Hamilton Public Library news

Obituaries

Charles (Tom) Rushing

SHERBURNE — Charles (Tom) Rushing, 55, of Chapel Street, passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at his home of natural causes. He was born March 14, 1950 in Natchez, MS. The son of Charles and Elizabeth Felter Rushing, Jr. A resident of Sherburne, NY since 1991 he spent most of his life in Natchez, MS and graduated from Natchez High School and Mississippi State College. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam Conflict.

Tom was employed as a Lab Tech at Community Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, NY until retiring in 1995. He was formerly employed by the Jeff Davis Memorial Hospital, Natchez, MS. At one time he was a mechanic on off-shore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Tom loved reading, playing guitar, and listening to the Beatles. He was an avid fisherman, movie collector, and a member of the National Rifleman’s Association and the Sherburne American Legion Post #876.

Surviving are his mother, Elizabeth A Shaffer of Sidney, NY; his step-father, Norman L Shaffer, Sr of Oakland, MD; his father and step-mother, Charles and Beverly Rushing Jr of Jonesville, LA; a son, Ahren Rushing; a daughter, Mackenzi Rushing of Natchez, MS; two brothers and sister-in-laws, Norman and Kathleen Shaffer Jr of Afton, NY, Robert and Debbie Shaffer of Mt. Upton, NY; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Shalkye and Larry Clark of Kimballton, IA, Shauna and Mark Rapussi of Guilford, NY, Sharlisa and Lenny Robinson of Irwin, IA; three half sisters, Wanda Hall, Jo Zata, and Jackie Rutherford, all of MS. Two grandchildren, three aunt’s, and several nieces and nephews also survive. He was predeceased by a brother Edward Lee Rushing and a half brother, Mike Rushing.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 19 from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, NY.

Interment with military honors will be held in Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez, MS.

Carol J. Skopinsky

KNOXBORO — Carol J. Skopinsky, 59, of Knoxboro Rd., passed away after a short illness on Thursday, July 14, 2005, at her home, with her family by her side.

She was born September 11, 1945, in Knoxboro, the daughter of the late Albert and Edna Fox Davis and was educated in Madison schools. On December 7, 1963, in Knoxboro, she married Thomas E. Skopinsky. For 25 years, Mrs. Skopinsky was employed at Sherwood Medical in Oriskany Falls, retiring in 2003. After her retirement she worked at Vernon Downs in Vernon and Friendly’s Restaurant in Oneida.

Mrs. Skopinsky was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother and sister, whose life centered around her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved to garden and spend time at the Turning Stone Casino and was an avid NASCAR fan.
She is survived by her husband, Tom; a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Peter Powell of Vernon; a son, Joseph Skopinsky of Lakeland, FL; a sister and brother-in-law, Beverly and Frank DeRocco of Lakeland, FL; a brother, Dewey Davis of Lakeland, FL; four grandchildren, Peter II, Mason, Joseph Thomas and Cody; and many nieces and nephews, especially, Carol Jean, Judy, Craig, Chuck, Shawn, Susan and Dawn Marie.

She was predeceased by two sisters, Rita Owens and Wanda Boss.

Funeral services were held Monday, July 18, 2005 from the Kloster-Northrop & Bentz Funeral Home, 210 E. Main St., Waterville, with Chuck Roberts, officiating. Interment was in Crown Hill Memorial Park.

In memory of Carol, kindly consider the American Cancer Society.

Barbara D. Schiavone

MORRISVILLE — Barbara D. Schiavone, 70, died on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at her home in Morrisville after a long illness.

She is survived by her husband, John Schiavone; a son, Benjamin Schiavone and his wife, Amy and son, Ryan of Reading, PA; a son, David Schiavone and his wife, Jackie of Lebanon, NY; a daughter, Mary Schiavone and her husband, Joseph Sammons and son, Julian Sammons of Brookline, MA; and siblings, Bernadine Stanton, Harold Davis and Perley Davis of Colebrook, NH.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Ruth Davis; and siblings, Helen Placy, Robert Davis and Mary Davis of Colebrook, NH.

Services were held at the Community Church in Morrisville on Saturday, July 23, 2005. There were no calling hours.

Donations may be made to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10122 (www.ocrf.org)

Arrangement have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, NY.

Joan M. Leitner

BRIDGEWATER — Joan M. Leitner, 73, of State Route 8, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2005, at her home.

She was born in Hackensack, NJ on July 15, 1932, a daughter of the late Emil and Helen Geddes Gogolen and graduated from Hawthorne High School, NJ. On February 2, 1959 in Totowa, NJ, she was united in marriage to Donald C. Leitner.
Joan was employed by the Public Service Electric and Gas Co., Newark, NJ until her retirement in 1990. She was a member of the Columbus Community Church and served on the altar guild and was also the church financial secretary. Joan loved gardening, especially mowing the lawn. She also enjoyed woodworking and bike riding.

Surviving are her husband Don; her children, Donna L. Leitner of E. Stroudsburg, PA, Richard and Lisa Leitner of Bellevue, WA, and Kara and Michael Leitner-Puco of Hopatcong, NJ; and her grandchild, Eli Leitner-Gibbons.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 10 AM from the Columbus Community Church. Interment will be in the S. Brookfield Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Operation Hope, c/o the Columbus Community Church, 4311 State Highway 80, New Berlin, NY 13411.

Arrangements are by the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main Street, Sherburne, NY.

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