Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: September 2026

Dorothy E. Amaro

COOPERSTOWN – Dorothy Elizabeth O’Connor Amaro peacefully entered into eternal rest Sunday morning, September 20, 2026, at her granddaughter Kristen’s home in Cooperstown. She was 98.

Born September 17, 1928, in Brooklyn, Dorothy was the daughter of Edward V. and Isabelle (Wynne) O’Connor.

Dorothy attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Academy of Brooklyn then later graduated from Fort Hamilton High School. Directly out of school, she obtained a position at The Far East Conference as a secretary where she was often praised for being a fine broth of an Irish woman. Dorothy was then employed as a secretary for Anaconda Copper Mining Company at their offices in Manhattan, a job she was very proud of and excelled at. Following her divorce, she was employed on Long Island as a secretary for the Suffolk County Department of Social Services and then as the Captain’s secretary for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. She was an excellent secretary and her skill with typing, penmanship, spelling, and grammar were qualities much valued by her employers.

In 1962, Dorothy moved from Brooklyn to Wading River and lived there for many years where she loved to spend time on the beach with her children. Upon her retirement in 1993, she moved to Cooperstown where she loved the beautiful historic small village and the accessibility of all the necessities. During her retirement, she volunteered at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital and would often fondly recount stories of patients she helped and her co-volunteers that had helped her.

Above all, Dorothy was devoted to and loved her family. From a youth she would help take care of younger siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins with love and kindness. Into her adult and elder years she poured her love and generosity into her children and grandchildren and was also fortunate to spend time with her great grandchildren who she absolutely adored. She was known for having an open door with a cup of coffee or tea and being near to the phone if anyone should need her.

Dorothy, as a devout Roman Catholic, loved the religious retreats she would attend with her sisters, cousins, and aunts. She was also an avid reader, knowledge seeker, and loved to sit at a table next to a window chatting with her loved ones. She was always impeccably dressed and took great pride in her own appearance as well as the appearance of her home.

Dorothy will be fondly remembered for being loving, patient, kind, generous to a fault, having a wonderful sense of humor, a quick intelligent mind and for being a stunning beauty.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her former husband, Edwin Amaro, who died June 25, 1995; a daughter, Susan Elizabeth Amaro, who died March 8, 2007; and 4 siblings, her older brother, Edward V. O’Connor, and younger siblings Barbara Ann (O’Connor) Doherty, Joseph J. O’Connor, and Kathleen Mary (O’Connor) Fontana.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Laurel O’Brien of Fly Creek; six grandchildren, Ashleen Fredriksen (Rylan Pantall), Melissa Bellois (Chloe Lucarelli), Kristen Bellois (Chad Bellanger), Shannon Rocconi (Justin Badore), Samantha Bellois, and Joseph Amaro; nine great grandchildren, Nikolai Fredriksen, Johnathan Quinones, Jude Fredriksen, Arianna Badore, Kennedy Klein, Olin Fredriksen, Madyson Mendez, Nova Pantall, and Luka Badore. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Mary O’Connor of New Milford, CT, Melissa and Kristen’s father, Kevin Bellois of Sound Beach, Long Island, Ashleen and Shannon’s father, Robert Rocconi of Fly Creek, Madyson’s father, Sergio Mendez of Cobleskill, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. With respect for Dorothy’s love of almost always wearing leopard or animal print blouses, all attending are encouraged to wear something similar.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon Saturday, October 10, 2026, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown, with the Very Rev. Michael G. Cambi, Pastor officiating.

At a later date, Dorothy will be laid to rest with her daughter, Susan, in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.

With appreciation for the wonderful care provided to Dorothy and her family, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial donations may be directed to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Cooperstown Emergency Squad, PO Box 322, 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.

In Loving Memory of Alda Abbate

Alda Abbate, a devoted mother, cherished grandmother, and beloved friend, was born on Staten Island, New York, in 1926. She spent nearly her entire life on Staten Island, including 95 years on Austin Avenue, surrounded by her family, friends, and community she loved so dearly.

Alda attended P.S. 39 on Staten Island. As a young woman, she married the love of her life and childhood sweetheart, Dominick Abbate. Together they built a home and family filled with love. After 20 years of marriage, Alda suffered the heartbreaking loss of her husband in 1967. Suddenly widowed with two young sons, ages 14 and 7, she found within herself the strength and determination to move forward and provide for her children.

Alda returned to work and spent many years at a family-owned airplane factory until its closing. She later became a manager at Victory Lighting on Victory Boulevard. When the store closed, Alda began working at Leones Restaurant and Tavern, where her warm personality and caring nature made her loved by customers and coworkers alike. She later worked for the Board of Elections until her retirement.

But Alda’s life was never defined simply by where she worked. It was defined by the people she loved and the love she gave them.

