Diane D. Martin – 79 – of 71 South Main St., Alfred, NY, died Saturday morning (September 13, 2014) following a brief illness.

Born in Cincinnati, OH, on January 1, 1935, she was the daughter of Christian & Cornelia (van Schouwen) Dettmer.  She resided in the Alfred area for the past 48 years.

Diane grew up and attended high school in Cincinnati.  She earned her BA in history from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and later received an MS in art education from Alfred University. She also held an AAS in ornamental horticulture from SUNY Alfred.

As an instructor for SUNY Empire State College, Diane taught art and photography. Her own etchings and paintings were exhibited at the Oxford Gallery in Rochester, NY and other locations. Her love of gardening was intertwined with her work as an artist and writer. She enjoyed designing gardens as much as she did photographing and painting them. She published books and articles on gardening and herbs, and her much of her artwork incorporated garden themes.

Elaine R. Boyle – 75 – of Auburn, AL, formerly of Hornell, died Saturday morning (September 6, 2014) at the Bethany House in Auburn, AL, following a brief illness.

Born in Hornell on February 9, 1939, she was the daughter of Orian & Clara (Kelley) Sherman.

Elaine grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1957).  During her high school years, she began working at St. James Mercy Hospital in the cafeteria. She continued working in the cafeteria for several years after high school and eventually married and took time off from work to raise her family.  Many years later, she began working at the former Bethesda Community Hospital in the housekeeping department.  A few years later, Elaine returned to St. James and began working in the laundry department.  She retired about 10 years ago from the housekeeping department following 30 years of service.  She was a past recipient of the St. James Employee of the Year Award.

Following her retirement, Elaine moved to Auburn, AL where she has resided for the past 10 years.  While in Hornell, she was a member of St. Ann’s Church where, for several years, was active in the St. Ann’s Festival.  She had been a member of the Hornell Moose Lodge and enjoyed playing drums in the “Pots & Pans Kitchen Band”.  She was also a former member of the Civil Air Patrol and an avid Buffalo Bills & Auburn Tigers Football fan.

While living in Alabama, she was active in the Relay For Life, a member of the Silver Sneakers Group, a founding member of the Re-Cycled Teenager Group and was a Gold Medal winner of the Masters Games (Olympics for Senior Citizens).

Edward W. “Ed” O’Heron – 80 – of 63 John St., Hornell, died Monday afternoon (September 8, 2014) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, following a brief illness.

Born in Hornell on May 24, 1934, he was the eldest son of Murray & Opal (Schane) O’Heron. The O’Heron family lived in Hornell near the O’Heron and Schane grandparents until 1939 when they moved to Elmira, NY.  They moved to Corning before the beginning of WWII.  The children, Edward, Carole, James & Sharon attended St. Patrick’s School and Church on Dennison Parkway until March of 1948.

Ed graduated from St. Ann’s School of Hornell in June of 1948 and from Hornell High School in June of 1952.

He worked for the NYS Department of Transportation from 1952 until retiring in 1990 as a Civil
Engineer, working on more than 70 bridges in the region.  He also was a licensed Land Surveyor, with his own land survey business, and after his retirement from New York State, worked for several companies in the area as a consulting engineer. 

Catherine A. McKenna – (92) – a resident of Livingston County CNR in Mt. Morris, NY, formerly of 16 Meadowbrook, Arkport, NY, died Saturday evening (September 6, 2014) at Living County CNR, where she had resided for the past 4 years.

Born in Poughkeepsie, NY on November 27, 1921, she was the daughter of John & Ruth (Bates) McKenna.

Catherine attended St. Peter’s Elementary School in Poughkeepsie and later graduated from Poughkeepsie High School.  She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from St. Francis School of Nursing in Poughkeepsie and her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Catholic University of New York in Washington, DC.

Throughout the years, Catherine resided in several locations, including Arkport, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Farmingdale, NY, Kentucky, Tennessee and New Jersey.

She taught in Diploma, Associate’s Degree & Baccalaureate Nursing Programs in New York State, New Jersey, Tennessee, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.  She retired from St. James Mercy Hospital School of Nursing.

While living in the Hornell – Arkport area, Catherine 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.  While in Poughkeepsie, she was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church.

In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death by her sister, Magdalan Prince; 8 brothers, Patrick McKenna, James McKenna, Richard McKenna, Thomas McKenna, Joseph McKenna, Peter McKenna, John McKenna and William McKenna.

Surviving are 1 sister, Barbara Skinner of Concord, NC; 1 brother, Robert (Carol) McKenna of Pleasant Valley, NY; many nieces & nephews.

At Catherine’s request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Service will be held in Poughkeepsie at the convenience of the family.

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

R. Murray Mahany – 81 – of 9696 Oak Hill Rd., Arkport, died unexpectedly early Friday morning (September 5, 2014) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Born in Easton, ME on July 2, 1933, he was the son of Eldon & Delia (Long) Mahany.

Murray grew up in Easton, ME and was a graduate of Easton High School (class of 1950).  He later attended (2 years) the University of Maine, majoring in Agriculture.  He has resided in Arkport since 1952.

He has been involved in farming his entire adult life, and in a “Joint Venture” with his three sons & a son-in-law, operated Poverty Knob Farms in Arkport, raising 600 acres of potato (for potato chips); 55 acres of oats; 400 acres of wheat; 1250 acres of corn; 180 acres of green beans; 150 acres of alfalfa; which totaled 2635 total acres of crop land.  He “retired” (as much as he could) in 1996.

