Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: November 2014

Michael Howard Jennings

June 3, 1975 - November 21, 2014

Michael Howard Jennings, 39, of Albuquerque passed away in his home, November 21, 2014.

He was born June 3, 1975 at Bassett Hospital to Ronald and Edith (Ainslie) Jennings of Cooperstown, NY. He graduated from Cooperstown Central High School in 1994. He attended Tompkins County Community College, and in 2000 he graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Potsdam with degrees in Anthropology, Archeology, and Business.

Upon graduation, he was employed at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest as a Landscape Archeologist, where he worked until 2002. He was then employed as a scientist by the New York State Museum. Until 2007, he worked as a Project Manager for Lone Tree Archeology and Environmental Inc. In 2007 he began work with HDR, Inc., in Albuquerque, where he was the Archeological Project Manager / Marketing Director of Cultural Resources.

His work took him to several locations, including the South Pacific where he discovered a previously unknown Japanese bunker, Denali National Park in Alaska, and White Sands, New Mexico. He led an archeological survey along the Rio Grande which resulted in the discovery of 22 archeological sites, spanning historic and prehistoric periods of South Texas. He was Project manager in Huoma, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama and co-lead for the States of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi and one of several scientists responsible for assisting members of the Shoreline Clean-up Technique team (SCAT) to assess and evaluate cultural resources along the shorelines impacted by the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion.

He authored many articles which were published in several Archeological digests.

He was a member of the American Cultural Resources Association, Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology, and was a Cultural Resource Consultant for the Historic Preservation Division of the State Historic Preservation Office, Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

He was very active in his community, and inspired others to do the same. He was very close to people in To'Hajiilee Native American Indian Reservation and ensured that he supported their families and youth. He was passionate about helping them. He coordinated toy drives for the community each year and most recently he coordinated a back to school drive for the students. He was also active with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

He enjoyed restoring antiques and building furniture, many of which he gave to his family as gifts. He was an avid sports fan, and could be found every Sunday watching a game. He was also a talented home-brewer, and enjoyed visiting microbreweries. Michael also enjoyed traveling. His travels took him throughout the US and South America, including Guatemala and Mexico.

He is survived by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law Teresa and Peter Russo, his nephew and godson Nicholas and his niece and goddaughter Maeghan, of Burglengenfeld, Germany. He is also survived by many loving friends and family around the world.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Michael’s name to your local SPCA, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, food pantry, or the charity of your choice.

On Sunday December 7, we will be remembering the life of Michael Jennings. Calling hours will be at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church on Chestnut Street at 1:00, with a service in the sanctuary at 2:00 immediately followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Irene A. Wilfeard

March 19, 1924 - November 27, 2014

COOPERSTOWN - Irene Ada Wilfeard, 90, passed away Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2014, at the Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego.

Born in the United Kingdom March 19, 1924, in the Acton District of West London, England, she was the daughter of Bernard and Irene Edith Childs.

During World War II, she met Herbert B. Wilfeard, who was serving with the United States Army. Proud to be a "war bride", Irene married Herbert on June 2, 1945, in a ceremony at St. Dunstan's Church in East Acton, London. Irene stayed another year in England, and then moved to the United States to join her husband, becoming a United States citizen in 1956.

The Wilfeards first resided in Rochester and later moved to the Cooperstown area. She was employed by the Campbell Estate as head of housekeeping for Dorothy and Joseph Campbell and later Judy and W.T. Sampson Smith. She then went to work as a nurse's aide at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, where she enjoyed working with Patricia Taugher and Irene Kelly.

A member of the Native Daughters of Cooperstown, she was a former member of the Pierstown Grange and the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Department Women's Auxiliary.

Her family will always remember her stories of growing up in England, including how she and her family dealt with the hardships of World War II. Perhaps one of Irene's fondest memories was when she was formally introduced to the Queen Mother.

Irene always loved being with her children and grandchildren. She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Nedena and Ronald Swift of Worcester, Holly and Edward Pearsall of Newport, and Peggy and Alan Basile of Cooperstown; two sons and three daughters-in-law, David M. and Elizabeth Wilfeard of Cooperstown, Bradley K. and Kathleen Wilfeard of Burlington Flats, and Judy P. Wilfeard of Massachusetts; nine grandchildren, Andrea Wilfeard, Ashlie and fiancé, Albert Dawson, Jon-Michael and David Wilfeard II, Ronald F. Swift, Jr. and wife, Kerri, Aaron Pearsall, Ashley Schook and husband, David, Bernard L. Wilfeard, Jr. ("BJ") and wife, Jessica, and Renee Duda and husband, Brian; seven great grandchildren, Katelynn Fairchild, Tyler Wilfeard, Bernard L. Wilfeard III ("Trey"), Hunter Wilfeard, Kelsey Swift, Caleb Swift and Mary Lynn Nedena Mattison; her niece, Rita, and her two daughters, Danielle and Cassandra, of England; and one great great grandson, Gabriel.

She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert B. Wilfeard, who died February 4, 1983; a son, Bernard Leigh Wilfeard, who died October 21, 1999; a grandson, Brian Keith Wilfeard, who died at birth on November 10, 1970; and a brother, Roy Whiting, and his wife, Doris.

