Joshua T. “Josh” Owens, 38, of Hornell, died unexpectedly Monday morning at his home.

Born In Dansville on January 14, 1984, he was the son of Lynn LaVerde of Hornell and Bob Owens of Arkport.

Josh grew up in Hornell and attended Hornell High school.  He was a lifelong carpenter and was compassionate about his work.  He had been employed by several construction companies in New York State.

He was a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys and loved listening to music.  Josh was known for his amazing sense of humor and for having the “biggest heart.”   He was truly loved by his family and friends.

Josh will always be remembered for the love he had for his family.  That sweet smile, contagious laugh, his habit of licking the icing off all the birthday candles and always expecting everyone to have a freezer full of Popsicles will never be forgotten.

During the early morning hours on June 13^th, Josh’s demons took his life from him. Addiction does not discriminate.  He fought a long, hard battle for many years.  There were times of success and times of failure with his addiction.  What we do know is that his fight showed all of us how badly he wanted to win and be the best version of himself for him, his sons, and his family.  Addiction destroys and takes away everything important.  Josh would want us to remember him for the sweet soul he was because that was “Our Josh.”

Josh was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Ronald LaVerde and Rose Sheridan; his paternal grandparents, Harold & Beverly Owens; his uncle, Jimmy “U.J.” LaVerde.

Surviving are 2 sons, Kayden & Kale Owens; his mother, Lynn LaVerde of Hornell; his father, Bob (Karen) Owens of Arkport; his sister, Jennifer Owens of Hornell; 2 nephews, Keelan Smith and Rylan Burley; 1 niece (Josh’s “special girl”), Elaina Smith; several aunts, uncles & cousins.

At Josh’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Kayden & Kale Owens Education Fund, C/O Lynn LaVerde, 22 Old Almond Road, Hornell, NY 14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Douglas G. “Doug” Babcock – 72 – of 20 Peach St., Arkport, died Tuesday afternoon (June 7, 2022) at St. James Mercy Hospital, following a long illness.

Born in Hornell on November 30, 1949, he was the son of Louis & Helen (Dexter) Babcock.  He was preceded in death by two brothers, Greg Babcock and Steve Babcock.

Doug grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1967).  While in high school, he was a member of the HHS Basketball team and the HHS Golf team.

A veteran of the US Air Force, Doug served his country from 1970-1974 during the Vietnam era.  Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he resided in New Jersey for about 4 years and then returned to the Hornell area where he lived for about a year.  Moving back to Browns Mills, NJ where he resided for about 11 years, he was employed as a Mail Carrier for the US Postal Service in Browns Mills, NJ and Trenton, NJ.

In 1986, Doug moved back to the Hornell area and was employed and at the former Morrison – Knudson (M.K.) Corporation.  It was during this time that Doug met Sue, his soul mate and love of his life.  Together they faced life head on and built an everlasting love that stood the test of time.  In the early 1990s, Doug began working in the mailroom at the Rochester Post Office where he served until his retirement in 2005.  During his retirement, he enjoyed playing golf with Sue, taking trips to the beach, and watching Hallmark movies.

Doug was an avid and accomplished golfer, and a longtime member of the Twin Hickory Golf Club where he played in numerous golf leagues and won the Club Championship a few times.  He was the Tuesday night league starter for many years and a proud owner of multiple hole-in-one trophies.  He loved playing the beautiful golf courses in Myrtle Beach, SC and Florida along with many local courses.  He was a HUGE Jack Nicklaus fan and was happy to share golf tips to help improve your game and delighted in passing down his golf knowledge to his children and grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him as “Poppy Doe.”

A lifelong sports fan, Doug enjoyed rooting for the New York Jets and the St. Louis Cardinals.  While living in New Jersey, he served as a Midget League Football Coach and a Youth Basketball Coach.  Throughout the years, Doug loved following & attending his children & grandchildren’s sporting events such as football, basketball, soccer, swimming & golf.  He loved the beach, especially Seaside Heights in New Jersey where he and Susie spent many summers with their children, playing games on the boardwalk and grabbing a orange twist at Kohrs.

