Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: October 2023

Leslie C. Day, Jr.

1938 - 2023

MILFORD – Leslie Calvin Day, Jr., 85, of Milford, passed away early Monday morning, October 16, 2023, at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.

He was born May 19, 1938, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, one of 10 children of Leslie Calvin Day, Sr. and Agnes Alene (Daniels) Day.

Raised in Cooperstown, he attended Cooperstown High School and graduated with the Class of 1956.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1960 until 1962.

For many years Leslie worked as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, with the majority of his career spent with the Norwich Post Office.

He was an avid gardener and enjoyed nature around his 18-acre woodland homestead. He loved his many pets, especially his dog, Nicky.

Leslie is survived by his devoted and long-time partner, Joan Wilbur of Cooperstown; a sister-in-law, Joan McLean Day of Fly Creek; and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by Joan’s siblings, Lois Augenstein and husband, Paul of Rochester, and Herbert W. Wilbur and wife, Rose of Jupiter, Florida, and their families.

A Funeral Service will be offered at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, Cooperstown, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner officiating. The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Fly Creek Valley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 5082-5088 State Highway 28, 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.

Elinore C. Sorbera

1925 - 2023

HARTWICK – Elinore C. Sorbera, a lifelong area resident, passed away with family by her side Friday evening, October 13, 2023, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She was 98.

Born Elinore Claire Peevers on August 18, 1925, in Cooperstown, she was a daughter of Alfred J. Peevers and Leta Mae (Walrath) Peevers.

Born and raised in Cooperstown, she graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1944. She attended Prospect Heights Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn where she received her registered nursing degree.

On May 19, 1949, Elinore married Peter Sorbera, Jr. in Brooklyn. Since 1958, they made their home and raised their six children on Wells Avenue/School Street in Hartwick.

As a Registered Nurse, she worked at several hospitals including Bassett Hospital and for many years was the Director of Nursing at The Meadows in Cooperstown.

Elinore was a kind woman who had a beautiful and caring heart, not only for her family but for the neighborhood children, her beloved pets or local strays and her many patients throughout her career. She was a Den Mother who loved having skits and sing-alongs. All who came to visit her would hear her frequently playing piano as they entered her home. Most importantly Elinore loved her family. To this day, her children and grandchildren are in awe of her and always will be. A woman with an inner strength that never wavered no matter the challenges.

Elinore is survived by two daughters, Cathy Weir and husband, Wayne of Cooperstown and Elinore (Bonnie) Oaks and husband, Brian of Turin; four sons, Peter J. Sorbera and wife, Susan of Burlington Flats, Alfred Sorbera of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Robert Sorbera and wife, Mary Jane of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Andrew Sorbera of Colorado; her grandchildren, Peter and wife, Amy, Bryan and wife, Alicia, Lisa, Chris and wife, Lisa, Kathryn and husband, Scott, Tanner, Jessica and husband, Brian, Heather, Ciara, Leigha, Rachel, Jeff and wife, Kieran, and Kris; and many great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Peter Sorbera, Jr., who died June 19, 1995; a granddaughter, Meghan Sorbera who died October 18, 2008; and all of her siblings.

Family and friends may call and pay their respects from 6-8 p.m. Saturday evening, October 21, 2023, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

A funeral service will be offered at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, October 22, 2023, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown with the Rev. Stephen D. Fournier officiating. The service of committal and burial will follow in Hartwick Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the Sorbera family respectfully requests that expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 5082-5088 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Elinore’s family would like to thank the staff at Cooperstown Center for the wonderful care of their mom during her stay.

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

Annie W. Bantham

1933 - 2023

WILTON – Annie Welsh Bantham, a native of Cooperstown who most recently made her home in the Town of Wilton, passed away early Tuesday morning, October 3, 2023, at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs. She was 90.

Annie was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, and neighbor. As a voracious reader, she spent most of her free time with a good book. She recently set a personal goal to read 100 books in the year, which she very nearly accomplished. She was also an avid bird-watcher, constantly observing and learning about the birds she encountered in her daily life. Annie was a kind and thoughtful person, and never had an unfriendly word to say about anyone. She loved her family and friends, and filled her home with warmth and kindness. She will be sorely missed.

Born May 11, 1933, in Cooperstown, Annie was a daughter of David Welsh, Sr. and Annie Dickson Welsh, both natives of Scotland. Raised in Cooperstown, Annie attended Cooperstown schools and graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1951.

She went on to work as a Customer Service Representative for the former Bell Telephone Systems in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Later she served for many years as an executive secretary for State Farm Insurance, retiring in 1993.

It was in Cooperstown that Annie met the love of her life, Clayton Harvey Bantham, Jr., who had lived in Cooperstown since 1936. Married on April 9, 1955, they resided in West Milford, NJ for many years, later moving to Wilton, although they always called Cooperstown home. They wintered in Naples, FL.

During the years spent raising her three children and along with her husband she was active in the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.

Annie is survived by her daughter, Shelley Fredericks and husband Mark of West Milford, NJ, two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel Bantham and wife Kimberly of Bedford, NH, and Timothy Bantham and wife Martina of Ballston Spa; grandchildren Leanne Fredericks, William Fredericks (Olivia), Douglas Fredericks, and Emily Caudill (Cameron), Amanda Ibanez (Zachary) and Chase Bantham, Ashe Sager (Claire), and Kevin Bantham; a sister-in-law, Roberta R. “Becky” Welsh of Bowerstown; two great-granddaughters, Indie and Quinn; and a niece and two nephews.

In addition to her mother and father who died in 1966 and 1969 respectively, she was predeceased by her beloved husband of 65 years, Harvey, in 2021; and her siblings, sister Grace Welsh and brothers Alistair, Robert, David, Jr., and Douglas J. Welsh.

The funeral service will be private and her remains will be laid to rest with Harvey in the Christ Church Ecumenical Columbarium in Cooperstown.

Memorial donations may be made to Christ Church Cooperstown, 69 Fair St, Cooperstown NY 13326.

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

Robert J. Morley

1955 - 2023

PHOENIX, AZ – Robert Joseph Morley, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away at his home September 7, 2023. He was 68 years old.

Born March 9, 1955, in Bloomfield, NJ, he was a son of Joseph F. and Roberta “Bobbie” A. (Schilling) Morley.

Raised in Ramsey, NJ, Robert graduated from Don Bosco Prep in 1973 and Marist College in 1977. He worked in the Cooperstown area for Wilbur Bank before relocating and settling in Phoenix, AZ. Rob established a personal training business in Phoenix and developed a very loyal following. He had a deep love for horses and was involved in equestrian training.

Robert is survived by his brothers, Scott Morley of Guilderland Center and Curt G. Morley and wife, Katherine of Hull, MA; his nieces and nephews, Griffith P. of Massapequa and Alec of Cherry Valley, Taylor, Brooke, Samantha and Joseph of Boston, MA; aunts and uncles Emily and Stephen Swihura of Melbourne, FL and Leonard R. and Cathy Schilling of Lowell, IN; and several cousins.

He was predeceased by his father, Joseph F. Morley, who died February 21, 1997; his mother, Roberta A. “Bobbie” Morley who died June 14, 2019; a brother, Peter who died June 21, 1988; a sister, Mary Louise who died in 1957; and just recently a cousin, Susanne Swihura-Adsit who died September 18, 2023.

Robert will be laid to rest in the Morley family plot in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Index.

The Morley family respectfully requests that expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts for Robert be made to The Peter Morley Scholarship Fund at Cooperstown Central School, 38 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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