Obituaries

Michele A. Struzyk, 64 of Batavia, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday (October 20, 2024) at her residence.

She was born December 1, 1959 in Brooklyn, NY, a daughter of Josephine Messina Campbell and the late Joseph Campbell.

She will be dearly missed and always remembered for her kind, fun loving personality and unconditional love.

Surviving besides her mother are her children, Tia (Thomas) D’Arcy of Batavia, Ty (Renee) Madison of Alden, Steven Godinho of Batavia and Daniel Struzyk of Buffalo. Grandchildren, Kali Michele Lapp, Leah D’Arcy, Norah D’Arcy, Teagan Madison, Kensley Madison and Charlee Madison.

She was predeceased by her husband, James Cooley and brother Mark Campbell.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.

ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.

James C. Merrell, 68 of Batavia, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday (October 26, 2024) at Rochester General Hospital.

He was born March 28, 1956 in Batavia, NY, a son of the late Clifford and Clara Nevinger Merrell.

James was a graduate of Batavia High School. He was employed by Genesee Valley B.O.C.E.S. in Batavia prior to his retirement. He enjoyed rodeo action, attending flea markets and occasionally visiting the casino.

Survivors include his brother, Gordon Merrell of Batavia. Sister, Verna (John) Oehler of Batavia. Nieces and nephews, Jennifer Hughes, Kati Bernard, John Matthew Oehler, Robert Merrell Jr. and Jason Merrell. Sister in-law, Marsha Merrell.

He was the brother of the late Robert Merrell.

Family and friends are cordially invited to share thoughts, condolences and fond memories on Monday (Nov. 4^th) from 4-7pm at the J. Leonard McAndrew Funeral Home, LLC, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, NY.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.

ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.

With great sadness the family of Brian A. Powell Sr announce his passing on October 11, 2024 at the age of 64.

Brian was born November 2, 1959 in the Caribbean Island of Nevis to the late Georgette and Albert Powell.

Brian served in the US Army and the Army Reserve after completing High School. He moved to Batavia, NY in 1983 and worked many years at PW Minors as well as driving trucks.

Brian enjoyed playing golf in his spare time as well as spending time with his children, granddaughters and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first grandson.

He leaves to cherish his memory his children: Brian A. Powell Jr, Patrick "Dustin" Powell of Rochester,  Natasha (Ryan) Schmidt, Granddaughters Esmay and Eleanor Schmidt of Middleport, NY; sisters, Jean Powell of Nevis, Sonya Powell of Baltimore, MD; brothers, Roger (Loudina) Powell of Tampa, FL; Brattie Powell of Tampa, FL and Raynard (Neva) Powell of Texas.

He is predeceased by his brother, Garnette Powell.

Friends may call on Monday from 10 am to 11:30 am at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia. Graveside services with military honors, will follow on Monday at1 pm at Western New York National Cemetery, 1254 Indian Falls Road, Corfu. If you will be meeting at the cemetery, please assemble by 12:45 pm. To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in his memory please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Kathryn Woodruff, 71, of Amherst, formerly of Oakfield, passed away on October 16, 2024 at Roswell Park Cancer Institute after a brief illness. Kathryn was born on October 10, 1953 in North Hornell, NY, to the late Willis "Burr" and Edith (Louise) Woodruff (nee Austin).

Kathy loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandson. One of her greatest joys was being a grandmother. Her family lived in Medina, NY before moving to Batavia, where she was a 1971 graduate of Batavia High School. Kathryn was employed by Genesee County for 20 years and retired in 2019. She loved the Fall season and taking weekend road trips with her daughters and friends.

Kathryn is survived by her daughters Linsey (David) Heraty and Andrea Schiavi, both of Buffalo, and cherished grandson, Finnegan Heraty. She is also survived by her brothers Paul (Mary) Woodruff of Medina, David (Carol) Woodruff of Hemlock, and Roger (Sharon) Woodruff of Alfred Station. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends whom she cherished. 

There were no prior calling hours, and services were private. Arrangements were completed by Amigone Funeral Home Inc., Amherst, NY. Please share condolences at www.Amigone.com.

In lieu of flowers, Kathryn's family graciously suggests donations be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute in her memory. 

Rose Butera, age 97, of Trinity, Florida, went to her heavenly home on October 23, 2024.