A graveside service will be offered in the Spring of 2015 in Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, with the Rev. Betsy Jay, Chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating.

There will be no calling hours.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

Bernice G. Bachanas

December 4, 1930 - November 6, 2014

FLY CREEK - Bernice G. Bachanas, 83, of Fly Creek, died Thursday afternoon, November 6, 2014, at her home on Goose Street.

She was born December 4, 1930, in the family home on Harry Roseboom Road in Westville, one of 13 children of Harry and Lucy (Pratt) Roseboom.

After graduating from Milford High School with the Class of 1948, she was employed for a time at J.J. Newberry's on Main Street in Cooperstown. It was there that she met her future husband, Norman "Bub" Edmund Bachanas (who was extremely shy!).

On June 20, 1953, Bernice married Norm in a ceremony at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.

For many years, she was employed as a cook in the central kitchen for the Otsego County Sheriff's Department in Cooperstown.

Bernice was an active member for over 50 years of the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company Ladies' Auxiliary. For an equal amount of time, she also served with the Otsego County Board of Elections, and at election time was a familiar face at the voting booths.

In her leisure, she enjoyed playing cards and tending to her flower gardens. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially camping and the vacation that took place just about every August which provided many great memories over the years.

Bernice is survived by three children, Jane Bachanas and her partner, John Knapp, of Schuyler Lake, Bruce Bachanas and his wife, Jerilynn, of Christian Hill, and Michael Bachanas and his partner, Laura Duncan, of Richfield Springs; seven grandchildren, Alex Hawxhurst, Whitney, Kelsey and Lillian Bachanas, Mariah and Mackenzie Bachanas, and Paige Cooper; one great grandson, Connor Freeman; one brother, Donald Roseboom and his wife, Alice, of Georgia and formerly of Toddsville; many, many, many nieces and nephews; numerous friends; and an extremely faithful, furry companion, "Bub", her kitty cat.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, "Bub," (who affectionately called her "Bersie") who died July 7, 2006. She was also predeceased by five sisters, Rena C. Short, Dorothy A. Smith, Mary Broas, Bertha Teachout, and Grace Roseboom; and six brothers, F. Arthur, Paul, Robert, Stanley, Freeman and Leon Roseboom.

A graveside service will be offered at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2014, in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Fly Creek. The service will be led by a nephew, Ron Smith, who will offer the eulogy. A niece, Ramona, will sing "A Coat of Many Colors," accompanied by a nephew, Eugene.

In lieu of flowers, the Bachanas family kindly suggests that memorial gifts be directed to the Fly Creek Emergency Squad or the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 218, Fly Creek, NY 13337, or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.

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

Christopher W. Hoyt

January 1, 1942 - October 30, 2014

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Mr. Christopher William Hoyt, 72, died Thursday evening, October 30, 2014, at his home in Saratoga Springs, NY, surrounded by his family following a brief but valiant battle with cancer.

Born January 1, 1942, Chris was the first baby born in the New Year at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, CT. He was the son of William Bradford Hoyt and Mary Raymond Lynch Hoyt, who were natives of Connecticut.

In his youth he attended the Holderness School in Plymouth, NH, where he played on the football team. He then attended Union College, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and psychology.

On August 24, 1963, Chris married Linda Morehouse Albin in a ceremony at the First Methodist Church on West Avenue in South Norwalk, CT.

For many years, Chris was employed as a sales engineer for General Electric. He and Linda and their children, Kimberly and Christopher, lived in many places throughout the country, including New York, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts. They lived the longest of any place in Ramsey, NJ, where the Hoyts were very active in their church and community.

In 2002, Chris retired from GE in Albany; Chris and Linda settled in the home they built in Saratoga Springs, NY. Through the years, he and Linda enjoyed tending to their homes and gardens, and especially enjoyed the ponds they built on the hillside behind their house in Saratoga Springs.

For many years, Chris was actively involved with the Hatch and Bailey Company in South Norwalk, CT. A residential and commercial construction supply company founded by his family in 1872, he was currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors.

An accomplished sailor, Chris always enjoyed being out on the water whenever he could. In later years, Chris and Linda took great pleasure in sailing their 38' catamaran many places along the eastern seaboard. Chris and Linda also enjoyed playing golf, tennis and travelling together throughout the world.

Chris is survived by his wife of 51 years, Linda, of Saratoga Springs; a daughter, Kimberly Betts Hoyt Dallon and her husband, David, of New Jersey; a son, Christopher William Hoyt, Jr., and his wife, Laura, of Virginia; and five grandchildren, Kyle William Dallon, William Alexander Hoyt, Andrew Bennett Hoyt, Aiden Christopher Hoyt, and Nina Isabella Hoyt.

He is further survived by three sisters and their husbands, Caroline and Michael Sicilian of Stamford, CT, Betts and Bud Bain of Rowayton, CT, and Margo and Richard Lepore of North Carolina; as well as many, many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 5th Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY, with Rev. Heather Williams, Senior Pastor and Rev. Drew Sperry, Pastor, officiating.

As an alternative to flowers, the Hoyt family kindly suggests that memorial gifts be made to Yaddo Garden Association, P.O. Box 395, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 5th Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

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