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Joan D. (Waclawski) Torcello, 96, beloved wife of the late Ralph F. “Rick” Torcello, died June 1, 2020 at Crest Manor Nursing Home in Fairport, NY.  Mrs. Torcello was born February 8, 1924, a daughter of the late Anthony and Anna Waclawski of Bethany Center & Buffalo, NY.  She was a Business Major graduate in 1941 from Riverside High School in Buffalo and upon graduation, worked first as an aircraft riveter and then as account clerk at Bell Aircraft Corporation. 

During WWII Joan moved to Washington, D.C. to work as an account clerk with the Navy Department and later for the Veteran’s Administration in D.C. and in Buffalo after the war.   She and Rick were married on October 19, 1946 after his discharge from the Naval Armed Guard that year.

Joan continued to be employed over the years in accounting and office management for Roy Porter Produce & Brokerage in Elba for over 12 years.  She retired from the Batavia Holiday Inn in 1986 after 14 years as their bookkeeper and accountant.  Over her lifetime she was a member of the Stafford Planning Board, the Republican Stafford and County Committees, the Byron-Bergen PTA, serving as president, and the Byron Bergen Advisory and Educational Study Committees.

She enjoyed volunteering at the St. Jerome Hospital Gift Shop and the Batavia Senior Center.  She also participated as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Glenn S. Loomis Post #332, Batavia American Legion.  With her husband, she was an avid summer Silver Lake camper and loved showing their antique automobiles at area car shows.  A devout Catholic, she was a member of Ascension Parish/Sacred Heart Church and former member of the Altar & Rosary Society.

She is survived by her four children, Patricia A. (Joseph) Catalina of Valatie, NY; Marcia A. (Joseph) Rice of Pittsburgh, PA; Ronald R. (Mary Cain) Torcello of Churchville, NY; and Robin J. (Stephen) Hodownes of Honeoye Falls, NY; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by sisters Mary Dombrowski, Sophie Adolf, Stella Kawacz, Frances Polec, Julia Slusar, Helen Hunt and Josephine Mager, and by brothers Joseph Waclawski, John Waclawski and Walter Waclawski.

Private services and funeral mass will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mass cards or to a charity of the donor’s choice. 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, NY14020. RONALD KONIEZNY II, DIRECTOR.

 

 

  Nancy A. Boss, 84 of Attica, passed away peacefully June 1, 2020 at Friendly Home in Rochester.  She was born in Batavia, on September 29, 1935 to the late Burton (Dorothy Waite) Lewis. She is preceded in death by a sister Patricia Treat and brother-in-law Clarence Rich.

Mrs. Boss worked for many years at George King Boss Insurance Agency. She was a member of Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Attica and the Attica Golf Club. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her beloved husband Ivan “Ike” Boss of Attica; children Brenda (Thomas) Parkes of Victor; Richard (Cheryl) Norton of Murphy, NC; Randall (Tilma) Norton of Palm Bay, FL; step-children Michelle (Michael) Perkins of Pavilion; Philip Boss of East Bethany; Luanne (Neil) Jacobs of Batavia; sister Sara Rich of Sebastian, FL; brother-in-law Norman Treat of Auburndale, FL; 15 grandchildren, 18 grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

There will be no prior calling hours, a Graveside Service will be held for the immediate family. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. She will be laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery in Attica.  

The family would like to thank the staff at Friendly Senior Living for the amazing care they gave Nancy over the years.

The family requests that donations be made to Friendly Home (in memo line Lee Place in memory of Nancy Boss), 3156 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14618. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC. 135 Main Street, Attica, New York 14011.

Massena: James C. Murphy, age 99 passed away peacefully on June 4, 2020 at the Massena Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to the care and direction of the Phillips Memorial Home in Massena. Funeral services for James will be held at the convenience of the family with a graveside service held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, in Batavia, NY at a later date.

James was born on June 6, 1920, in Buffalo, NY. He is the first of two children born to the late James E. and Anna (Scheur) Murphy. He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Viola (Neth, Wahls) Murphy formerly of Batavia, NY. James is also survived by his children: Sheilah Murphy of Seattle, WA; Kevin and Deborah Murphy, of Gloversville, NY; Arline Murphy, of Massena, NY; Nora and Bruce Murphy-Kotteman, of Princess Anne, MD; Deborah and Brian White-Sallee of Reno, NV; Arthur and Carla Wahls of Batavia, NY; and David and Robin Wahls, of Doswells, VA. James is also survived by seven grandchildren: Seana Murphy, of Salem, OR; Christopher and Noelle Murphy of Bennington, VT; Cassandra Murphy of Cromwell, CT; Kelly Conners of Massena, NY; Andrea and Robert Falkowski of East Bethany, NY; James and Tessali Wahls of Owego, NY; and Hillary Wahls, of Doswell, VA. He has 11 great-grandchildren: Dylan Murphy, Meghan Mills, William Murphy, James Murphy, Olivia Murray, Owynn Conners, Logan Wahls, Calayla Sacdalan, Wesley Falkowski, Emmaline Falkowski, and James J.A. Wahls. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Edward; and a grandson, Drew Wahls.

As a teenager he attended Fosdick-Masten Park High School in Buffalo until starting work for Western Union in 1936. Beginning in 1938 he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, stationed in Nevada and Idaho, in part as a forest fire fighter. He often remarked that the years spent with the C.C.C. were among his most formative and even 80 years later was moved by the memory of those who were lost. Following his time with the C.C.C. he entered the United States Army in February 7, 1942 to serve his country proudly during World War II.

