Susan M. Knodel

September 27, 1953 - November 27, 2011

FLY CREEK - Susan M. Knodel, affectionately known as Susie, died unexpectedly Sunday evening, November 27, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.  She was 58.

Born September 27, 1953, in Utica, she was a daughter of the late Edward C. and Margaret E. (Hawkins) Madore.

A graduate of Clinton Central School, she attended Herkimer County Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in 1973.

On March 22, 1975, Susie married James B. Knodel in Clinton, and in 1979 they moved to Cooperstown. Throughout her life Susie loved kids and was at her best while either raising her own or teaching and caring for others. A pre-school teacher, she was first employed at the Art Farm on Main Street in Cooperstown and then for many years was associated with  Cooperstown Pre School. This past fall she became employed with Milford Central School.

In her leisure she enjoyed traveling and loved going to the Adirondacks, especially Old Forge, as well as to Myrtle Beach and the west coast. Her life was her family and she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, as well as being surrounded by those for whom she was teaching and caring.

Susie is survived by her husband of 36 years, Jim Knodel, of Fly Creek, and their children, Lindsay Ranii and her husband, Anthony, of Foster City, California , James B. Knodel, Jr. and his wife, Karri, of Portland, Oregon, and Robert J. Knodel of Northampton, Massachusetts; two beloved grandchildren, Anthony James and Olivia Suzanne Ranii; one sister, Barbara Chilluffo and one brother, Edward C. Madore, Jr., both of Rome; and one nephew, Michael P. Chilluffo of Syracuse.

Susie's family will receive friends at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 5 - 7 PM on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown. The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek.

As an alternative to flowers, please consider donating to the prospective Angel Network, c/o Milford Central School, P. O. Box 237, Milford, NY 13807.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

Betty Poppe

October 22, 1926 - November 16, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Betty Poppe, formerly of Wantagh, Long Island, died after a brief illness on Wednesday morning, November 16, 2011, at Albany Medical Center. She was 85.

Born Elizabeth Louise Webb on October 22, 1926, in Arlington, Massachusetts, she was a daughter of Clifford Henry and Minna Emma (Seelmann) Webb. Betty was raised in City Island in the Bronx, but lived most of her life on Long Island in Wantagh. For many years she was a member of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church.

After living for a time in Florida, she moved in 1998 to Fly Creek, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Carrilu and Edward Tietz, until moving in 2005 to Otsego Manor. 

Betty was a loving mother who cared very deeply for her family and they equally as much for her.

Betty is survived by one son, Gary Cottam and his wife, Vicki, of City Island; two daughters, Carrilu Tietz and her husband, Edward, of Cooperstown, and Nancy Cottam of Folsam, California; four grandsons; and one niece, Barbara Solmonsohn and her husband, Stan, of Baldwin.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward H. Poppe, and one sister, Dorothy Rustad.

Betty's family will receive friends at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, on Friday,  November 18, 2011, from 5 - 6 pm.

A funeral service will be offered at 6 pm on Friday evening at the funeral home with the Rev. Betsy Jay, Chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating.

As an alternative to flowers, please consider memorial donations to Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY  13326.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

Joanne M. La Valley

January 8, 1952 - November 6, 2011

MIDDLEFIELD CENTER - Joanne M. La Valley, 59, of Middlefield Center, died Sunday night, November 6, 2011 at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

She was born January 8, 1952 at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, a daughter of Rowan and Florence Anna ( Drake) Bresee.

Raised in Springfield, Joanne grew up on the farm of her grandfather, Ellis Drake, on Thurston Hill. She attended school in Springfield, but left during her high school years to go to work.

Throughout her life Joanne possessed a strong love for animals and was especially fond of horses. This passion led to her career as an animal breeder during which time she bred and raised many miniature horses and donkeys. She was also an extremely talented painter in both portraiture and other mediums and enjoyed doing craft work.