Family was the center of Alda’s world. She was a strong, loving and caring mother who devoted herself to her children and made whatever sacrifices were necessary to give them a good life. As a grandmother, she found tremendous happiness in her grandsons, Dominick and Richard Abbate, whom she loved and cherished deeply.

Alda also treasured her friendships and enjoyed spending time at the Arrochar Friendship Club, where she shared many happy moments with her fellow club members.

After spending 93 years on Staten Island, Alda began a new chapter of her life when she moved to Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, to be with her family.

Alda was predeceased by her beloved husband, Dominick Abbate; her son, Joseph Abbate, who passed away in 2017; her parents, Joseph and Clementine Bordi; and her sister, Enis Antonacci.

She is survived by her loving son, Richard Abbate, and his wife, Rosemarie, her two cherished grandsons, Dominick and Richard Abbate, and many nieces and nephews.

Those who knew Alda will remember a woman of remarkable strength and resilience, but also a woman with a loving and generous heart. She faced life's hardships with courage, worked tirelessly for the family she adored, valued her friendships, and found her greatest happiness in being a mother and grandmother.

Alda's life was a life of love, sacrifice, family and strength. The years she gave to those around her, the lessons she taught by example, and the love she placed in the hearts of her children and grandchildren will remain a part of them forever.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.

A beautiful mother.

A cherished grandmother.

A strong and remarkable woman.

And a love that will never be forgotten.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 2, 2026, at Holy Rosary Church, 120 Jerome Avenue in South Beach, Staten Island. Interment will be in Moravian Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Patricia A. Thorpe

COOPERSTOWN – Patricia A. Thorpe, 78, of Cooperstown, New York, passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2026, after a long illness. Born on June 17, 1948, in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Dr. John and Natalie Thorpe, Pat was a writer, gardener, nature lover, wife, mother, grandmother and treasured sibling whose energy, intellect and creativity shaped every chapter of her life.

The second of four children, she wrote her first work, an autobiography titled “Second Edition”, while in the second grade. It was the last time she or anyone else would put her in second place. She went on to become the Red Bank Catholic High School Girls’ Track Team number one State Champion high jumper and half-miler. Her team was groundbreaking as the first girl’s track team in New Jersey.

Pat attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart, now Boston College, where she majored in English and graduated in 1970. She remained in the Boston area holding a variety of jobs before deciding to pursue a more fitting career path in New York City. She finally found that path as a copy editor at Esquire Magazine, where she made lifelong friendships with accomplished writers including Pam McCarthy, Katha Pollitt and Nora Effron.

It was in Manhattan that Pat met her husband-to-be Harold Stults, Jr., and they married in November 1978. She decided to leave writing for the time being to follow another passion of hers: flowers. She was able to set up her business on the ground floor of the brownstone where they lived on the Upper West Side. Foxgloves, as it was called, provided custom flower arranging, plant care and even Christmas tree setups to customers all over Manhattan. Her slim physique belied her strength, which was needed for this demanding work.

Seeking respite from city life, Pat and Harry purchased a farm in upstate New York, where Pat devoted herself to gardening. Before long, she found a way to unite her passions for writing, flowers, and gardening. Returning to her roots as an author, she eventually published four books and became a sought-after lecturer and workshop leader throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Many in Cooperstown will remember her workshops on drying flowers, crafting wreaths, and sharing the joys of gardening.

Several years after the birth of their son Sam, Pat and Harry found their Upstate NY hearts’ desire on Estli Avenue in Cooperstown, where the family took up permanent residence. Their house, known as Heathcote, became the center of family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and summer visits for relatives and friends from near and far. Pat delighted in bringing people together and was the driving force behind countless family reunions and cherished traditions. The home’s historic garden, lovingly restored by Pat, was a source of pride and beauty for all who visited. Heathcote also served as the setting for her younger sister Marianna's wedding, an occasion Pat orchestrated with her characteristic grace and attention to detail.

After Harry’s death in 2011 and Sam's departure for Cornell University, Heathcote became more than Pat wished to maintain alone. She moved to a smaller home just outside Cooperstown, where she remained until her death. She loved Cooperstown – its close-knit community, its arts and music, St. Mary’s Church where she was a cantor and sang in the choir, and the many wonderful friends and neighbors. Pat will be remembered for her creativity, generosity, love of family, and ability to bring beauty into the lives of others, whether through her writing, her gardens, her flowers, her music or the welcoming homes she created throughout her life. Her legacy endures in the family and friends she cherished and in the countless people she inspired.

Pat is survived by her son Sam Stults (wife Casey), grandson Wesley, sisters Barbara Cartee and Marianna Spain (husband William), brother John Thorpe (wife Renee) and niece and nephew Ariel and Evan Thorpe, and Evan's wife, Kathy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with Fr. Michael Cambi, pastor, presiding. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820, helioscare.org; or Susquehanna SPCA, PO Box 267, Cooperstown, NY 13326, sqspca.org/support.

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