Nancy J. Mercer

COOPERSTOWN – On Sunday morning, July 19, 2026, Nancy J. Mercer passed from this life peacefully in her residence at the Cooper Lane Apartments in Cooperstown with family by her side. She was 85.

A native of the Cooperstown area, Nancy Anne Jarvis was born August 26, 1940, at home in the Town of Middlefield, one of five children of Fred Stanley Jarvis and Goldie May (Merritt) Jarvis.

In 1942, Nancy and her family moved to Christian Hill where she grew up on the family farm. She graduated from Cooperstown Central School with the Class of 1958.

On August 30, 1958, Nancy married John G. Mercer.

Nancy lived a very full life; she was married to her husband John for 47 years until his death in 2005. Together they raised 3 amazing children, started and successfully operated several businesses, traveled to many locations, and lived in different parts of New York. In 1995 John and Nancy fulfilled one of their dreams of living in Florida where Nancy lived until the fall of 2025 when she returned to Cooperstown. She was an avid reader, amazing quilter, had an incredible sense of humor but most importantly she was always there to support her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be truly missed but her memories will live forever.

Nancy is survived by her three children, Pamela S. Harloff of Toddsville, John “Jay” Mercer and wife, Theresa of Osceola, New York, and Jeff Mercer and wife, Leah of Tucson, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Lindsay Harloff Edmondson and husband, Matthew of Braintree, Massachusetts, Christopher M. Harloff, Jr. and wife, Alyssa Granato of Westland, Michigan, William Harloff and girlfriend, Jamie Bruce of Glens Falls, Amanda Rusin and husband, Adrian of Bucharest, Romania, Nicholas Mercer and girlfriend, Emily Carino of Columbia Falls, Montana, Rebecca Mercer and husband, Quincy Gray of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Alexander Mercer of Phoenix, Arizona; and two great grandchildren, Arabella and Leo Rusin of Bucharest, Romania. She is further survived by a sister, Janice Gray and husband, Ken of Cooperstown, brother-in-law, Eugene “Gene” Miller of Cooperstown, and several nieces and nephews.

Nancy was predeceased by her father, Stan, who died February 9, 2002; her mother, Goldie, who died December 21, 2011; her husband, John, who died February 8, 2005; a son-in-law, Christopher Michael Harloff, Sr.; and three of her siblings, brothers Theodore “Ted” Jarvis,  James “Jim” Jarvis and sister Judith C. “Judy” Miller.  

At the request of the family, services will be private. Nancy will be laid to rest with her husband in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek.

In lieu of flowers, Nancy’s family would appreciate that donations in her memory be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY  13820.

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

Jean Hammond

COOPERSTOWN – Jean Hammond, of Cooperstown, entered into eternal rest Friday night, June 26, 2026, at Woodside Hall.  She was 90.

 

Born in September, 1935, in Rochester, Jean was the youngest of the three daughters of her parents, Santo and Rocco. 

 

She attended the State University of New York at Oswego where she first met and fell in love with her future husband.  She also took several art classes including jewelry making.  It was through those classes that she discovered her enthusiasm and love for that art form, which turned into a lifelong passion.

 

On June 9, 1956, Jean married Stephen Hammond who was also known to many as Buddy.  They were an inseparable couple that so deeply loved life, people, animals, nature, music, etc.  Together, they lived deliberately and joyously, ever engaged and bringing smiles to the faces of everyone they met with their humor, charm, and sincerity. 

 

For over 60 years, Jean was an expert jeweler and displayed her unique work in a variety of venues.  She occasionally attended craft shows alongside her adoring husband where she marketed her jewelry and Buddy dealt in antiques and books.  Jean’s unique and beautiful jewelry was cherished by the people who purchased or were gifted the exquisite handcrafted pieces.  Her exceptional talent was evident in all the wonderful artwork and crafts which she created through the years such as quilting, painting, dry flower arrangements, calligraphy, decoupage projects, tole painting, etc.  She lovingly balanced her creativity with her close family life. 

 

Jean was also a longtime vendor at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market where she greeted everyone with kindness and warmth. 

Jean is survived by Buddy’s and her three children, Matt, Christopher and Carol (whom she referred to as Carrie), her sister, Charlotte, granddaughter, Thea, and numerous other relatives.

 

All will miss her dearly.

 

She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Buddy, who died in 2018, her father, who died in 1989, her mother, who died in 1992, a son, Stephen, who died in 2009, two grandsons, Stephen and Jimi, a sister, Nina, who died in 2022, and their last beloved faithful canine companion, Howard, a Newfoundland Lancier. 

Sue E. Sprague

EARLVILLE – Sue Ellen Sprague peacefully entered into eternal rest late Sunday night, May 31, 2026, at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. She was 87.

Born November 17, 1938, in Norwich, she was a daughter of Frederick Manuel Vogelgsang and Anna Hazel (Walrath) Vogelgsang and grew up with her brother, Peter, in Oxford.

On July 15, 1961, Sue married Richard Ernest “Dick” Sprague in Oxford.

They first lived in Binghamton where Sue worked as an inspector at Blind Work Association. Sue was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton where she sang in the church choir.

In 2002, Sue and Dick moved to Earlville where they became active members of First Baptist Church, with Sue singing in the choir and Dick playing bongos during services.

Sue is survived by her niece, Pat Winsor of Milford and her family, Kimberly Winsor (Daniel Atkinson), Keaton Winsor, Parker Winsor and Willow Atkinson; and a nephew, Jerry Young of Fort Plain.

