Kenneth W. “Ken” Smith – 46 – of Elmira, NY, died Saturday evening (September 18, 2021) at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira.

Born in Elmira on March 21, 1975, he was the son of Dorn & Theresa (Wright) Smith.

Ken grew up in the Chemung County area and was a graduate of Horseheads High School (class of 1994).  Throughout the years, he was employed at several area businesses and most recently worked as a machinist at Lockheed-Martin Corporation in Owego, NY.

Always “Full of Life”, Ken enjoyed taking long motorcycle rides, golfing and “Hoisting a Few” with his buddies.  He loved rooting for the New York Mets (MLB) and the San Francisco 49ers (NFL).  His greatest joy, however, was simply spending time with his family and many friends!

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Michael “Mike” Hurlburt; and his brother-in-law, Arthur “Arturo” Hallenbeck.

Ken was married on June 14, 2014 to the former Robin Hurlburt who survives.  Also surviving are his children, Layna Hurlburt of Elbridge, NY, Nathaniel Sherbert of Horseheads, Ceairra Sherbert of Elmira and Tyler Smith of Elmira; his parents, Dorn & Theresa Smith of Breesport, NY; 1 sister, Wanda Hallenbeck of Wellsburg, NY; 4 grandchildren, Bentley, Ethan, Octavious & Ellie; his nephew, Sean Bergquist; his great-nephew, Gannon Bergquist.

At Ken’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Friday (October 1, 2021) at 2:00 PM at the Neighborhood Transformation Center, 314 West Church St., Elmira, NY.

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

Ken’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Jack P. Lyon – 64 – of 81 Hill St., Hornell, died Friday morning (September 17, 2021) at his home, following a long illness.

Born in Buffalo, NY on April 27, 1957, he was the son of Wayne & Grace (Townsend) Lyon.

A resident of the Hornell area since the age of ten, he was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1975).  Jack had been employed for a time at Hot Works Ceramics of Alfred and also worked as a carpenter’s helper in the Hornell area.

Jack loved music and was a guitar & fiddle player.  He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and rooting for the Buffalo Bills.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Lyon.

Surviving are his daughter, Melissa; his brother, Gary (Patricia) Lyon of Wells Tannery, PA; nieces & nephews.

At Jack’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.

Jack’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY  13790.

Rachael R. VanCaeseele – 42 – of North Landing Road, Rochester, formerly of Cohocton, died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon (September 11, 2021) at her home.

Born in Dansville, NY on June 11, 1979, she was the daughter of Jeffery & Deborah (Howe) VanCaeseele and the step-daughter of David Hunt.

Rachael grew up in Cohocton and was a graduate of Wayland-Cohocton Central School (class of 1997).  While in high school, she was a member of the track, soccer, and swim teams. Ever a lover of photography, Rachael briefly pursued an art degree from Buffalo State College.

Over the years, Rachael lived in various places including Seattle, WA, Palm Springs, CA, and Worchester, MA. For the last ten years Rachael resided in Rochester, NY. Personable and quick with a smile, Rachael often employed herself as a waitress. Most recently, Rachael was able to mix her love of nature with her job, working outside for a local landscaping company.

Passionate about travel, Rachael vacationed throughout the United States, even taking several trips to Puerto Rico.  She enjoyed wearing the latest fashions and would dress accordingly. Her hobbies included gardening (both flower & vegetable) and a deep affection for animals, especially her canine companion, “Elton”.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jeffery “Jeff” VanCaeseele.

Surviving are her mother & step-father, Debbie (Howe) & Dave Hunt of Cohocton; her sister, Megan (Corrye) VanCaeseele-Cook of Henrietta; one nephew, Quentyn VanCaeseele-Cook; her dear friend, Joe LaRussa of Rochester; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

The family of Rachael R. VanCaeseele will receive friends on Friday from 11:00 AM  –  1:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  Funeral services will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 1:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.  Burial will be in Heritage Hill Cemetery, Arkport, NY.

Rachael’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County PCA, Inc., 99 Victor Rd, Fairport, NY 14450.   Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

Larry “Shane” Vickers – 57 – of 223 East Ave., Hornell, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning (September 7, 2021) at his home.