Rose, who was raised in Batavia, NY, moved to Florida in 1976 with her late husband, Ottaviano Butera, with whom she shared 67 years of marriage. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Salvatore and Josephine (nee: Morreale) DeFazio, and her siblings, Leonard DeFazio, Concetta Penepent, Felicia Boise, Josephine DeGoris, and Alphonso DeFazio.

She was the loving mother of Grace (Jerry) Forrester and Josephine (Tom) Cultrara; 4 grandchildren, John Baker, Rose (Rafael) DeTorre, Michelle Shaddle, and Christina Cultrara ; 4 great-grandchildren, John Baker, Emma Baker, Sterling Shaddle, and Tommy Shaddle; 2 step- grandchildren, Heather (John) Foster and family, Kristin (Patrick) Smith and family; a brother, John DeFazio and a sister, Mary Dee Ognibene; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Rose cherished God, her family, and her friends. She will be remembered for her radiant smile, her deep compassion, genuine kindness, and her unwavering strength as a prayer warrior.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in Florida at, Anderson McQueen Tyrone Family Tribute Center, 7820 38th Ave., N. St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at 1pm. The Rev. Jerry Forrester, will be officiating. A link will be shared on Facebook to join the service remotely via Zoom.

A Christian Burial Service will be held on Thursday November 7, 2024, at 10 am at the Baron Miller Funeral Home, 3025 Willam St, in Cheektowaga, NY. The Rev. Patrick Keleher will officiate. Entombment will follow at Pine Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo. Memorials may be made to the Gulfside Hospice, 6117 Trouble Creek Rd., New Port Richy, FL 34653.

Sally L. Lamb (Drew), 79 of Darien Center, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at United Memorial Medical Center. She was born August 31, 1945 in Batavia, to the late John and Betty (Young) Drew. She is preceded in death by a brother Kim Drew.

Sally had a lot of jobs over the years, which included a stay at home mom, bus driver, school lunch monitor, working in a clothing factory and a vegetable factory.  Her passion for the last 10+ years was running Grampa Dell's Country Store, which was originally run by her Grandfather Dell.  She loved all her customers and thought of them as family.  She loved meeting and feeding people, so it was only fitting that baking and cooking for people is what she chose to do for a living. 

She loved her family, and spending time with her grandchildren.  She loved doing puzzles, baking, gardening, running her business, eating anything that contained sugar, and being as stubborn as anyone has ever been.  She loved her animals and had many over the years.  Her favorite thing to feed them was anything but animal food.  She had a great sense of humor and a beautiful smile.  She will be missed every day.  The memories she gave us will be cherished forever.    

Sally is survived by her beloved children, Heather Lamb of Irondequoit, John (Heather) Lamb of Utah and Matthew Lamb of Washington, DC; brother Keith (Sue) Drew of Alden, 4 grandchildren, Micaela, Penelope, Madison, and Adeline, along with several nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call on Friday, November 1, 2024 from 4 to 7pm at Gilmartin Funeral Home 329-333 West Main St. Batavia, NY 14020. An 11:00am Celebration of her Life will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at the Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery, Attica.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Darien Disciple Church, 1951 Broadway, Darien Center, NY 14040. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home, 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020.

Pavilion ~ David W. Pattridge, age 71, of Perry Road, passed away Wednesday morning (October 23, 2024) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

     He was born July 26, 1953 in Warsaw, NY, a son of the late Erwin and Dorothy Ahner Pattridge.    

 David will be remembered at a hardworking man, who was very dedicated to his family.  When not working, he enjoyed time spent with his family and was very involved with planning family gatherings. 

     He will be sadly missed by his children; Nicole Pattridge of Fairport and Adam Pattridge of Stafford; grandchildren, Natalie Pattridge and Eli Pattridge; siblings, James Pattridge of LeRoy, Ann Plunkett of Rochester, Kelly Ziefel of Bartow, FL and Henry Pattridge of British Columbia, Canada; the mother of his children, Josephine Cordeiro, along with many nieces and nephews.

     In addition to his parents, David was predeceased by his brother, Guy Pattridge.

     A memorial service for David will be held on Saturday, November 2 at 1:00 PM at the Pavilion First Baptist Church, 10956 Lake Road, Pavilion, NY 14525.

     In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of David are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with David’s family at www.falconefuneralhome.com. 

Roger Laird Sr., 76, of Batavia, passed away on October 23, 2024 at United Memorial Medical Center.

