Florence Boyle

1931 - 2016

ONEONTA - Mrs. Florence "Flo" Boyle, 84, passed away late Thursday night, March 24, 2016, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego.

Born October 4, 1931, to Frank and Florence (Mahnken) Ulm of Queens Village, she graduated from Grover Cleveland High School.

In her early years, she enjoyed travelling and visiting with family.

On April 12, 1980, Flo married Barrie McKennan Boyle in a ceremony at Christ Church, Cooperstown. 

For many years, she served as the Treasurer for the Milford and Morris Central School Districts.

Flo is survived by her husband of 35 years, Barrie M. Boyle, of Oneonta; two sons, Ronald Kyser and his wife, Cassandra, of St. Paul, Minnesota and Randall Kyser and his wife, Christine, of Tallahassee, Florida; one daughter, Kathleen Daniels and her husband, Destry, of Lost Creek, West Virginia; a step son, John Boyle of Alameda, California; 12 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; a brother, William Ulm of Seminole, Florida; a sister, Irene Jervis of Oneonta; and several nieces and nephews .

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Douglas M. Kyser; a son, Michael Kyser; two brothers, Frank and Raymond Ulm; two sisters, Marie Poole and Claire Sluzenski; and a stepdaughter, Ellen M. Boyle.

The Office of the Burial of the Dead with Holy Eucharist will be offered at 
11 o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Saint Agnes Chapel at Christ Church, Cooperstown, with the Rev'd Fr Matthew R Stromberg, Curate, officiating. The Burial Service and interment will follow in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, when Flo's family will be in attendance.

As an alternative to flowers, those who so desire may make a donation in memory of Flo to a charity of their choice. 

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Roger T. La Valley

1949 - 2016

MIDDLEFIELD CENTER - Roger T. La Valley, 66, of Middlefield Center, died March 5, 2016, at his residence. 

He was born June 21, 1949, in Little Falls, a son of Eugene and Tresa (Lasher) La Valley. 

On March 10, 1969, Roger enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country with Company A 1st Battalion Armored Division during the Vietnam War. Among some of the decorations and commendations he received was the Silver Star Medal (the third highest military decoration for valor awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States) and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Military on March 9, 1971, having attained the rank of SP4. 

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. 

Roger is survived by his two brothers, Ronald W. La Valley of Baltimore, Maryland and Garry A. La Valley of Fort Plain.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Joanne M. Bresee La Valley, who died November 6, 2011, as well as a sister, Caroline M. Frasier, and a brother, Junior Eugene La Valley. 

A graveside service will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016, at the Fort Plain Cemetery in Fort Plain, with Military Honors to be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Fae M. Chapman

1933 - 2016

HARTWICK - Fae Arlene Chapman (Murray), beloved wife of John C. Chapman, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away March 16, 2016, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. 

Born January 7, 1933, in Jamestown, Fae was the elder daughter of Harry J. and Glenna H. Murray. Fae received her bachelor's degree in education from SUNY Geneseo and spent over 20 years teaching kindergarten and sixth grade at Cooperstown Central School before retiring.

A resident of Hartwick, New York and Englewood, Florida, her talents and interests were many. She was an avid reader, gardener, pie maker extraordinaire, accomplished pianist and home builder. Fae loved all things in nature; birds and flowers were her special delight and she enjoyed capturing the beauty around her through photography. She was especially keen on recording the beauty she saw in cloud formations. 

Loved by so many, Fae will be remembered for her undying devotion to family, sense of humor, determination, and boundless energy. Her quick wit, calming presence, and words of wisdom were a joy to all. Fae's soft and gentle demeanor had a way of brightening even the darkest day. She was an elegant little lady with a spirit that was larger than life. 