She was predeceased by her father, Fred, who died in 1985; her mother, Hazel who died in 1993; her husband, Dick who died June 4, 2018; a brother-in-law, Harold Sprague; a sister-in-law, June Young; Pat’s husband, Ted Winsor who died February 14, 2022, and son, John-Henry Winsor who died April 15, 2024.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the First Baptist Church, 9 West Main Street, Earlville, with Pastor John Jablonski officiating.

The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown is serving the family. 

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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.

Ina F. Phillips

HARTWICK – Ina Louise Foote Phillips, a respected, well-known and long-time resident of Hartwick, peacefully entered into eternal life Wednesday night, July 1, 2026, at her home on Main Street in Hartwick surrounded by her family. She was 93.

Born August 7, 1932, at the family home in Otego, Ina was the fourth daughter of Stuart A. and Ena (Dana) Foote. Raised in Otego, she graduated from Otego Central School and then attended and graduated from Albany Business College. While in Albany, she worked for Blue Cross.  Upon returning to Otego she worked for Scintilla in Sidney.

On October 4, 1952, Ina married Donald Clinton Phillips and they made their home and raised their family in Hartwick.

For a brief time, Ina was employed at Cook’s Auto & Supply Co. on Main Street and Burns Auto in Cooperstown. She then went on to work as a legal secretary for 39 years at the law firm of Van Horne & Feury in Cooperstown. She retired from Gozigian, Washburn & Clinton in 1997 to enjoy many years of travel and family.

Ina was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick where she was Deaconess for several years and where she loved working at harvest dinners and pancake day. She was also a member of the Otsego Legal Secretaries Club, the Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 1 Auxiliary, the Hartwick Senior Luncheon Group for many years, and was currently attending the Hartwick Christian Church.

Hartwick Cemetery was a very important part of Ina’s life, and she served as a trustee and secretary/treasurer for many years and superintendent for three years of the Hartwick Cemetery Association, Inc. She truly enjoyed tending to the cemetery and getting to know the various families she helped throughout the years.

Ina is survived by her daughter, Donna Hotaling; grandson David S. Sellick and wife, Katie; great grandchildren, David A. and McKenna L. Sellick; sisters Susena Hulbert and husband, Randy and Sara Jane Yager & husband, Rick; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Don, who died September 15, 2023; daughter Marsha Jean Phillips who died November 6, 2008; son-in-law Duane C. Hotaling, who died January 9, 2012; sisters Evelyn McLaughlin, Helen Dropp, Carolyn Manley, Phyllis Mattison, and Coralie Mattice; her parents; and many cousins, friends, and nieces and nephews.

The Phillips porch was the place to be if one needed help, a good talk or just a great piece of pie. Porch now closed.

Family and friends may call and pay their respects beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2026, at the Hartwick Christian Church, 3083 County Highway 11, Hartwick. A funeral service will be offered at 3 p.m. in the church with the Rev. James Crouthamel officiating. Immediately following the service at church, everyone is welcome to re-gather across the street at the Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 1 fire hall for a reception.

The service of committal and burial will be private at a later date in Hartwick Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Ina’s family would appreciate donations in her memory be made to Hartwick Cemetery Association, PO Box 177, Hartwick, NY  13348, and the Hartwick Emergency Squad, PO Box 208, Hartwick, NY  13348.

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

 

Ilse E. Seitz

PLEASANT BROOK – Ilse Erika Seitz, 97, of Cherry Valley, NY, peacefully entered into eternal life on July 3, 2026, at Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville, NY.

Ilse was born on March 10, 1929, to Gerhard and Rose (née Dorfinger) Heinrich in New York City. Raised on Staten Island, she graduated from Tottenville High School in 1945, and then attended Wagner College on Staten Island, graduating from one of the first nursing classes and becoming a Registered Nurse.

After graduation, she followed her parents to their new dairy farm in Pleasant Brook in the Town of Roseboom and was employed as a nurse at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, later becoming Head Nurse of maternity. After 10 years, she left Cooperstown to attend Boston University where she earned her Master’s degree in Nursing Supervision.

Since childhood, Ilse had known Martin Roland Seitz. After the death of Martin’s wife, Edythe in 1960, he and Ilse reconnected, and on September 2, 1961, they were married in a ceremony at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary. The family made its home in Yonkers, NY until 1970 when the family of seven drove across the continent and back in a station wagon before moving to Watertown, NY. Ilse served as a nurse at the House of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Watertown for 18 years. When Ilse and Martin retired in 1990, they moved to the family farm in Pleasant Brook.

Ilse was an active and faithful member of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hartwick Seminary.

Surviving Ilse are five children: Karen (James) Larson of Severna Park, MD, Barbara (Sandy) Ricciardi of Denville, NJ, John (Anne) Seitz of Kerhonkson, NY, Kurt (Susan) Seitz of Cottekill, NY, and Erika (Michael) Sherman of Chaumont, NY; eight grandchildren: David (Valerie) Larson, Thomas (Laura) Larson, Matthew Ricciardi, Michael Ricciardi, Christopher Ricciardi, Josef Sherman, Johanna Sherman, and April Seitz; seven great grandchildren: Fox, Jordan, Jacob, Aila, Henry, Rose, and Edward Larson; as well as two nephews and a niece: Carl (Donna) Schmidt, Peter (Jane) Schmidt, and Heidi (Ted) Schmidt.

Ilse was preceded in death by her husband, Martin, and her sister, Ethel Schmidt.

A Memorial Service will be held at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hartwick Seminary, at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 6, 2026, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, pastor officiating. A reception will follow in Pleasant Brook.

Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21297-1061, and Cherry Valley Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 502, Cherry Valley, NY 13320

The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown is serving the family.