Roger was born on July 10, 1948 in Warsaw, a son of the late Robert C. Laird Sr. (1971) and Irene M. Laird Dewey. 

Roger was a member of the VFW, Polish Falcons, Leroy Moose Club, and the Batavia Elks. He was extremely social and enjoyed spending time with his friends. He was a Racecar fan, and enjoyed playing the guitar and listening to music. He took every opportunity to go and see live bands.

Surviving are his. children, Donna A. (Harry) Gimlin, Roger (Taylor) Laird, Jr. and Kimberly (Kenneth Drury) Laird; sister, Colleen Laird-Gonzales of Gainesville; 7 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 

In death Roger is reunited with his wife, Patricia Laird and brothers, Robert Laird Jr. and Carl Laird.

Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 2:00pm at the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main in Batavia, followed by Roger’s funeral services.  Roger will be laid to rest in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Batavia. 

Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

LeRoy ~ Amy L. Klusek, age 47, passed away on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

     She was born August 9, 1977 in Batavia, NY, a daughter of Lillian Waite Klusek and the late Stephen Klusek.  

   Amy was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. She loved her five children, two grandchildren and family with all her heart.  She was so loved by many and her favorite thing was becoming a grandmother as she took pride in that.  She was a very warm and welcoming person and opened her door to anyone.  She loved helping others as much as she possibly could and would surely give anyone the shirt off her back.

     She enjoyed chasing sunsets and loved her butterflies, wind chimes and hosting gatherings.  Amy worked as a health care provider and most recently, was working in food service at Subway.

     She will be sadly missed by her mother, Lillian; children, Sydnie Klusek, Nathyn Nicometo, Aaron Nicometo, Codie Nicometo and Kayden Nicometo; grandchildren, Ayden and Lucas; brother, Nicholas Klusek; sister, Michelle Waite, along with many nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and dear friends.

     A Celebration of Amy’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 16^th from 12 ~ 5 PM at the LeRoy American Legion, 53 West Main St., LeRoy.  Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to pass if they wish.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Amy’s family.

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with Amy’s family at www.falconefuneralhome.com.  

Dean W. Case, 77, of Batavia passed away on October 13, 2024 at Rochester General Hospital. He was born on May 27, 1947 in Batavia to the late Norman and Enid (Kendall) Case. In addition to his parents, Dean is predeceased by his brothers; Frederick and Ronald Case; sisters Norma Greiner and Judy Hartman; nephew James Wilcox.  

He is survived by his son; Christopher Case; brothers Robert (Sandy) Case, Scott (Mary) Case; sisters in law Rosemary Case, Gail Case; nieces Carrie, Christy, Katie, Danielle, Michelle, Jennifer and Debbie; nephews John, Lincoln, Tyler, Mark and Adam, along with several great nieces and nephews.

Dean worked for Sylvania for decades. After retirement he worked for Oatka Milk Products.  He enjoyed fishing on Hemlock, Canadice, and Silver Lakes and at the Point with his family and friends.  He enjoyed being out in nature, observing wildlife, and feeding the birds. Dean was a self-taught mechanic and enjoyed working on cars and small motors.  

There will be no prior calling hours. Services will be private.  

Memorials can be made to the Genesee County Animal Shelter https://www.vol4animals.org/donations. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home, 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020

LeRoy ~ Victor A. Costa, age 93, of Asbury Road, passed away Sunday (October 20, 2024) at Premier Genesee Center in Batavia.    

  He was born January 30, 1931 in LeRoy, a son of the late Peter and Battistina Costa.

     Victor will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, Uncle and dear friend to many.  He was very devoted to his family and his faith.  He was a 1949 graduate of LeRoy High School and a proud U S Army veteran. Victor worked at the LeRoy Machine Shop, retiring in 1993 after 44 years of faithful service.  He was a gentleman farmer and enjoyed hunting, golfing and woodworking.

     He is survived by his children, Jim Costa, Vickie Costa, Cindy Larsen, Peter Costa and Marie Lang; Sons-in-law, Todd Larsen and Mark Lang, daughter-in-law, Nikole Costa.  Grandchildren; Cara, Cassie, Brittany, Matthew, Brandon, Camryn, Connor, Morgan, Tracy and Mike. Great-grandchildren; Michael, Jason, Zoe, Sadie and Aubrey, along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

     In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Jean Brayley Costa, daughter, Brenda Costa, his daughter in-law, Lu Costa, brother, Christy Costa and sisters, Mary Regone, Rena Wagner and Delores Lapp.