Murray was always working for the betterment of the community.  He served for about 20 years on the Dansville Town Board and served on numerous local, county & state boards. Some of these included 27 years as a member and 6 years as chairman of the Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation Dept.; 4 year director of the NYS SWCD Division IV; 1 year as president of the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Association; 1 year member of the NACD Water Resources Committee; 3 year member of the NYS Fish & Wildlife Board (Region 8); 25 year member of the Steuben County Farm Bureau; 11 year member of the Empire State Potato Growers; 3 year member of the Cornell University Foundation Seed Board; 4 year member of the ASCS; 15 year member of the WNY Potato Growers; 35 year member of the Cornell University  IPM Program and 1 year member of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

Anna L. LaPiana – 97 – formerly of North Hornell, died Monday (September 1, 2014) at her home in Zephyrhills, FL.

Born in Conesus, NY on November 21, 1916, she was the daughter of George & Wilhemina (Wassink) Conlon.

A veteran of WWII, Anna served 4 years as a member of the US Navy Waves.  She later served 3 years in the US Navy Reserves Inactive Corp.  

Anna resided in the Hornell-North Hornell area for about 37 years, moving to Florida in 1983.  She volunteered over 20,000 hours at Zephyrhills Hospital and was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Zephyrhills.

Anna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles LaPiana; brother, James Conlon; sister, Rosemary Bush.

Surviving are her son, James (Lucinda) LaPiana; daughter, Shirley (Russell) Martin; sister, Margret Myers; many nieces & nephews. 

The family of Anna L. LaPiana will receive friends on Monday from 12:00 (noon) until 1:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY where a funeral service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 1:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Thelma  I.  Norton – (87) – formerly of 11 Fifth St., Canisteo, died Wednesday afternoon (August 27, 2014) at Hornell Gardens where she had resided for the past 2 ½  years.

Born in Hornell on November 1, 1926, she was the daughter of Willis & Rose (Smith) Stephens. 

Thelma attended Hornell High School and was a lifelong resident of the Hornell-Canisteo area.  She was a member of the Canisteo American Legion Auxiliary and was especially fond of her beloved cat, Casper.

She was married in 1960 to Nelson Norton who died in 1979.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon Norton; her brother, Carl Stephens and an infant sister.

Surviving are 4 daughters, Lana (Alta) York of Canisteo, Sheila (Mark) Hess of Canisteo, Karen (Jack) Gardner of Canisteo and Pamela Nicholson of Hornell; 3 sons, Michael Norton of Hornell, John (Linda) Norton of Hornell and Mark (Cindy) Norton of Wheeler, NY; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, & great-great-grandchildren.

At Thelma’s request there will be no calling hours.  Private services were held at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY with Rev. Don Maynard officiating.  Burial was in the Hillside Cemetery, Canisteo.

The family of Thelma I. Norton request that memorial contributions in her name be made to the Canisteo Fire Department, East Main St., Canisteo, NY 14823.

Bettina “Betty” Trapani – (101) – of 91 River St., Hornell, died Saturday morning (August 2, 2014) at McAuley Manor, where she had resided for the past 11 months.

A native & lifelong resident of Hornell, she was born March 20, 1913 and was the daughter of Peter & Angeline (Cusimano) Grillo.

Betty was a graduate of St. Ann’s School, a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church.  She had been a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Ladies of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary of the Sons of Italy and the Women of the Moose.

Bettina was employed as a seamstress at the former Merrell Hosiery for 27 years.  In her younger years she was an avid bowler and belonged to several women’s bowling leagues. 

Lois H. Furlong – 90 – of Smith Pond Rd., Avoca, formerly of Hornell, died Thursday evening at the Hart Comfort House in Wellsville, following a brief illness.

Born in Hornell on September 1, 1923, she was the daughter of Floyd & Lyda (Woodworth) Cline.

Lois grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School.  She had been a member of the former Spence United Methodist Church.

She was married to William “Duke” Furlong who died in 1983.  She was also preceded in death by her son, Stephen Furlong who died in 2011; 2 sisters, Beth Jones and Ruth Loohn.

Surviving are her children, William Furlong, JR of Chattanooga, TN, Sue Fenti of Avoca and David Furlong of Duluth, GA; 1 sister, Jean Van Wee of Canisteo; grandchildren, nieces & nephews.

At Lois’ request there will be no calling hours.  A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the Howard Union Church in Howard, NY with Rev. Don Lester officiating. 

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

Lois’ family request that memorial contributions in her name be made to Hart Comfort Care, 141 East State St., Wellsville, NY 14895.

James J. Keenan – (83) – of 7 Pine St., Hornell, died Saturday afternoon (July 26, 2014) at McAuley Manor in North Hornell, following a brief illness.

Born in Jersey City, NJ on January 31, 1931, he was the son of James & Wilamena (Pritz) Keenan.

When he was 5 years old, Jim’s family moved to Rochester, NY.  He was a graduate of West High School (class of 1948).  He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving his country in the US Navy.

Jim was employed as a firefighter in Rochester for 30 years, retiring in 1988.  He lived in Florida for about 17 years and has resided in Hornell since June, 2008.

He was married on May 4, 1957 to the former Jean Herzog who died January 18, 2014.

Surviving are 3 daughters, Mary Frances (Ronald) Spataro of Rochester, Wendy (Richard) Chapel of Geneseo and Kathleen (David) Hillman of Hornell; 1 son, James J. Keenan of Rochester; several grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter, nieces & nephews.