In his younger years, Doug loved “shooting pool” & playing billiards.  For many years he was a fixture at Abby’s Pool Hall and Pete’s Billiards, both of Hornell.  He was also a member of the Hornell Association.  His favorite food was ice cream and he was a self-proclaimed “Ice Cream Connoisseur” who loved a good banana split, especially from The Pit Stop.  He enjoyed playing Music Trivia with his kids & grandkids, a lot of time via text at any hour of the day; it was rare that he could be stumped on any tune from any decade, especially the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  Neil Diamond, Carole King, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, and The Beatles we among his favorites; he could whistle a tune like no other.

Doug loved to reminisce about “old Hornell” and the times he spent at The Classic and Union Park, or concerts at The Beacon.  He’d often spend his afternoons reminiscing at JC’s Café “with the boys” having coffee and talking about the good old days.  He loved Christmastime and decorating for the holidays, his extensive collection of Christmas bears adorned the living room, and he’d always leave the tree up “just a little longer” to enjoy the lights.

He will truly be missed by all of his loved ones, family, and friends… near and far.

Surviving are the Love of His Life, Susan “Sue” Woughter; two sons, Brian (Kristie) Babcock of Hornell and Kevin (Lauryn) Babcock of Collingswood, NJ; one daughter, Stacey (Josh) Priar of Browns Mills, NJ; one stepson, Mike Woughter of Addison, NY; one stepdaughter, Tiffany Woughter, of Jacksonville, NC; the mother of his children, Donna (Rick Miller) Todd; 14 grandchildren; several nieces & nephews, and his beloved dog, Emma Jean.

The family of Doug Babcock will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Doug’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

In recognition of Doug’s service to his country as a member of the United States Air Force, the American Flag at the Dagon Funeral Home will be flown at half-staff.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Joseph Allen “Joe” Feeley – (age 81) – of North Hornell, died Sunday (June 5, 2022) at his home following a long illness.

Born in Hornell on March 25, 1941, he was the son of Edward & Clara (Allen) Feeley.

Joe grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1959). He was a veteran of the US Army, serving his country during the Vietnam era.

Following his military service, Joe returned to the Hornell area and began his lifelong career with the railroad. He was employed by the Erie, Erie Lackawanna, and Conrail railroad companies. Instead of uprooting his family from Hornell, Joe committed to commuting to Buffalo and Binghamton while employed for the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) railroad. During his career, he worked as a Yardman, a Brakeman, and retired as an Engineer, after 34 years of service.

Joe was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. He was a member of the Hornell Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy, and the Hornell Association.

An avid golfer, Joe had been a member of the Twin Hickory Golf Club for many years and enjoyed playing with his friends at nearby courses.  He cherished the years that he and his wife, Sally, spent the winter months in Florida & Myrtle Beach, SC where he could play on countless beautiful golf courses.

Joe was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan an also enjoyed rooting for the Buffalo Bills. He had a deep love of his family and loved attending his son, Patrick’s football games (both high school & college) and his daughter, Amy’s golf tournaments. More recently, “Grampa Joe” relished watching his grandchildren succeed in their respective sports.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his sister, Suzanne Ebert and her husband, John Ebert.

He was married on October 14, 1972 in St. Ignatius Loyola Church to the former Sally Dailey who survives.  Also surviving are his son, Patrick (Nicole) Feeley of Beaver Falls, PA; his daughter, Amy (Dr. Jarett Powers) Feeley of Hornell; 3 grandchildren, Jameson, Zachary and Elise Grace Feeley; several nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Honoring Joe’s wishes, there will be no calling hours.  A Mass of Christian Burial for family and friends will be celebrated on Thursday June 9^th at 10 AM at St. Ann’s Church with private burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

The family of Joseph Feeley would like to express their special thanks to the following people: Dr. Chaudry and his staff as well as neighbors Rich and Anne Scavo for their loving support of Joe over the years. Also, the family wishes to convey their gratitude and appreciation to Lena Ross and Onna Ward for their tireless efforts as caregivers for Joe.

Acknowledging Joe’s love of his Shelties, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY  14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Roberta G. “Robyn” Hansen – 72 – of 7 Aspen Lane, Hornell, (Edgeview Estates), died Thursday afternoon (May 26, 2022) at her home, following a long illness.

