Kathleen Marsala

1933 - 2019

COOPERSTOWN – Kathleen Marsala, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully early Tuesday evening, November 19, 2019, at her home in Cooperstown surrounded by her family. She was 86.

Born September 1, 1933, in Manhattan, Kathleen was one of 10 children of Richard and Ann (Sheridan) Grey. 

On October 21, 1950, Kathleen married the love of her life, Joseph J. Marsala, in a ceremony at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan.

Kathleen dedicated her life to raising her five children. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was kind and caring and was deeply loved by her family and many friends. 

Kathleen is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Joe Marsala of Cooperstown; their five children, John Marsala and wife, Kathy of Central Islip, Kathleen Marsala Siracusa and husband, Joe Siracusa of Cooperstown, Joseph “Joey” Marsala and wife, Ann of Cooperstown, Laura Marsala Ginley and husband, Tom Ginley of Bay Shore, and Maryann Dathe of Rockville Center; 11 grandchildren, Kristy Cifelli and husband Mike Cifelli, John Marsala and wife, Dawn, Andrew Marsala, Michele Siracusa Morrison and husband, Glenn Morrison, Alexandra Siracusa Headley and husband Gawayne Headley, Gianna Marsala McHenry and husband, Derrick McHenry, Erin Marsala, Tim Ginley, Erica Ginley Donahue and husband, Kenny Donahue, Derek Dathe and fiancé Christine, and Taylor Dathe; eight great grandchildren, Cameron Jones, Max Headley, Charlotte Cifelli, Michael Cifelli, Matthew Marsala, Mary Marsala, Oliver McHenry and Holly Ginley; a brother, Richard Grey and wife, Barbara of Rockville Center; and many nieces and nephews. 

She was predeceased by a son, Richard “Ricky” Marsala, who died in 1954, and eight of her siblings. 

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 4-7 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2019, when Kathleen’s family will be in attendance.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. Peter Pagones, Interim Presider, officiating. 

The Service of Committal and Burial will be at 1 p.m. Monday, November 25, 2019, in Calvary Cemetery (Third Calvary) in Woodside, Queens, with the Rev. Msgr. Steven A. Ferrari, pastor of The Church of St. Teresa, Woodside, Queens, officiating. 

As an alternative to flowers, Kathleen’s family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church Street, 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.

Haidy P. Zoeller

1926 - 2019

COOPERSTOWN – Haidy P. Zoeller, who, with her late husband, William H. Zoeller owned and operated Lake Front Hotel and Cooperstown Marine, passed away Saturday night, November 16, 2019, at her home in Lakeland Shores surrounded by her family. She was 93.

Born August 29, 1926, in Brooklyn, she was a daughter of Alfred W. and Paula W. (Grösser) Engelmann, who were both natives of Germany. A graduate of Mineola High School, Haidy and her family first came to Cooperstown when her father purchased the 25-acre Lakeland Shores housing development site on the southeast shore of Otsego Lake.

On July 8, 1950, Haidy married William Henry Zoeller in Brooklyn. 

In 1952, Bill and Haidy moved permanently to Cooperstown and lived on Christian Hill. In June 1955 the Lake Front Motel -- operated by Haidy’s father and her husband -- formally opened to the public. Haidy and Bill also owned and operated Cooperstown Marine, building and shipping boats to the New York City area. Through the years, Haidy served as the general manager of the hotel and restaurant, and always enjoyed interacting with customers and staff on a daily basis. Her presence will truly be missed.

She was a faithful member of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary. 

Haidy is survived by a daughter, Paula L. Wikoff and husband, Terry; a son, Alfred M. "Fred" Zoeller and long-time partner, Brenda S. Reed; five grandchildren, Tulsa Wikoff and husband, Joseph Lepetich, Alexander Zoeller and wife, Suzana, Lonnie Zoeller and wife, Jennifer, Christian Zoeller and wife, Marissa, and Brett Zoeller and wife, Lauren; two step grandchildren, Teddy and his children Connor, Landon and Ronan, and Amanda; 7 great grandchildren, Kohlee, Knox, Remini, Sophia, Aaliyah, Wesley and Miles; Fred’s former wife and mother to his children, Valerie Pineo; and two nieces, Karen Johannesen and husband, Norman and Lorelei McCall and husband, David and their families. 

Haidy was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Bill Zoeller, who died September 17, 2017, and her identical twin sister, Louise Y. Woods, who died April 5, 2015.