Born in Norfolk, VA on September 1, 1964, he was the son of Larry & Diane Vickers.

Shane grew up in Norfolk, VA where he attended high school.  He resided in Mansfield, OH for most of his life where he owned & operated a garage.  He also owned & operated the Starting Gate Tavern and several Gentlemen’s Clubs.

Moving to the Hornell area about 2 years ago, Shane had been employed as a delivery driver for Giovanni’s Pizza and also Pat’s Pizza, both of Hornell.  He was a self-proclaimed “Jack of All Trades” specializing in carpentry & mechanics.

Shane was a member of the Hornell Association and, over the years, had been an avid gun collector.  He enjoyed “Fast Cars & Pretty Women”.

In addition to his parents, Shane was preceded in death by his former wife, Deborah Ivey Vickers.

Surviving are 2 daughters, Ashley Vickers of Hornell and Alexandria “Alex” Vickers of Mansfield, OH; 2 sons, Ryan (Sidney) Vickers of Eaton, OH and Jaxson Vickers of Mansfield, OH; his sister, Vicki (Bill) Gray of Chesapeake, VA; 6 grandchildren, Zagan Nowak, Lyric Nowak, Liam Vickers, Layla Vickers, Brayden Ross and Mia Boggs; his former wife, Angela Strohm of Shelby, OH; several nieces & nephews.

At Shane’s request there will be no calling hours or services.  A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday (September 11, 202) from 4:00 PM  –  8:00 PM at the Hornell Association.

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

Shane’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.

Geffrey L. “Geff” Dunfee – 73 – of 7926 Stewart Rd., Hornell, NY (Town of Howard), died Monday evening (August 20, 2021) at St. James Hospital.

Born in Waverly, NY on October 31, 1947, he was the son of George & Laura (Peppard) Dunfee.

Geff grew up in Waverly and was a graduate of Waverly High School (class of 1966).  He was a Veteran of the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict, serving his country from 1968 – 1970 as a Commissioned Warrant Officer.

Following his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Geff resided in Hackansack, NJ and was employed as a Grocery Store Manager.  He has been a resident of the Hornell – Howard area since the late 1970’s and had been employed at the former Babcock Ladder in Bath and later worked at Philips Lighting in Bath.  He retired about 8 years ago.

Geff was an avid golfer and enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and watching NFL Footall.  In his younger years he enjoyed spending time outdoors and hunting.  He had been a member of the VFW.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George & Laura Dunfee.

Surviving are 2 brothers, Michael Dunfee of Cape Caniveral, FL and George (Gloria) Dunfee III of Allen, TX; 2 nephews, Zach Dunfee and Brian (Stephanie) Dunfee; 1 niece, Jodi (Sam) Procunier; twin great-nieces, Natalie Dunfee & Kaitlin Dunfee.

At Geff’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 PM the Bath National Cemetery.

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

Geff’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY 13790.

Jack D. Gardner, Sr. – 83 – of 6420 Windfall Road, Canisteo, was welcomed home to heaven by his Lord and Savior Friday afternoon (August 27, 2021) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, following a brief illness.

Born in Hornell, NY on February 18, 1938, he was the son of Donald & Vivian (Wilcox) Gardner. Jack grew up in the Fremont, Hornell, and Canisteo areas and attended school in Hornell. As a young man, he resided in many places, including Fort Dix, NJ, Rochester & Batavia, NY before settling back in the Hornell area where he spent the rest of his life. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother.

Being one of the youngest siblings in a big family, there were many fun times but he also learned the value of hard work at a young age. At 8 years old he started his own shoe shine stand and that was only the beginning. He would go on to work many jobs as a young man, including setting pins at the bowling alley, roofing, farm hand, and short order cook, before enlisting in the Army. After returning to the Rochester area he worked construction, truck driver for Rochester Carting, and then deliveryman for the Coca-Cola Corporation. Along with his brothers, he owned & operated Gardner’s Construction & Demolition and he also owned & operated Gardner’s Rubbish Removal Service and a service station in Hornell. In 1974, Jack established Gardner’s Auto Parts of Canisteo which he operated doing auto repair and towing until his retirement 13 years ago.