     There are no prior calling hours.  His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 26^th at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, St. Peter's Church, 44 Lake St., LeRoy.

     Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with Mr. Costa’s family at www.falconefuneralhome.com.

Evelyn Laufer Taylor, age 102, passed away October 17, 2024.

     Evelyn was born January 18, 1922 in Rochester, NY, daughter of the late Raymond D. and Hazel R. (Lanning) Laufer. She was predeceased in death by her husband of 51 ½ years, Bryant C. Taylor, her son, Mitchell K. Taylor, and parents, Ray and Hazel Laufer.   

  Surviving are son, Lance (Amanda) of Burnsville, North Carolina, daughter, Pamela (Charles Poltenson) Crane of Hartland, VT, daughter-in-law, Rhonda Taylor of Mosgiel, New Zealand; five grandchildren: Vanya Taylor, Bernadine Little, Shiloh Gabriel, Naz Taylor, and Vanessa Meadows; five great-grandchildren: Olive, Heath and Ramona Little, Luke Taylor and Sienna Gabriel.

     She graduated from the University of Rochester in 1943 with a BA degree and from SUNY Geneseo in 1973 with a MS in Education.

     Most of her married life was spent in LeRoy, NY with the exception of three years in Australia. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of LeRoy from 1946 – 2024; a charter member of the Town & Country Garden Club of LeRoy; a member of LeRoy Women’s Club; co-owner of the Hobby Horse Shop on West Main St. Rd. from 1953 - 1960; a private tutor for over 25 years; and active in many church roles and organizations throughout the years, such as, the Singles Club and Neighbors in Need. Up until 2020, she led a writing group that met several times a year in her home.

     Evelyn enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, baking, crafts, writing, collecting, entertaining, and dancing with her husband. One of her great joys was sharing her extensive writings on her life experiences with her children and grandchildren.

     A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 1:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of LeRoy, followed by a reception.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of LeRoy, 7 Clay St., LeRoy, NY 14482, American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839, or to a charity of your choice.

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with Evelyn’s family at www.falconefuneralhome.com. 

Gustav Thomas Kovalik, age 78, long time resident of Caledonia, NY passed away in his home on Monday, October 14, 2024. He was born in Reading, PA on October 25, 1945, the son of Gustav Thomas and Dorothy Marie (Hall) Kovalik. Prior to Gus's birth, his father died in a plane crash and later Dorothy married his brother, John, who raised Gus as his son. The family moved to Dumont, N.J. next door to Gus's paternal grandparents where he grew up and lived until attending college.

Gus graduated from Dumont High School, earned his B.S. at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a MLIS from the University of Denver. He later studied botany at the University of Florida, Gainesville. His degree in Library Information Science led to his career at Florida State in Gainesville, Fla.  and RIT in Rochester, N.Y. libraries.

Gus had many interests. He was an avid reader since childhood. He was an enthusiastic learner showing strong interest in science. He would do experiments with his chemistry set in the basement. Together his family enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, hunting, summer vacations at his grandmother's in Pennsylvania and Sundays, holidays and beach outings with Connecticut relatives. John instilled the children with a love of outdoors. Dorothy nurtured their love of animals. There were always house dogs, outdoor beagles as well as white mice, gerbils, aquariums, a crow, and even a pet porcupine residing at their address. Gus loved baseball and would attend Mets games in New York City, kindly inviting his younger sister to join him and his friends. He loved art projects, eBay, music, concerts, garage sales, his Caledonia home and gardening there.

Gus is survived by his sister, Carolyn Kovalik Foss of Esko, MN; special friend, Linda Toal of Batavia, N.Y., and many beloved friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Gustav and Dorothy Kovalik; stepfather who raised him, John Kovalik; brother-in-law, John Foss; uncles Thomas Kovalik and John Hall.

At Gus's request there will be no funeral. His ashes will be inurned at the family plot in Willow Grove Cemetery, Buffalo, WY beside Dorothy and John Kovalik and his paternal and maternal grandmothers, Minnie Stoner and Margaret Kovalik.

