Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: August 2017

Joseph Alan Theriault

1934 - 2017

MAMARONECK - Joseph Alan Theriault, of Mamaroneck, died Sunday, August 27, 2017, at the age of 83.

Born in 1934 to Angus and Anna (née Bianca) Theriault, Joseph was the proprietor of Angus Theriault & Sons Roofing.

He was the beloved husband of the late Dolores (née Miller) Theriault who died June 26, 1999.

He is survived by his long-time partner Dottie Payne; children Allison Cacciola (Carl), Patricia Theriault and JoAnn O'Brien; and was brother of Ruth DiGiacomo and the late Arthur Theriault. Joe has five grand and five great grandchildren.

A graveside service of committal and burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown officiating.

Local 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.

Bette Jane Konchar

1943 - 2017

COOPERSTOWN - Bette Jane Konchar, formerly of Hyde Park, died peacefully Thursday morning, August 24, 2017, at her home in Oneonta, following a valiant struggle with cancer. She was 74.

Born February 27, 1943, in Cooperstown, Jane was the daughter of Stanley L. and Albina (Cop) Konchar.

A member of the graduating Class of 1961 from Cooperstown Central School, Jane was active in many extracurricular activities during her school years, including cross country skiing and horseback riding, and was a very musical person who played the French horn, violin, accordion and organ.

Inspired by the challenge of research and experimentation, Jane was an enthusiastic learner and as an adult began taking courses at Hartwick College. At the age of 61 she earned a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry.

For 26 years, Jane was employed by Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown. Beginning in 1971, she served as a medical receptionist and then a medical secretary, and from 1980 until 1998 was a medical transcriptionist. She will be remembered as being extremely reliable and conscientious at her job, which she always did efficiently with a commitment to maintaining exacting standards.

Jane is survived by her aunt, Rosemary C. Fisher of Mesa, Arizona, and many, many cousins and friends from the many facets of her life.

She was predeceased by her father, Stanley, who died August 9, 1998; her mother, Albina, who died January 20, 2016; and her brother, Steven Alan Knochar, who died July 19, 1963.

A Memorial Service will be offered at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, August 29, 2017, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, pastor officiating.

She will be laid to rest with her parents and brother at a later date in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

For those who wish to honor Jane, her family respectfully suggests that memorial donations be directed to 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.

Dorothy J. Martin

1921 - 2017

FLY CREEK - Dorothy J. "Dot" Martin, loving and devoted wife of Peter L. "Pete" Martin and an integral and beloved part of the Fly Creek community, passed away Friday morning, August 18, 2017, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Nursing Home in Oneonta. She was 96.

Born May 5, 1921, in Pittsfield, Dot was one of 10 children of Leslie Calvin Day, Sr. and Agnes Alene née Daniels Day. One of her fondest memories as a child -which she always enjoyed sharing with others - was of one Christmas Day when she and her family travelled through a winter storm by horse-drawn sled to a family gathering.

After graduating from high school, she attended the State University College of Oneonta (now SUNY Oneonta) where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in education and later her Masters Degree. Her first teaching position was at Jefferson Central School, where she taught from 1943-1946.

On July 25, 1946, she married Peter L. Martin in a ceremony at the Milford Methodist Church.

In 1952, the Martins purchased a home from Howard Aufmuth, Sr. on the corner of Bailey Road and Goose Street in Fly Creek. Throughout their lives Dot and Pete always enjoyed doing research and traced their large red Federal-style home back to the land purchase in 1786 by William Cooper from George Croghan as lot #17 of the Balston Purchase. During the early 1950s they offered farm vacations to families from New York City, but in 1956 Dot started teaching 1st grade in Cherry Valley which brought an end to the farm vacation folks. In 1963 they sold the dairy and Pete went to college to study Agronomy, while Dot continued teaching in Cherry Valley until 1966. After Pete graduated from college they rented their home in Fly Creek and moved to Tioga County where they lived 13 years. From 1966 until 1977 Dot taught 1st and 2nd grades at Newark Valley Central School. They moved back to Otsego County in 1979.

For many years Dot was an active, faithful and devoted member of the Fly Creek United Methodist Church. Active with the Women's Society of Christian Service (W.S.C.S.), she taught Sunday School for 30 years, and will be remembered for the many cards she sent to people and for being the "grandmother" of her church family. She further served her community as one of the original deliverers of Meals-on-Wheels when it first came to the area.