Born in Bath, NY (Town of Urbana) on September 4, 1949, she was the daughter of George & Jean (Fawcett) Leach.

Robyn grew up in Bath and was a graduate of Haverling High School (class of 1968).  A 6^th generation “Pressman”, she began working for her father at The Advocate, a local newspaper and eventually became a press manager.  For about 10 years she resided in Hartsville and during that time was employed at the former New Life Printers in Hornell.

A resident of the Hornell-Almond area for the past 30 years, Robyn served as a printing press operator and also manager of the Documents Center at Alfred State College for about 15 years, retiring due to ill health.

Robyn enjoyed being outdoors and loved working in her flower garden.  She also enjoyed fly-fishing and watching the many humming birds on her property.  She was an avid reader and would read nearly 300 books per year.

She was married in 2004 to Thormod “Tom” Hansen who died April 8, 2018.  She was also preceded in death by her sister, Barb Leach who died 2 months ago.

Surviving are 2 sons, Brian (Cate) Robson of Corning and Patrick (Katerina Lopez) Robson of Hornell; 1 brother, Bill (Judy) Leach of Boston, MA; her beloved grandchildren, Julia, Ellie, George, Thomas, Izaak, John and Zachary, along with several nieces & nephews.  She also had a multitude of other “kids” who shared her table and her heart over the years.

At Robyn’s request there will be no calling hours.  A “Celebration of Life” will be held at time & date to be announced.  Interment will be at the Bath National Cemetery, Bath, NY with her husband, Tom.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Robyn’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to either Wounded Warriors, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,  Memphis, TN  38105.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Bath, New York

Ruth A. Gee – 74 – formerly of Elmira, NY died Thursday (May 26, 2022) at the Taylor Health Nursing Facility in Bath where she resided for the past two years.

There will be no calling hours or services.  Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Timothy J. “Tim” Deebs – 68 – of 23 Hakes Ave., Hornell, died Wednesday afternoon (March 2, 2022) at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, following a brief illness.

Born in Hornell on April 3, 1953, he was the son of Fred “Blackie” & Thomasine “Tommie” (Doyle) Deebs.

Tim, affectionately known as “Mecca”, grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1971).  While in high school, he was a member of the HHS football team, wrestling team and track team.  It was at that time that he began working for his father at Hornell Tank & Pump Company, a business that he would eventually own & operate under the name Deebs Tank & Pump.

For a time, Tim was employed as a backhoe operator for Karl Weyand Construction of Hornell and later drove tractor-trailer.  For several years he served as a brakeman for the former Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Railroad.  A licensed electrician, Tim owned & operated his own electrical contracting business in Hornell and as a licensed mechanic owned & operated Seneca Street CITGO, the last “Full Service Gas Station” in Hornell.  He was later employed at TTA Corporation in Kanona and Alstom Corporation of Hornell.  He retired in 2010 due to ill health.

Tim had been a communicant of the former St. Ignatius Loyola Church and a 3rd Degree member of the Hornell Knights of Columbus and also a member of the Hornell Association.  He was an avid Buffalo Bills Football fan as well as a New York Yankee fan.  Tim was also a “die-hard” NASCAR fan.  In his younger years, he liked to go deer hunting with his friends and enjoyed restoring vintage cars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred & “Tommie” Deebs; and his infant brother, John Deebs.

Surviving are 2 brothers, Thomas (Irene) Deebs of Largo, FL and Michael (Andrea) Deebs of Hornell; 2 sisters, Lori (Bob) Flaitz of Hornell and Karen (Paul) Stevens of Arkport; his “Special Aunt”, Mary Kay (Lee) Montgomery of Baltimore, MD; several nieces, nephews & cousins.

At Tim’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday (June 4, 2002) at St. Ann’s Church.  Final interment will be in Hornell Rural Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Tim’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or to the Hornell Humane Society.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Edward E. “Ed” VanLeuvan – 74 – of 4249 Turnpike Road, Canisteo, NY (Town of Howard), died Saturday evening (May 14, 2022) at his home, following a brief illness.