Jack enjoyed watching western movies, country western music, and in his younger years even going dancing. In his older years he liked meeting up with his sister JoAnn at her store, Uncle Jack’s, that she named after him, eating his wife’s home-cooking, and playing bingo.  He also enjoyed the outdoors and hunting. He had an infectious laugh and a knack for storytelling. Over the years he would enjoy a cup of coffee and joking with whomever stopped by the garage, knocked on his door, or sat near him at a diner. His sons have many memories of working by his side in the family business and the grandkids remember riding in the trucks and him sharing treats with them. His favorite times included his family and he always looked forward to the next time they gathered. Jack will be remembered as an extremely hard worker who loved and protected his family.

He was preceded in death by 5 brothers, Donald Gardner, James Gardner, Alan Gardner, William Gardner, and Darrell Gardner; 4 sisters, Myra Gardner, Vivian Gardner, Jeanette Evingham and JoAnn Updyke.

Jack was married on April 25^th, 1979 to the former Karen Norton who survives.  Also surviving are 2 sons, Jack (Teresa) Gardner Jr. of Canisteo and Alan Gardner of Hornell; 1 daughter, Traci (Mike) Porter of Canisteo; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces & nephews, and a special cousin Deanna Coates.

At Jack’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, memorial contributions in Jack’s name may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease.

Thelma A. “Tolly” Pelych – (95) – of 27 Glen Ave., Hornell, died Friday evening (August 27, 2021) at her home, surrounded by her loving family, following a       “disagreement with old age.”

A native & life resident of Hornell, she was born April 13, 1926 and was the daughter of Gerald & Thelma (Thomas) McCarthy.

Tolly was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1944).  For about 14 years she was employed as an office clerk in various departments of the former Erie Railroad and Erie Lackawanna Railroad.  In November of 1966, she ran for and was elected to the position of Hornell City Chamberlain.  She actually took office on January 1, 1967 and held the position until her retirement on December 31, 2011.  On April 13, 2000 (her birthday) the City of Hornell honored her by naming the city building the Thelma A. Pelych Municipal Building.

Tolly served as president of the NYS Society of Finance Officers from 1977-1978 and later served as secretary of the NYS Society of Finance Officers from 1979-1997.  She received the Distinguished Finance Officer’s Award in 1983.  In 1993, Tolly was honored by the NYS Society of Finance Officers when they established the “Thelma A. Pelych Advancement Award” for continuing education for its members.

In 2006, Thelma was honored by the NYS Conference of Mayors with a plaque for 40 years of attendance of the Fall Training School.  She received the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from 1989 to retirement from the Government Finance Officers of United States & Canada.

She was one of the original founders of the Hornell Democratic Women’s Club and served as treasurer until 2012.  Tolly served as Campaign Chairman for the Hornell Area United Way Fund Drive from 1985-1986 and was a member & Past President of the former Business & Professional Women’s Club.

Tolly was an avid fan of both the New York Yankee and the Buffalo Bills fan and was a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder for many years.  She was also a die-hard Syracuse University Basketball Fan (she always said that she “BLEEDS ORANGE”) and also was a season ticket holder for many years.  Tolly loved playing cards (especially euchre & pinochle) and enjoyed her trips to the casinos.  She also enjoyed knitting and making beautiful sweaters & scarves for her family and friends.

Other hobbies & interests include working in her flower garden; reading; playing golf; working on crossword puzzles and working out on the bike at the YMCA.  For 10 years Tolly volunteered her time at the LPGA Corning Classic and in 2012, served as Grand Marshall of the Hornell St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  She was an active member of Maple City Sound from the beginning in 1988 where she served as Treasurer and Tabulator until her retirement in 2012.

She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church.  Tolly was a member of the Ladies of Columbus, Hornell Elks Lodge where she served as treasurer for two years.

She was married in 1948 to Joseph M. Pelych who died July 22, 1966.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia Eicher who died March 11, 2002; 1 brother, Robert McCarthy who died in 1987; 1 sister, Rosemary Tuttle who died in 2012; her grandsons, Joseph Eicher who died in 2015 and Michael Pelych who died in 2019.

