Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: April 2016

Joan W. Petersen

1925 - 2010

LANTANA, FLORIDA - Joan W. Petersen, a native of Cooperstown, died at the age of 85 on September 9, 2010, at JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida. Jesus came down and wrapped his arms around Joan and took her home.

Born March 29, 1925, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, she was a daughter of Floyd W. and Catherine E. (Tiffany) Winne.

Raised in Cooperstown, she graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1942.

She married Donald C. Petersen on June 23, 1946, in Cooperstown. Mr. Petersen died July 4, 1972.

Beginning in 1946 Joan was employed as a switchboard operator with New York Telephone ("Ma Bell") at the Cooperstown exchange on Pioneer Street. After retiring in 1981, she moved to Florida and had been residing in Lantana.

She was a member and past president of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 7128 in Cooperstown.

Joan is survived by her son, Charles J. Petersen, of Pine Bluff, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Irene Ackerman, of the State of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Joan was predeceased by two sisters, Elizabeth Larkins, who died April 30, 1982, and Katherine W. Wheeler, who died July 25, 2001; and two brothers, George R. Winne who died July 19, 2011, and Floyd W. Winne, Jr. She was also predeceased by her very good friend, Grace Welsh, who died March 21, 2013.

In Florida, The Office of the Burial of the Dead was offered on September 25, 2010, at the Church of the Guardian Angels in Lantana.

In New York State, a graveside service of committal and burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek, with the Rev'd Fr Matthew R Stromberg, Curate at Christ Church, Cooperstown, officiating

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County to benefit the Jay Robert Lauer Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at JFK Medical Center, 5301 South Congress Avenue, Atlantis, FL 33462.

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

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NOTICE OF GRAVESIDE SERVICE (NEW YORK)

COOPERSTOWN - A graveside service of committal and burial for Joan W. Petersen will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Fly Creek, with the Rev'd Fr Matthew R Stromberg, Curate at Christ Church, Cooperstown, officiating. A native of Cooperstown, Joan died at the age of 85 on September 9, 2010, in Atlantis, Florida.

Joan is survived by her son, Charles J. Petersen, of Pine Bluff, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Irene Ackerman, of the State of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Joan was predeceased by two sisters, Elizabeth Larkins and Katherine W. Wheeler and two brothers, George R. Winne and Floyd W. Winne, Jr. She was also predeceased by her very good friend, Grace Welsh.

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.

Paul Poulos

1938 - 2016

HARTWICK - Paul Poulos, a union activist and staunch champion of the working class, died unexpectedly due to a cardiac-related condition Sunday morning, April 3, 2016, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 77.

Born September 28, 1938, in Long Island City, Paul was a son of Steven and Sophia (Marchavich) Poulos, who were of Greek and Polish ancestry. After graduating from high school, he studied in college to be a draftsman.

For most of his working life, Paul was a truck driver for several companies including Sears. His career in transportation led to his active involvement with the Industrial Workers of the World, an international labor union whose members are referred to as "Wobblies".

Currently serving as the chief financial officer for the Upstate New York General Membership Branch of the IWW, he was passionate in his fight for the rights of workers. Through the years he led and was part of many events to bring awareness of workplace-related problems, including one he organized in Cooperstown. In August 2004, Paul - along with other members of the IWW - walked the streets of the village in an attempt to raise the public's awareness of international sweatshops and how they affect the United States. Willing participants were asked to examine the inside of their baseball hats to see where the hat was made. Out of 100 hats examined, none were manufactured in the US. At the time, Paul was quoted as saying, "…by supporting international sweatshops we're lowering the standards of our own country…" and expressed his belief that awareness of this situation can begin at home and in the schools.

For the past 36 years, Paul shared his life with Rochelle Semel. Since 1984, they have made their home in a house he built in the Town of Otsego.

He will be remembered foremost as a loving partner, stepfather, uncle and brother-in-law, and by a host of friends and fellow workers.

At his request, there will be no services.

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

Carol Ann Brannigan

1951 - 2016

MILFORD - Carol Ann Brannigan, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Sunday morning, April 3, 2016, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. She was 64.

A native of Long Island, she was born November 9, 1951, in Huntington , a daughter of the late Mike and Rosalyn (Smidt) Spunt.

On May 5, 1973, Carol Ann married Harry George Brannigan in Huntington. For the past 27 years they have made their home in the Town of Milford.

She was currently employed in the Accounts Receivable division of the Finance Department for Bassett Healthcare Network in Cooperstown.

Throughout her life Carol Ann enjoyed animals of all kinds, especially her own pets. She also loved gardening and taking trips. Of the Roman Catholic faith, she attended St. Mary's Church in Oneonta.

Carol Ann will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 43 years, Harry G. Brannigan of Milford; their son, Harry Michael Brannigan and his companion, Julie Smith, of Mt. Vision; one granddaughter, Shannon Brannigan, of Mt. Vision; a brother, Mike Spunt of Queensbury; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her other siblings.

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2016, when Carol Ann's family will be in attendance.

At 6 p.m. Thursday evening, a funeral service will be offered in the funeral home with Fr. David Wm. Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Oneonta, officiating.

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