In honor of Gus's generosity to animals, adopting dogs in need and volunteering at shelters and giving donations to help them have better lives, memorials may be made to Volunteers for Animals, P.O. Box 1621, Batavia, New York 14021. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Bohm-Calarco-Smith Funeral Home, 308 East Main Street, Batavia.

Roxanna J. Given, 95, of Elba, passed away on October 18, 2024 at United Memorial Medical Center.

Roxanna was born August 2,1929, in Batavia, the daughter of the late George and Florence (Harkness) Rowcliffe.

Roxanna was a Buffalo Bills fan, having been a season ticket holder for nearly 40 years.  She was a long time member of the Genesee County Republican Party and was the clerk for the village of Elba.

Surviving are her son, John (Susan) Given of Elba; grandson, Ezekiel (Amanda) Given of Bergen and two great-grandchildren, Madelyn Given and Finley Given; a brother, Daniel Rowcliffe of Geneseo and nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Given and a brother, George Rowcliffe, Jr.

There are no prior calling hours.  Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street in Batavia.  She will be laid to rest in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Elba.  

Memorials may be made to Volunteers For Animals, PO Box 1621, Batavia, NY 14021, www.vol4animals.org/donations.  

Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Margaret Louise Connor Lynch - November 8, 1917 – October 18, 2024

PAVILION- Louise Lynch, aged 106, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2024, in Norwich, NY with her family.
Born on November 8, 1917, on the Connor homestead in Pavilion, NY, Louise was the cherished daughter of Daniel and Katherine Lacy Connor. She grew up alongside her five brothers on the family’s beloved “Broadway Heights” farm, which she took enormous pride in preserving.

A life-long parishioner and communicant at St. Mary’s R. C. church in Pavilion, NY, Louise served many decades as a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and Ladies of Charity.

In 1940, Louise married George Edward “Ed” Lynch in the rectory at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, beginning a union that spanned 56 wonderful years until Ed’s passing in 1996. Together, they farmed and tended a remarkably diverse and vibrant vegetable garden. After retirement they spent winters fishing and relaxing in Arkansas and Florida.

Louise was also a dedicated educator, receiving her teaching degree from Geneseo Normal School in 1938, and later earning her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from SUNY Geneseo. She went on to teach for 27 years, as a kindergarten teacher at Pavilion Central School. Louise retired in 1973 but remained connected to her former students, who fondly remembered her as their first teacher, often visiting her throughout the years. 
 A devoted sports fan, Louise was an enthusiastic supporter of the Buffalo Bills and Notre Dame’s “Fighting Irish.” In the 1940s and ’50s, she could often be found cheering at Pavilion Central basketball games. Her love of teaching, combined with her passion for youth activities, made her a beloved figure in Pavilion.
 Some of Louise’s fondest memories were of summer travel with Ed and their grandchildren.  She delighted in touring historical sites along the eastern seaboard, all the while making sure it was “fun for the grandchildren.”  Through her 90s, Louise trouped across New York and New England with her son and daughter-in-law to attend countless events for her six great-grandchildren.  From their sporting events and theater productions to Church sacraments and graduations, Louise was a proud fixture.
She loved to laugh and reveled in her Irish heritage, making sure it was passed down the generations. Louise was especially devoted to – and adored by – her nieces and nephews.  Be they far away or close to home, she cherished her special connections to them and their offspring. 
 Louise is predeceased by her parents Daniel and Kate Connor. And five brothers: Maurice, John, Francis, Joseph, and Daniel Jr. Louise is survived by her son, Michael E. Lynch, Ph.D. & Patricia E. Moore of Laurens, NY.Three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Ginger & Matthew Landy of Glenmont, NY and children Erin and Connor; Michael Jr. & Sandy Lynch of Oneonta, NY and children Daniel and Mary; Christine Lynch Hamel of Dover, NH and children James and Diana.
Her family and friends will remember Louise for her devotion to faith, family, and community, and for her indomitable spirit that endured over more than a century.
Friends are invited to call Friday October 25, 2024 from 4-7 P.M. at Cameron Brady & Steuber Funeral Home 111 Wolcott St. Le Roy.
 Louise’s Funeral Mass will be held Saturday October 26, 2024 11 A.M. at Mary Immaculate Parish St. Mary's Church 11095 St. Mary's St. Pavilion. Private Interment. St. Mary's Cemetery. To share a memory or leave a condolence please visit Leroyfuneralhome.com