Born in Otisville, NY on December 19, 1947, he was the son of Edward & Lillian (Stacey) VanLeuvan.

Ed grew up in Mount Hope, NY and was a graduate of Minisink Valley Central School (Class of 1966).

He was employed for 32 years at IBM Corporation.  Throughout the years, Ed traveled extensively throughout the world as a Project Manager for IBM until his retirement in 1999.

On June 28, 1969, Ed married his high school sweetheart, Judith “Judy” Smith.  They lived, built a home and raised their family in Slate Hill, NY where they resided from 1974 – 2006 at which time they moved to Western New York to be near their daughters.

Ed was an avid hunter and especially loved hunting “Big Game” such as deer & bear.  He was a member of the Bath Rod & Gun Club and also a member of the Bath Elks Lodge.  He also loved rooting for the New York Mets and the New York Jets.

Ed’s most loved role however, was that of Grandpa.  Tucker was his “little buddy” and he spent endless hours playing catch, throwing batting practice, and catching pitches.  The relationship that he had with Tucker was something beautiful to watch and something Tucker will cherish forever.

In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his sisters, Gloria Knapp, Helen Rumsey and Lillian Maurizzio.

Surviving are his beloved wife of 53 years, Judy VanLeuvan; 2 daughters, Brande Flaitz of Arkport and Aimee (Christopher) Parry of Hornell; 1 grandson, Tucker Flaitz of Arkport; several nieces & nephews.

The family of Edward E. “Ed” VanLeuvan will receive friends on Saturday, May 21 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  A Memorial Service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 6:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.

Ed’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Howard Volunteer Fire Department, 3622 County Route 70A, Avoca, NY  14809.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Bath, New York

Robert L. “Bob” Wildman – 90 – of 10 Birch St., Bath, NY, passed away peacefully Saturday morning (May 14, 2022) at his home, following a long illness.

Born in Flint, MI on June 2, 1931, he was the son of Leland & Clara (Woodcock) Wildman.

Bob grew up in Flint, MI where he graduated from high school (class of 1949). He was a veteran of the National Guard and the US Air Force and served while stationed in Korea during the Korean Conflict. Bob was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Elks Lodge.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Air Force, Bob moved to Phoenix. He later decided to continue his education and eventually received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona in Flagstaff, AZ.

He resided in Flagstaff, AZ and Winslow, AZ for several years while getting his degree. After college Bob returned to Phoenix where he was employed in the accounting departments of both Coca-Cola Corporation and Motorola Corporation. He later owned & operated Harry’s Pool Service in Phoenix, a business that he purchased from his father-in-law and retired in 2005.

In his younger years, Bob enjoyed his time as a roller rink referee, football coach, and referee. A true outdoorsman, he enjoyed camping, boating, & fishing with his family.

Bob has been a resident of the Bath, NY area for the past 6 years. While in Bath, NY he was a member of the Gateway Community Church of Avoca.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Kathleen (Kepner) Wildman who died in 2002 and his third wife, Dorothy Hall who died in 2016; his son, Doug Wildman; his step-son, Rob Forward; 2 brothers and 3 sisters.

Surviving are his 2 daughters, Kimberly (Laurie Howe) Wildman of Bath and Diane; his step-daughter, Tracy Sinnard of Douglas, WY; along with several grandchildren, nieces & nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on June 5th at 12:30 following Sunday services with a light lunch at Gateway Community Church at 11 Griswald St., Avoca, NY with Rev. Claudia Browning officiating.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Bob’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to Disabled American Veterans, any “No Kill” Animal Shelter, or Gateway Community Church.

His final resting place along with his wife Kathleen (Kathy) Wildman will be at Flint Memorial Park in Morris, Michigan amongst his family at a later date.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Harold “Hal” Severin – 93 – of Falls Church, VA, formerly of Hornell, died unexpectedly on Friday (May 13, 2022) at his home.

Born in Paterson, NJ on April 6, 1929, he was the son of Willy & Charlotte (Trinkaus) Severin.