A private family service will be held.

In the Spring, a public celebration of Haidy’s life will be held aboard the Glimmerglass Queen. 

As an alternative to flowers, the Zoeller family respectfully requests that memorial donations be directed to Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, NY 13326 or to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite, 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.

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.

James Hilary Millea

1925 - 2019

HARTWICK - James Hilary Millea, 93, of Hartwick, died Saturday morning, November 9, 2019, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

He was born December 29, 1925, in Rolfe, Iowa, the eldest of 11 children – including three sets of twins – of Joseph Hilary Millea and Margaret Lillian née Flaherty Millea. Raised in Iowa, he attended school up to the 11th grade, when at the age of 17 he left school, worked briefly on the railroad, then enlisted in the United States Navy on July 17, 1943. He proudly served his country during World War II as a Gunner’s Mate Third Class and landed on Juno beach during the D-Day invasion 75 years ago. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Military on January 10, 1947.

On December 28, 1946, Jim married Kathleen M. Healy of Bootle, England, in a ceremony at St. Matthew’s Church in Brooklyn. In 1956 the family moved from Iowa to Oneonta and then settled in Hartwick in 1957. 

For many years Jim was employed as a bricklayer and stonemason for Neil R. Neilson in Oneonta. During those years he was involved with the construction of many landmark buildings including colleges, hospitals and churches in Oneonta, Cooperstown and surrounding areas. 

Jim is survived by seven children, Eileen A. Murdock and husband, Robert of Hartwick, Thomas P. Millea and wife, Carole and Denis J. Millea and wife, Janice, all of Port Kent, NY, Joseph H. Millea and wife, Susan of Yacolt, WA, Patrick M. Millea and wife, Wendy of Maryland, NY, Michael J. Millea and wife, Jennifer, of Hartwick, NY, and Robert W. Millea and wife, Sukena of Atlanta, GA; and many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Robert Millea and wife, Becky of Tulsa, OK, two sisters, Maureen Heman and husband, Robert and Madeline Lynch, all of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Kathleen H. Millea, who died March 23, 1993, a daughter, Mary E. Higgins, who died December 14, 2015, a son, James Robert Millea, who died August 15, 2016, and seven of his siblings.

Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with Fr. David Wm. Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, officiating.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Hartwick Cemetery.

Jim's family respectfully requests that expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts be directed to the Hartwick Emergency Squad, PO Box 208, Hartwick, NY 13348, or the Hartwick Fire Department Company No. 1, PO Box 86, Hartwick, NY 13348.

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.

Catherine Susan Brisson (Reisen)

1940 - 2019

Catherine Susan Brisson (Reisen) went to rest quietly on All Hallow’s Eve.

She was born on 29 July 1940, in Bayshore, Long Island, the daughter of Dorothy Mercedes Baker and John Oliver Brisson. In 1963 she married William John Reisen, Sr. Early in her life she started going by her middle name, Sue. For many years she worked as a Unit Clerk in the ICU at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. She enjoyed her work and made many long-lasting friendships at Bassett that endured long after her retirement; most notably her dear friends Mary Cummings, Judy Carson, and Bonnie Craig.

She had many hobbies: ceramics, sewing, and especially crocheting. She was particularly fond of making afghans for her friends and family. He favourite pastime, though was gardening where she could be with her flowers. She never saw a piece of ground that she was not convinced could be improved with a garden. However, closest to her heart was her family: she was a mother who gave all she could. She adored her grandchildren the most: Katherine, William, Lorenzo, Eli and Heather. 

She is survived by her two sons, William, and his wife Jamie, of Oneonta, and Dominick of Westville. Both men have had a piece of their hearts ripped away with her passing. She is also survived by her dear sister, Carole Lilawski of Middle Grove, NY. In recent years, when travel became difficult for Sue, Carole would often make the trip to Fly Creek so the two sisters could spend time together. Her brother Norman Brisson of Oakdale, Long Island was a rock in her life. She spoke fondly of her two other surviving brothers, Richie and Russell. 

She will be laid to rest at the Westville Cemetery on Thursday, 7 November 2019 at 1:00. All of her family and friends are invited to gather for a burial service at that time. Her friend of years past, Reverend Ronald Fralick, will officiate. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fly Creek Emergency Squad, PO Box 218, Fly Creek, NY 13337.

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.