their home at 57 Elm Street. Even after they moved, first to Florida and then to Santa Rosa in 1997 to be close to children and their 35-andcounting grand and great grand children, Oneonta was always home. There was little he looked forward to more than his daily family dinners and his weekly teetimes with friends Solovich, Lambros, and Torrey. Sam was preceded in death by his wife and their eldest and youngest children, Kathleen and Paul. He is survived by his children and their spouses: Patricia and Don Hilmer of Los Angeles, Mary Pandolfino of St. Petersburg, Fla., Sam Pondolfino Jr. and John Smith of Santa Rosa, Margaret Pondolfino of Portland, Ore., Annie and David Hirshfield of Santa Rosa, Peter Pondolfino and Lisa McKinney of Santa Rosa, Sara Pondolfino of Santa Rosa, Tony Pondolfino of Rhode Island, Frank Pondolfino of New York City, Lou and Wendy Pondolfino of Anchorage, Alaska, Joe and Mimie Pondolfino of St. Petersburg, Fla., and his daughters-in-law Chrysanthe Voreas of Portland, Ore., and Lauren Maxwell of Anchorage. Sam also leaves his dog, Gracie. Services will be held in Oneonta for both Mary and Sam in the fall where they will be inurned at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Details will follow.
George E Farrell II, 86; Educator At Fox Hospital leWiS, HurleY & pietrobono
Heller & Skinner
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Proud to be family-owned John & Kathleen (Heller) Pietrobono
ONEONTA – George E Farrell II, 86, an Air Force nurse who served as the director of continuing education at Fox Hospital, died on Thursday, February 16, 2017 in Oneonta. George was born on August 6, 1930 in Far Rockaway. He was commissioned as an Air Force Nurse in 1956. During his 20 years in the service, he completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. He completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Syracuse University in 1962
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and a master’s degree in nursing at the University of Colorado in 1969. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1976. George was an assistant professor for the School of Nursing at the University of Southern Mississippi and later, the Director of Continuing Education at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. George is survived by Barbara (Fink), his wife of 62 years; his five children, George R Farrell of Pensacola Beach, Fla., Suzanne Murphy (David) of Oneonta,
Christopher Farrell (Carlos) of Brooklyn, Sean Farrell (Mary Beth) of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Kevin Farrell of Pearl, Miss.; granddaughter Pamela Cherry, two sisters-in-law and a brother in law, and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday February 23 at St Mary’s Church, 39 Walnut St., Oneonta. Arrangements are entrusted to the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.
Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar. Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com