Hal grew up in the Bronx, NY where he resided until the age of 10 when his family moved to Leipzig, Germany.  As a US citizen living in Germany during WWII, he graduated from high school and returned to the United States when he was 17 years old.  He was a graduate of Alfred University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering.  Hal worked as a Ceramic Engineer for American Standard, Brockway Glass (Owens Illinois) and Manville until his retirement in 1992.

From 1954-1956, Hal served in the US Army.  Because he spoke fluent German, he was stationed in Verdun, France and served as a radio operator.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Hal returned to the Hornell area where he married Patricia “Pat” Egmond on September 29, 1956, whom he had met in Hornell prior to his service in the Army.  Throughout the years, Hal & Pat and their family resided in many locations.  From 1956 – 1967 they lived in Pinole, CA and from 1967 – 1979 they resided in Brockway, PA.  In 1979 they moved to Littleton, CO and later moved to Perrysburg, OH where they lived until moving to the Hornell – Canisteo area in 1992.  They moved to Tappahannock, VA where they resided until moving to Falls Church, VA in 2014.

Hal was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and had been a communicant of both St. Ignatius Loyola Church and St. Ann’s Church and sang in both choirs. In addition to singing in the choir he was an active lector and cantor, including St. Tobias in Brockway, PA, St. Timothy’s in Tappahannock, VA, and Queen of Apostles in Alexandria, VA. He was a member of the Teutonia Männerchor of Toledo, Ohio, and performed in many local community musicals and operas over the years.   For many years, he volunteered his time serving as a driver for the Faith in Action of Steuben County serving the Amish Community, taking them to doctor’s appointments.  He was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, a more recent Washington Nationals fan, and loved playing fantasy baseball with his daughters.  Hal enjoyed genealogy and doing family research and indexing files on family history, most especially translating church records from German to English.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Severin who died January 28, 2018; his brother, Norman Severin, and his parents.

Surviving are 1 son, Michael Severin of Lakewood, CO; 4 daughters Barbara Severin of Herndon, VA, Monica (Tony) Palombella of Midlothian, VA, Mary (Kevin) O’Brien of Arlington, VA and Theresa Severin of Alexandria,VA;  4 grandchildren Shyanne Severin, Lily Severin, Laura Palombella and Mark Palombella; 1 great-grandson Logan Friend; half-brother Michael Just of Germany; many nieces & nephews.

At Hal’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday (June 3, 2022) at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell.  Final interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Hal’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/ and Capital Caring https://www.capitalcaring.org/

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com

Diane Lee Chick – 67 – of 1190 County Route 66, Hornell, died unexpectedly on Thursday (May 12, 2022) at her home.

Born in Scranton, PA on September 26, 1954, she was the daughter of Floyd & Marie (Judson Barber) VanHouter and the step-daughter of James Barber.

Diane grew up in Geneva, NY and was a graduate of Geneva High School (class of 1973).  She later received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Cayuga Community College becoming a Licensed Registered Nurse.

While living in Hannibal, NY, she had been employed at the Pontiac Nursing Home in Oswego and also the Frank C. Meyer Health Center in Oswego.

A resident of the Hornell area for the past 25 years, Diane was employed as a registered nurse at the Bath VA Medical Center in Bath and also worked for Allegany County as a traveling nurse.

In her younger years, Diane enjoyed ceramics and making pottery and in recent years was an avid NASCAR fan, her favorite drivers being Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliot, and Joey Logano.

In addition to her parents and step-father, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Jim VanHouter, Floyd VanHouter, Ronnie Wheeler and her sister Shelia Wheeler; her second husband, Robert “Bob” Barber who died in 1996.

Surviving are her son, Jason Stevenson of Hamersville, OH; her daughter, Jamie Stevenson of Cattaraugus, NY; her partner, Mark Baird of Conesus, NY; 2 former husbands, George Stevenson and Charlie Chick; her brother, Bruce (Margaret) Wheeler of Anderson, SC; her sister, Karen Jones of Easley, SC; several nieces & nephews.

At Diane’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services & a “Celebration of Life” will be held at a later date.  Final interment will be in the Bath National Cemetery, Bath, NY.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Diane’s family request that memorial contributions in her name be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com