Fae is survived by her husband and best friend of 63 years, John C. Chapman III; sister, Sandra D. Murray of Pittsford; daughter Kathleen DesJardins (Bill) of South Burlington, Vermont; daughter Linda Levandowski of Cooperstown; daughter Patricia Blau (Thomas) of Cary, North Carolina; son John C. Chapman IV (Sheri) of Port Charlotte, Florida; uncle Eddie Fox (Mary) of Ohio; aunt Elora Murray; 11 grandchildren: Scott DesJardins (Katie), Ellen O'Neil (Tristan), Leanna Levandowski (Matt), Sean Levandowski, Thomas Blau IV (Samantha), Erin Blau (Clayton), Kristen Blau, Ryan Blau, John Chapman V (Savanna), Brett Dudgey and Brendan Chapman; six great grandchildren: Russell DesJardins, Audrey DesJardins, Remi O'Neil, Ella Blau, Claudia Blau, and Landon Chapman; and several cousins. 

Fae was preceded in death by a daughter, Michele Anne; her parents, Harry and Glenna Murray of Englewood, Florida; and a precious granddaughter Julia A. Levandowski of Cooperstown.

Fae's final resting place will be in the Hartwick Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Karen L. S. Dutkowsky, DM

1956 - 2016

COOPERSTOWN - Karen Lynn Sluder Dutkowsky, 59, of Cooperstown, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2016, at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

Born June 26, 1956, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Karen was the daughter of Lawrence ("Lefty") and Mary (née Fisher) Sluder.

A devout believer in our Lord Jesus Christ, Karen began practicing her faith as a young child in the pentecostal Protestant tradition. Her faith journey took a turn leading to her reception into the Roman Catholic Church during the celebration of Easter in the Jubilee Year 2000. Karen retained an evangelical zeal to share the Love of Christ and the Truth of the Church in a gentle way.

In November of 2009, Karen was invested as a Dame of Malta in the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. With her husband Joseph, she hosted malades during the 2013 and 2015 Order of Malta Pilgrimages to Lourdes, France. She founded and twice co-chaired with her husband the Order of Malta Pilgrimage for Life. This Pilgrimage includes assisting people with disabilities during the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in addition to participation in the March for Life in Washington, DC.

Devoted to her faith, she organized and, for over twenty years, led Sisters in Christ, an ecumenical women's Bible study and fellowship. Karen served as a Eucharistic Minister at the Columbia University Medical Center through the Chaplaincy Office. A member of the Board of Directors of Holy Cross Family Ministries, she provided hundreds of Rosaries for patients and families at Columbia University Medical Center.

True to her humble and quiet nature, not many people knew that she was a teacher of the blind and visually impaired. She served local children through BOCES and was recognized in the field of disabilities as international expert, conducting academic workshops in the United States, Canada, and Peru.

In her leisure, Karen enjoyed assisting her husband in teaching junior ballroom dance for Cooperstown seventh and eighth graders. After twelve years, the Dutkowskys stepped down as dance instructors at the 2013 Cotillion.

A woman of humble character who possessed a great faith and love for the Lord, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Karen is survived by her husband of 36 years, Joseph P. Dutkowsky, MD, KM, of Cooperstown; three daughters, Kendra Zaborowski and her husband Stephen of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Allison Lipari and her husband Austin of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Christen Dutkowski of Washington, DC; four grandchildren, Joseph, Anne Rose, and Augustine Lipari, and Francis Zaborowski (expected in June); her parents, Lefty and Mary Sluder of Exeter, New Hampshire; and her brother Kevin Sluder and his wife Stephanie and their daughters, Rachael and Emily of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown from 4 - 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016, when the family will be in attendance. An honor guard representing the Knights and Dames of Malta will be present during the visitation.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2016, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, corner of Madison Avenue and Eagle Street at the Empire State Plaza, Albany. The Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D., Bishop of Albany, will be the Celebrant. Parking is available in the Cathedral Museum lot behind the Cathedral and in the Madison Avenue lot above the Cultural Education Center.

As an alternative to flowers, Karen's family would appreciate donations in her memory to Holy Cross Family Ministries, 518 Washington Street, North Easton, MA 02536-1200, or the Sisters of Life, 38 Montebello Road, Suffern, NY 10901.

Karen took great consolation and strength in The Lord and patterned her life on the following: "Oh God of wisdom and of love, you have made us as fragile as the flowers in the field, yet you have made us strong in the hope of life everlasting. Teach us to see this day as gift enough, that we may live it for your glory and render it back to you in praise when evening falls. Through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen."    Magnificat, Morning Prayer

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.