Surviving are her daughter, Kathleen “Kathy” Green of Hornell; 2 sons, Michael (Mary Jo Sullivan) Pelych of Hornell and Joseph (Susan) Pelych of Hornell; 1 brother, G. Thomas (Betty Ebert) McCarthy of Vienna, VA; 1 sister, Michele Lewis of Hornell; her sister-in-law, Joann McCarthy; 6 grandchildren, Lesley (Lai-Ting Torres) Green, Kelly (Isaac) Bancroft, Todd Eicher, Amy (Patrick) Pepples, Tom (Laura Keohane) Pelych,  & Joe (Nicki Toro) Pelych; 5 great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

The family of Thelma A. “Tolly” Pelych will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The Funeral Mass for Thelma “Tolly” Pelych will be streamed live and can be viewed on the Dagon Funeral Home Facebook page on Friday at 10:00 AM by visiting www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome.  The video will remain available for viewing on our Facebook page for 30 days.

Due to health concerns and compromised immune systems of several members of the Pelych family, friends who have not been vaccinated against Covid are kindly asked not to attend calling hours and everyone will be required to wear a mask.  The family appreciates your understanding!!!

Tolly’s family request that memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell YMCA, 18 Center St., Hornell, NY 14843.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

James R. “Bloss” Blowers – 74 – of 2222 County Road 24, Swain, died unexpectedly early Monday morning (August 16, 2021) at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville where he had been taken after being stricken at home.

Born in Hornell on August 25, 1946, he was the son of Richard & Viola (Truax) Blowers.

Jim grew up in Swain and was a graduate of Canaseraga Central School (class of 1964).  Following high school, he was employed for a short time at the Swain Ski Center. For 37 years, he worked as a Senior Material Handler/Group Leader at Atofina Chemical Corporation of Piffard, NY, retiring in 2002. Jim was a hardworking man with an outstanding work ethic. He would often be up at 2am to work overtime. He was a dedicated provider to his family.

A true outdoorsman, Jim enjoyed hunting and serving as a NYSDEC Hunter Safety Instructor.  He was an active member of the Canaseraga American Legion, Canaseraga Conservation Club, and served on the Town Council for the Town of Grove for over 30 years.

Jim loved the time he spent in his barn working on a variety of machinery, including cars of all kinds, tractors, and smaller items such as lawn mowers.  He especially loved working on his 1934 Ford Coupe! One of the things he enjoyed the most was having his friends stop by the barn to “shoot the breeze.”  He enjoyed gardening and was proud of the garlic that he grew every year and his porch plants.  Most of all, however, Jim loved the time spent visiting with his family & friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard & Viola Blowers.

Jim was married on October 5, 1974 to the former Marjorie “Margie” Fucci who survives.  Also surviving are his daughter, Mary (Chris) Clark of Corning; his son, James “Jimmy” Blowers of Nunda; 3 sisters, Patricia (Ed) Wright of , FL, Bonnie (Leon Lacy) Miller of Swain and Mary Lou Kernahan of Hammondsport; 2 grandchildren, Bryce Clark and Jaiden Blowers, both of whom were his pride and joy; and many nieces & nephews.

Jim will be sadly missed by his dear family and many special friends.

The family of James R. “Bloss” Blowers will receive friends on Saturday from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 2:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Please note that those unvaccinated against the Covid Virus are required to wear a face mask.

Jim’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Canaseraga Conservation Club.

Paul Michael Nardecchia –  formerly of Hornell, NY, passed away on December 19, 2018 at his home in Fort Bragg, CA.

Born in Hornell on January 21, 1947 at Saint James Mercy Hospital, he was the son of the late Rose (Miele) & Elvidio Nardecchia.

Paul grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of St. Ann’s School (class of 1960) and was a 1964 graduate of the new Hornell High School. He played varsity football for all four years in High School. Paul proudly served in the United States Marine Corp from 1967 through 1972. He was stationed in Camp Pendleton after basic training and received an Honorable Discharge on February 23, 1972

After his discharge from the Marine Corp, Paul worked for United Airlines in Rochester, NY until transferring to Los Angeles, CA and then onto San Francisco, CA. He also worked for TAP Air Portugal while in San Francisco.