Joanne will be missed by her husband of 40 years, Roger T. La Valley of Middlefield Center; three sisters, Deborah Noseworthy and her husband Gerald of Canajoharie, Linda Bresee of Edmeston and Valerie Mead and her husband Bernard of Cherry Valley; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

With respect for Joanne's wishes, there will be no services.

As a way of honoring Joanne's love of animals, please consider making a gift in her memory to the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

Kenneth Raymond Carozza

October 2, 1942 - November 4, 2011

EAST MEREDITH - Kenneth Raymond Carozza, beloved husband of Marita D. Carozza, died early Friday morning, November 4, 2011, at their home in the Town of Meredith. He was 69.

Born October 2, 1942, in the Bronx, he was the youngest of nine children of Carmine and Helen (Harrison) Carozza. He married Marita A. Dorsch on June 22, 1963, at the Church of St. Raymond in the Bronx.

For many years Kenny and Marita owned and operated Dorsch Prosthetics and Orthotics in Manhattan.

Kenny is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Marita, of East Meredith; one daughter, Marita Schuele, and her husband, Glenn, of Tampa, Florida; two grandchildren, Samantha Gagnon and her husband Nick, and Colin Schuele; and several nieces and nephews including a special niece, Debbie, and her husband, "Brad" Bradford of Ellenville.

Family and friends may call from 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 7, 2011, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, officiating.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

David Edward Rickard

June 12, 1953 - October 29, 2011

"May Perpetual Light Shine Upon You"

HARTWICK - David Edward Rickard, 58, of Hartwick, ended his life's journey at home on Saturday evening, October 29, 2011, surrounded by his loving family.

Dave was born to Mary Theresa Ferris and Olin B. Rickard on June 12, 1953. He grew up in Little Falls where he loved to trap and hunt and roam the hills with his dog at his side. His Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) heritage was central to his identity and he participated in the ceremonies and festivals of the people. For many years he was a member of the Woodland Confederacy engaging in historical reenactments of the French and Indian War.

Dave earned a Masters in Divinity from Washington Theological Coalition and an MSW degree from SUNY Albany. He was in religious life, first as a Benedictine in a secluded priory in Vermont and later, after feeling a call to more direct service, he joined the Franciscan Order and worked in the Bronx and Boston.

In 1980 he married Mary Bergen and they made their home in Hartwick with their sons, Mark and Andrew.

He indulged his passion for history through his many years of work at the New York State Historical Association in numerous roles and personas, among them printer, pharmacist, militia leader, pracktical phrenologist and patent medicine salesman. During his tenure in the Native American Program, he was responsible  for the construction of an 18th century bark longhouse on the shore of Lake Otsego and the procurement of an 18th century Seneca log cabin. He also worked in the psychiatry department at Bassett Hospital.

Active in scouting, Dave achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and served as assistant scout leader for Troop 1254.

Dave is survived by his wife, Mary Bergen, their son Andrew Rickard and his fiancĂ©e, Elizabeth Fury, all of Hartwick; his sister, Ann Rickard, of Little Falls; and his wife's family, whom he embraced as his own:  mother and father-in-law Anne and Charles Bergen, Patricia and Ray Williams, James Bergen and Vikki Jones, Charles and Jerolyn Bergen, Michael Bergen, William and Allison Bergen, Richard and Marcia Bergen, Matthew Bergen, Timothy and Heather Bergen, Thomas Bergen and Joseph and Betsy Bergen. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, his special Aunt Betty and cousin Barbara and a large and loving circle of "framily".

Dave and Mary's beloved son, Mark Rickard, who passed in July  2007, and Dave's parents, predeceased him.

A Celebration of Dave's Life was offered at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at the Upper Susquehanna Cultural Center, North Main Street, Milford, with Quaker Minister Jim Atwell, officiating.

In appreciation of the sensitive care from the devoted staff of hospice, Dave's family requests that  expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY  13820.

Arrangements were under the guidance of Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, Cooperstown. 



If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.