George E. Vermilya

1926 - 2016

NEW HARTFORD - Mr. George Elmer Vermilya, 90, of New Hartford and formerly of Fly Creek, died Saturday morning, November 26, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. 

A native of Delaware County, George was born at home in Grand Gorge on September 12, 1926, a son of Leo Eugene Vermilya and Inez Patterson Vermilya.

He attended South Kortright Central School and then entered into active service in the United States Army in January 1945. After proudly serving his country during World War II he returned home and earned his high school diploma from SKCS with the Class of 1948.

On October 2, 1953, George married Elsie A. Darling in a ceremony at the Hobart Methodist Church. In 1954, the couple moved to Cooperstown where George was employed as the manager of the Sealtest Milk Plant which was located at the corner of Chestnut and Walnut Streets.

During their years in the Cooperstown area, the Vermilyas resided in Fly Creek, during which time Elsie was employed on the news staff of The Freeman's Journal. George became a life member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown, and often served with the Honor Guard for Military Honors for deceased Veterans. 

In 1971, George and Elsie moved to St. Lawrence County to reside in Madrid, where he was employed as a dairy farm inspector for the Kraft Cheese Plant in Canton. Upon his retirement in 1988, the couple moved to New Hartford.

George is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Anthony Covais of Massena; three granddaughters, Tammy Loz and husband, Richard, Teresa Cavanaugh and husband, Mark, and Candace O'Neill; 11 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Elsie A. Vermilya, who died January 18, 2009.

A graveside service with Military Honors will be offered in the Spring of 2017 in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery. Service details will be announced at that time. 

As an alternative to flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

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.

Regina G. Snyder

1925 - 2016

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - Regina G. Snyder, a native of Cooperstown, New York, and long-time resident of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died early Sunday morning, November 20, 2016, at UNC Healthcare-Hillsborough Campus in Hillsborough, North Carolina, following a brief illness. She was 91.

Born August 1, 1925, at the Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, New York,  Regina was the only child of Parker E. Snyder and Florence E. née Winslow Snyder. After graduating from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1943, she attended the Albany College of Pharmacy where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1947.  

Throughout her career as a pharmacist, she was employed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and  for ten years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, as well as various local pharmacies.  In 1985, she moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and for the past 20 years made her home at Carolina Meadows, a continuing care retirement community. 

While residing in Chapel Hill, Regina attended University Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the David Poplar Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and the American Association of University Women (A.A.U.W.). 

She was also a member of the Native Daughters of Cooperstown and while living in Otsego County attended the Church of Christ Uniting in Richfield Springs, New York. 

Regina will be laid to rest in the family plot in Middlefield Center Cemetery in Middlefield Center, New York.  

A Memorial Service will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2017, at The First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie A. Rhodes, pastor officiating.

Interment will be later that afternoon in the Snyder Family Plot in the Middlefield Center Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.cooperstownfuneralhome.com.

Memorial donations may be directed to a charity of one's choice.

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


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.

Marjorie N. Strait

1936 - 2016

COOPERSTOWN - Marjorie Newell Strait, 80, of Cooperstown, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, November 15, 2016 at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown after a short illness. 

She was born July 9, 1936, in Cooperstown to Charles A. and Mary (Gavin) Newell. She graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1954 and attended secretarial college in Syracuse.

For over 40 years Marge was employed as a secretary in the Surgical Department at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. She also owned and operated The Cooperstown Diner with her late husband, Charles H. Strait. She was famous for her hamburgers and chili.

Her sense of humor and generosity will be missed by all who knew her. 

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Gaughan, son-in-law, Adam Solomon and her beloved granddaughters, Devasha and Sigal Solomon of Brookline, MA; three sisters, Imogene Carter and husband, Dr. Rodman Carter of Palm Coast, FL and Cooperstown, Noreen Newell of Wallingford, VT and Marion "Billie" Williams of Portland, OR; many nieces and nephews; and her friend Wayne Granger.

She was predeceased by her mother and father, her husband, Charles H. Strait and three brothers, Charles A. Newell, Jr., Donald Newell and Roger Gavin Newell.

A graveside service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 19, 2016, in the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery with the Rev. Betsy Jay, Chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating.

Donations in her memory may be made to Cooperstown Emergency Squad. P. O. Box 322, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or to Friends of Bassett, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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.

Robert J. Shirm

1951 - 2016

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121:5,8)

MILFORD - Robert Joseph Shirm, 65, passed away unexpectedly Monday evening, All Hallows Eve, October 31, 2016, while communing with nature in the woods near his home.

He was born October 9, 1951, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Ralph and Mary (Roman) Shirm and was raised and educated in Montoursville.

After graduating from high school he worked as a security guard and met his future wife, Kathleen Finnegan, near his family's home. On June 5, 1976, Bob and Kathy were married in Geneva, NY, and then spent their first three months together on an extended honeymoon driving cross country in a converted Volkswagen Van. They first settled in California where Bob was employed as nurseryman. Eventually they made their way back to New York State and resided on Eggleston Hill in Milford. In 2007 they moved to their current home on Cold Springs Lane. 

While living in Otsego County, Bob was employed by MOSA at their Southern Transfer Station and most recently worked in the maintenance department at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, retiring in 2013.

Bob loved the outdoors, and especially enjoyed long walks in the woods where he would be scouting for firewood. Equally, he loved spending time with his family. He also enjoyed just being home and watching football and hockey on TV. Bob was an avid reader - with a special fondness for science fiction novels - and as a fervent supporter and frequent visitor of the Milford Free Library, he recently became a member of their advisory board. 

Bob will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 40 years, Kathy, of Milford; their three children, Ian R. Shirm of Milford, Alison S. Cole and husband Richard of Gilbertsville and Mackenzie Shirm of Monroe; four grandchildren, Deidre, Indigo and Jasper Cole and Ava Rose Shirm; and one sister, Joann Shirm of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by an infant son, James Allen Shirm who died in 1991.

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown on Friday, November 4, 2016, from 4 - 6 pm when Bob's family will be in attendance.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at St. Mary's' "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, officiating.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

For those who so desire, Bob's family would appreciate donations in his memory to the Milford Free Library, P. O. Box 118, Milford, NY 13807.

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.