Paul received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science from the University of San Francisco. He started his own computer consulting business and achieved several awards from pharmaceutical companies for his excellent work.

He loved to travel, was an avid reader and collector of first edition books. Paul loved animals, especially his pure bred beagles, Zach and Zina. He was a very generous and caring person. He loved to take his parents and aunts and uncles on vacation trips to various parts of the world.

After he retired, Paul lived in several Northern California cities until he found his dream retirement location in Fort Bragg, CA., which is a beautiful Pacific coastal community of approximately 7000 people. He absolutely loved it there and they loved him back. He became an integral part of, and a big supporter of that community.  He volunteered at the library, peeled potatoes for 1000 homeless people for their Thanksgiving dinner, helped his neighbors caring for their home and pets, fed wild homeless cats and grew tomatoes like his dad.

In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by two infant brothers, John and Joseph Nardecchia; and one infant nephew, Thomas James Kelsey.

He is survived by one brother, Sebastian (Diane) Nardecchia of Danville, CA; one sister, Dorina (Dennis) Kelsey of Euclid, OH; two nephews, Michael (Michelle) Nardecchia of Rochester, NY, Steven (Jennifer) Kelsey of Wickliffe, OH; three nieces, Marisa (John) Looney of Danville, CA, Kristina (John Moroney) Nardecchia of Pleasanton, CA and Rosemarie (Kevin) Aubin of Lindley, NY; nine great nieces and nephews, Mara (Jason) Caccamise of Syracuse, NY, Maria (Brian Cameron) Nardecchia of Rochester, NY, Marianna and Michael Sebastian Nardecchia of Rochester, NY, Kyle (Breann Danielson) Looney of Fullerton, CA, Katelyn Looney of Charlotte, NC, Ella Looney of Danville, CA and Thomas G. and Zoe Rose Kelsey of Wickliffe, OH; two great-great nieces, Brooklyn Diane Looney and Stella Rose Caccamise; one great-great nephew; Santino Joseph Caccamise;  one aunt, Barbara Nardecchia, of Tonawanda, NY; his Godson, Joseph (Laurie) Nardecchia of Buffalo, NY and several cousins!

At Paul’s request there will be no prior calling hours.  A private Graveside Service will be held at the convenience of the family.

Family & friends are invited to a “Celebration of Life” to be held on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at The Main Place, 251 Main St., Hornell, NY beginning at 1:00 PM.

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

Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to:  Camp Rainbow Gold; A charity that provides year round camps, services and college scholarships for children battling cancer. This is a nonprofit that his niece Kristina founded and has helped nurture for two decades. It assures every penny will go toward the children.

216 W. Jefferson St. Boise ID 83702  www.shareyourheartball.org

Roberta A. “Bert” Margeson – (101) – of 1295 Bearlick Hollow Road, Hornell (Town of Hartsville) passed away early Wednesday morning (August 11, 2021) at Elderwood Nursing Facility in Hornell where she had resided for the past 3 months.

Born in Hornell on January 19, 1920, she was the daughter of Ira & Elsie (Amidon) VanCampen.

Roberta grew up in Hornell and resided in the Hornell – Hartsville area for most of her life.  She had been employed as a Press Machine Operator at Loohn’s Cleaners.  For many years, she, along with her husband, owned & operated the Margeson Dairy Farm on VanCampen Road in Hornell.

An avid reader, Roberta enjoyed working on crossword puzzles and playing cards with her grandchildren & great-grandchildren.

She was married for over 50 years to William J. Margeson who died in 1998.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Carol Margeson (died 1961); her twin sister, Ruth Mattice; and her daughter-in-law, Barbara Lee Margeson; her great-great-granddaughter, Hailey Reilly.

Surviving are her son, William I. Margeson of Hornell; 1 granddaughter, Stephanie (Raymond) France of Hartsville; 3 grandsons, William (Michelle) Margeson JR of Hornell, Kevin (Heidi) Margeson of Hartsville and Kelly (Kim) Margeson of Hornell; 7 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

At Roberta’s request there will be no calling hours.  A private graveside service will be held at Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

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