An avid historian, Dot was a long-time member of The Fly Creek Area Historical Society (a vital part of her and Pete's lives), as well as the New York State Historical Association, the Connecticut Genealogical Society, and Fairbanks Family, Inc. She was also a member of Westville Grange No. 540, the New York State Retired Teachers Association, the Home Bureau and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Dot will be greatly missed by her husband of 71 years, Pete Martin of Fly Creek; their daughter-in-law, Judy Brown; two grandsons, Martin R. Osterhoudt and wife, Michelle and Timothy L. Osterhoudt and wife, Meka, all of Oneonta; three great grandchildren, Alex, Ella and Emma; a brother, Leslie C. Day, Jr. and partner, Joan Wilber of Milford; many, many nieces and nephews, and her many friends in Fly Creek and beyond.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a foster son, Charles F. Osterhoudt who died September 29, 1991; four brothers, Gerald, Roger, Douglas and Leon Day; and four sisters, Irene Lucille Winne Ackerman, Lois Bunn, Jeanette Holden and Ann Marie Day.

A Memorial Service will be offered at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at the Fly Creek United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sharon Rankins-Burd, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek.

Memorial donation may be made to the Fly Creek United Methodist Church for the Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 128, Fly Creek, NY 13337, or the Fly Creek Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 87, Fly Creek, NY 13337.

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

Nicholas C. Kelly

1953 - 2017

SCHUYLER LAKE - Nicholas Charles Kelly, 64, died Monday afternoon, July 31, 2017, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Nick was born January 30, 1953, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, first born and only son of Charles W. and Dorothy P. (Oblak) Kelly.

Nick grew up on the family farm where he worked alongside his father and grandfather, "J.W.". He graduated from Richfield Springs Central School, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. Following graduation he worked with his Dad drilling wells and cutting logs. For 17 years he was employed as a lineman by the Otsego Electric Cooperative (R.E.A.) in Hartwick. In the fall of 2000 a disability led to Nick's early retirement.

On August 11, 1973, Nick married Patricia Ann Brophy in a ceremony at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.

In addition to his wife of 43 years, Nick is survived by their sons, Sean Kelly of Nocona, Texas, Ryan Kelly and his wife, Jacelyn of Schuyler Lake, Patrick Kelly and his wife, Aisling, of Newton, New Hampshire and Lawrence "Guy" Johnson of Schuyler Lake, considered by all to be Nick's fourth son. Nick is also survived by his mother, Dorothy P. Kelly; seven grandchildren, Joseph and his wife, Alley, Hailey, Charlie, Mylee, Bryson, Grace and Kate; two great grandchildren, Nicholas Cyrus and Aubrey Elizabeth; three sisters, Jacqueline Young and husband, Fred of Burlington Flats, Karenlee Seamon of Richfield Springs, and Judy Kelly and husband Mike Savoy of Rochester; three brothers-in-laws, Michael D. Brophy of Glenside, Pennsylvania, James M. Brophy and wife, Jacqueline of Fly Creek, and Dennis J. Brophy and wife, Erin of Germantown, Tennessee; and many nieces and nephews.

Nick was predeceased by his father, Charles W. Kelly, who died November 1, 1996.

Nick was a lifelong outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, most recently on trips to Ohio with his boys, and fishing - his last fishing buddy was grandson Charlie. In the Fall, Nick enjoyed working on a Winter's supply of firewood. His Dad always said, "Firewood warms you twice, once when you cut it, and once when you burn it."

In recent years Nick and Pat enjoyed working with an English Setter rescue. Four of their many fosters became permanent members of the family, bringing the total number of family dogs to six. Nick's love of his dogs was matched only by their devotion to him.

Friends and family were the centerpiece of Nick's life. During his illness, Nick was deeply touched by the visits, phone calls and prayers from friends and neighbors whose lives he had touched over the years. The family will always be grateful for the unselfish gift of companionship given by Bill Kelly, Craig and Curt Wightman, Dennis Bresee, as well as the caring support provided by Catskill Area Hospice.

The Kelly family will receive friends at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2017.

A Funeral Service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, S.T.S, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary officiating.

Burial will be private. Nick will be laid to rest beside his father in the family cemetery, next to the apple orchard.

Nick loved few things more than preparing food for others to enjoy. All were welcome, and nobody left Nick's kitchen hungry! To honor this, the family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either of the local food banks: the Richfield Springs Food Pantry, 22 Church Street, Richfield Springs, NY 13439, or the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. If you prefer, donations to the Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 would honor Nick's desire to help homeless animals.

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