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Clara R. Galliford

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By Howard B. Owens
galliford obit

Clara R. Galliford, 98, of East Bethany, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2023, at Crossroads House in Batavia after a brief illness. Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, her long life was devoted to supporting her family and her community. She was blessed by 75 years of marriage and celebrated the births of 36 direct descendants, all of whom survive her.

Clara was born May 1, 1925, in East Bethany. She was a 1942 graduate of Batavia High School. From 1951, she was a member of the East Bethany Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, trustee, and church elder. From 1956 to 1992, she served as Clerk and Postmaster for the United States Postal Service in East Bethany.  

Surviving are her four children: James D. Galliford Jr. of Batavia and Linda (Gerry) Fry, Jean George and Douglas (Judy) Galliford of East Bethany; ten grandchildren: J. Daniel (Kirsten) Galliford III, Laurie Fox, Julie Fry, Melissa (Allen) Iovannisci, Sarah (Tim) Lemley, Stacey (David Macdonald) George, Michael (Kristen) George, Debbie (Frank) Drazen, Brian (Becca) Galliford and Mary (Steve) Skoczylas; 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, J. Daniel Galliford Sr.; her brothers, Howard Raymond and Albert Raymond, and sister, Edith Nichols; and her parents, Arthur and Mabel (Cone) Raymond.

Clara’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Cindy Saeva at South Street Senior Care in LeRoy for the loving care she provided to Clara during her residence there.

Burial will be private with no prior calling hours. A memorial service for both Clara and her late husband Daniel will be held at a later date.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Crossroads House, P.O. Box 403, Batavia, NY 14021, www.crossroadshouse.com/donate, or to the East Bethany Rural Cemetary Association, P.O. Box 117, LeRoy, NY 14482.

Arrangements for Clara were entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home of Batavia. Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Joan D. (Waclawski) Torcello

By Ronald Konieczny

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.

 

 

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