During the war, he served with the 88th Infantry Division in North Africa and Italy. In Italy he was transferred to 5th Army City Command Section, under the 5th Army Headquarters, where he served establishing provisional governments in liberated cities. He was honorably discharged from the service on December 12, 1945. 

In 1948 he began his career with General Motors at the gear and axle plant in Buffalo. He transferred to the engine plant in Tonawanda four years later. Then in 1959 he and his then-wife Joan, and their four children moved to Massena where he began work at the Chevrolet aluminum foundry. He worked continuously until his retirement in 1987. The following year he was brought on as a consultant in the creation of the Saturn Corporation in Detroit, MI. James later returned to consult for GM from 1993-1996, and 1998-2004.

James loved all sports, but had a particular affinity for horse racing, basketball, and football. He was an avid bowler, serving as Secretary and Treasurer of the Sunday night mixed doubles league at the Seaway Bowl for 15 years. He enjoyed bicycle racing and table tennis, and went on to compete in the New York State Senior Games in 1990 and 1991, where he won gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races, and a bronze medal in table tennis. In 1992 he competed in the National Senior Games in Syracuse. Throughout his life James loved singing, story-telling, and jokes and he loved sharing these with his family and friends. Whether in the barracks, at the bowling alley, at the GM Retirees’ luncheons, on several cruises with his wife Viola, during Friday nights at the Village Inn, as a member of the Sacred Heart Choir, or when he was surrounded by family, James could always be relied on for laughter and song. It’s hard to imagine a finer bequest than that.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be acknowledged with St. Vincent de Paul; 128 Main St, Massena, NY 13662 or Hospice & Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley; 6805 US-11, Potsdam, NY 13676. Memories and online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.PhillipsMemorial.com

DENNIS J. WITTMAN ~ Age 77, of Batavia, passed peacefully at Charlotte House in N. Java, NY. He was born to the late Jerome and Evelyn (Hamilton) Wittman on June 2, 1943 in Buffalo, NY, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Allan Wittman and sisters-in-law, Jeanette Bangs and Dolores Clark.

Dennis was a graduate of Cleveland Hill High School, his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Wadham’s Hall Seminary, Ogdensburg, NY and earned his master’s degree from the University of Rochester.

He was employed for 36 years with Genesee County as a Probation Officer and in 1980 was asked by the late Sheriff, W. Douglas Call to head up a new program, Alternatives to Incarceration, which was a first in the United States with law enforcement and third such program in the United States. He began the first rural and fourth in New York State Child Advocacy Center and Multi-Disciplinary Teams serving Genesee County, as well as neighboring counties. He started the Driving While Intoxicated Conditional Discharge Program, Justice for Women Program and Team, the Western New York State Victims Coalition, he was President of the New York State Crime Victims Board Advisory Council and, Vice President of the New York State Association for Alternative Sentencing. Former Governor George Pataki appointed Dennis to the Western New York Citizens Review Panel (abused children), First Victim/Offender Reconciliation Program in New York State dealing specifically with serious/violent cases, National Institution of Corrections consultants, Office of Victims of Crime consultants, Chairman of Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Dennis represented the United States in a Bi-Lateral Summit in Japan, addressed the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, addressed the Canadian Parliament on Restorative Justice and traveled to forty states and the Canadian Provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.

Dennis recently served on the Diocese of Buffalo Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Policy Task Force. He was an Adjunct Professor at Roberts Wesleyan College and served as Town Supervisor for the Town of Bethany from 1978 to 1990. He was a faithful member of Ascension Parish in Batavia where he served as Vice President and President of the Holy Name Society, President of the Parish Council and Usher under the former Sacred Heart Parish.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol (Chmielowiec) Wittman of Batavia whom he married in 1971; loving daughters, Holly (Michael) Stoddard of Honeoye and Jennifer of San Antonio, TX; faithful Husky companion, Kodah; sister, Kathie (Paul) Beaulieu of Cheektowaga, NY and brother, Philip (Nancy) Wittman of Akron, NY; brother-in-law, Dr. A Steven Bangs of Long Island; sister in law, Marsha Deman of Defiance, Ohio along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great niece and nephew.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Epidemic a Mass of Christian Burial will be announced later. Memorials in his memory may be made to Charlotte House, P.O. Box 123, 4316 Route 98, North Java, NY 14113: Ascension Parish, 17 Sumner Street, Batavia, NY 14020, or MUSH Rescue Inc, 12820 Wyngate Trail, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Thank you to our Wednesday morning library friend, Roger Richardson. Tuesday lunch time prayer group: Marg Miller, Leta Sackett, Pastor Ken Cromer and Elder Ron. Emilie, Board of Directors, the many volunteers, weekly communion from Holy Family Polish National Church and the community at Charlotte House for the excellent care provided, to the many doctors at University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional that provided such excellent care, for their prayers and visits Rev. Father David Glassmire, Deacon Mark Kehl, Rev. Father Matthew Kawiak, Deacon Corey Foegen and especially Sue Hatrick for giving a part of herself to Dennis.

The family kindly asks people consider signing to be an organ donor. Two special people gave Dennis thirteen extra years with his family.

Please share your words of comfort with the Wittman family at www.tomaszewskifh.com

THE FAMILY OF DENNIS J. WITTMAN IS BEING CARED FOR BY THE MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020 – (585)343-7500