William John Kennedy
Jan 16, 2025
William J. Kennedy died on January 16, 2025 after a brief unexpected illness. He was surrounded by his loving family who shared light-hearted memories while listening to Cole Porter sing “You’re the Top.” To his wife, two children, four grandchildren, and close friends, Bill was the quintessential “top.” To Bill, his cherished family was his greatest achievement.
Bill was born in...
Kristin Lee (Stevenson) DiPronio
Jan 16, 2025
Kristin “Kris” Lee Stevenson Dipronio of Ithaca passed away suddenly on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Kristin was born on July 6, 1958, in Cortland and grew up in Groton. She graduated from Groton Central Schools in 1976 and earned her degree from Ithaca College in 1980.
Throughout her career, Kristin enjoyed working with troubled youth and took pride in attempting to instill...
Thomas Martin Butler
Jan 2, 2025
Thomas Martin Butler, 77, of Ithaca, NY, died of pancreatic cancer on Thursday, January 2, 2025. He was the loving husband of Joyce Leslie.
Born September 11, 1947, in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late William Fatio and Doris Estabrook (Martin) Butler. He grew up in West Hartford and West Suffield, CT, and graduated from the Holderness School...
Barry B. Adams
Dec 31, 2024
Barry Banfield Adams passed away peacefully at home in Brooktondale on December 31, 2024, in the company of his daughters and son-in-law. He was 89 years old.
Barry was the oldest of three children born to Joseph Norman Adams and Mary Merz Adams in West Roxbury, MA. After graduating from Boston Latin School and Boston College, he attended the University of...
Mary Ellen Avery
Dec 29, 2024
It’s with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my mom, Mary Ellen Avery. She was a wonderful mother to me, Dave Avery, and Mark Avery, and the most loving grandmother to Maddy, Teddy, Ben, and Charlotte.
Mom had a heart full of love—for her family, for flowers that brightened her home, and for dogs that she adored so...
Toshiko Matsumura Toland
Dec 24, 2024
Toshiko Matsumura Toland, 96, was an intrepid traveler, writer, and editor, who made her mark publicly through her work as an interpreter and research assistant for John Toland, the popular historian. She played an important role in the research and interviews for “The Rising Sun,” which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1971. Born in Tokyo in 1928, Toshiko worked as...
Fallie L. Padwa
Dec 17, 2024
Fallie (Wickard) Padwa, 69, of Endicott, NY passed away peacefully on December 17, 2024 after a long journey with Alzheimer's disease. She was born September 16, 1955 to Duane and Joy Wickard in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
As a young adult, she met the love of her life and married Eugene Padwa on April 4, 1976 and moved to New York. She was...
Delbert Meade Smith
Dec 5, 2024
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Delbert Meade Smith, a sweet and gentle soul who left this world peacefully at the age of 81. Delbert was a sweet and humble man whose life was a canvas of love, kindness and dedication. His legacy will forever be cherished by all who were fortunate enough to have known him.
Born in...
Dixie Lee Hollister
Dec 4, 2024
Dixie Lee Hollister of Lansing, NY passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family after a courageous and brief battle with cancer on December 4, 2024.
Dixie was born in Ithaca, NY on August 10, 1944, to the late Frances M. (Wood) Baker and Harvey E. (Cannonball) Baker. She was a 1963 graduate of Lansing High School.
Dixie married Richard Hollister on...
Betty Singer
Nov 29, 2024
Betty Singer was born in Brooklyn NY on February 23, 1940. She passed away on November 29, 2024 at home in Ithaca, NY.
Betty grew up amidst a large extended family in Brighton Beach. She loved being outdoors; the sea, sand and boardwalk. She began playing piano and folk dancing at age 3. Additionally, she started painting and drawing as a...
James L. Holden
Nov 29, 2024
James Lee Holden, 73, passed away from pulmonary fibrosis on November 29, 2024. His family had been spending time with him since he was hospitalized several days prior. Pulmonary Fibrosis has no known cause, and no cure. James wanted to let each of us know he loved us today and the sentiment was returned. James was born in Ithaca in...
Jacqueline Woolf Pine
Nov 16, 2024
Jacqueline “Jackie” Woolf Pine, born August 14, 1926, died at age 98 on November 16, 2024. She was pre-deceased by her husband James A. W. Pine. She is survived by her 5 children, Sally McDugald (Tom), Laurie Wallace (Bob), Gordon Pine (Tracey), Carrie Pine and Valery Behr, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family.
Jackie grew up in Ithaca, New York, learning...
Joyce Margaret (Watkins) Reed
Nov 8, 2024
Joyce Margaret Reed passed away surrounded by family and close friends on November 8, 2024 in the comfort of her lifelong home. She was a housekeeper for many people during her working years, creating bonds that would extend well beyond her service. Her pride and joy live on in her children, Barbara Reed and Ted Hall, who gave her six...
James Wesley Lee
Oct 19, 2024
James (Jim) Wesley Lee, 85, passed away on October 19, 2024. Jim, an engineer, was deeply loved by his family and community alike. He enjoyed serving at his church, hunting, fishing, bowling and exploring nature. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling via cruise line with his wife Mary Lou and close friends. He was an active member of the Lansing United...
Carol Lynne Gesslein
Oct 17, 2024
Carol Lynne (Mickelson) Gesslein, age 84, of Lansing, NY, was called home by the Lord on October 17, 2024, at the family home in Lansing, NY in the presence of her family. Carol was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on July 8, 1940, a daughter of the late Lawrence P. and Zerelda E. Zinder. She was adopted by Paul Mickelson...
Darlene Ruth-Lois Mack
Oct 15, 2024
Darlene Ruth-Lois Mack, 78, of Lansing, NY, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren on October 15, 2024, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca following an unexpected cerebrovascular event. Born on May 23, 1946, in Ithaca, she was the daughter of the late Herbert William and Jessie Marie (Brown) Brecht of whom she dedicated many years of care...
Richard A. Wentworth
Oct 14, 2024
Richard Wentworth, 93, of Lansing, New York, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in the house he built and where he raised his family, on October 14, 2024. He is survived by his children Robert Wentworth (Kate Gilligan), Karen Stearns (Stephan), Daniel Wentworth (Patti); his siblings David Wentworth (Christine) and Mary McDaniel (Joseph); and grandchildren Lee and Sara Stearns, Lucas...
Louis M. Varga
Oct 14, 2024
Louis M. Varga, 74, of Lansing, NY, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by family on October 14, 2024. Born on November 2, 1949, in Ithaca, NY, he was the son of the late Stephen G. Varga, Sr. and Susie (Solomon) Varga.
Louie, as he was better known to his family and friends, enlisted in the US Army and honorably...
Melvin H. Negley
Oct 8, 2024
Melvin H. Negley, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Ithaca, NY while surrounded by family on October 8, 2024. Born on December 10, 1929, in Tarentum, PA, he was one of ten children born to the late Homer Clair and Anna Mae (Pierce) Negley. His younger years were spent with his family in the Saltsburg/Indiana area of...
Nancy (Sweazey) Norman
Sep 23, 2024
On September 23, 2024, Nancy Norman (nee Sweazey) passed peacefully in hospice in Chandler, Arizona. She was born August 12, 1932, to Marion and Gladys Stedman Sweazey of Lansing, NY. She grew up on her father’s farm overlooking beautiful Cayuga Lake. She married her high school sweetheart, Samuel “Sam” Norman in 1951. They met in 5th grade and were married...
