13073 Area Obituaries
January 2009

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Helen B. Burke	Johan F. Page	Elizabeth "Bette" Bradt
Grace (Betty) W. Knapp	Irene A. VanBenSchoten	George J. Gavras
Betty (Vecellio) Hilboldt	Theodore Bliven	Henrietta Bachelor Smith

HENRIETTA BACHELOR SMITH Lebanon, Indiana (Formerly of Lansing)		Listing Date: Thursday, January 29, 2009 Birth Date: Tuesday, January 22, 1929 Passing Date: Sunday, January 11, 2009 Age At Passing: 75
GENERAL INFORMATION Henrietta Bachelor Smith passed away at her home in Lebanon, Indiana. She was formerly from Lansing, NY and has relatives in the Groton area (see below).

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Family Members Parents Herbert and Flora Bachelor Deceased Brother & Half Brother Bill Bachelor Casper Bachelor Surviving Family Members Children Melvin (Anne) Smith, Vacaville, CA Billy (Linda) Smith, Lebanon, IN Sisters, Half Sisters & Sisters-In-Law Joyce Kimpland of Tombstone, AZ Ruth Hughes of Groton, NY Mabel Teeter of Groton, NY Eleanor Bachelor of Lansing, NY Jo Bachelor of Leesburg, FL Other Surviving Family & Friends 3 Grandchildren 3 Great-grandchildren Several Nieces, Nephews and Cousins

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director No Information Available Calling Hours There were no local calling hours Services There were no local services Interment Burial was in Lincoln Memorial Gardens Whitestown, IN

THEODORE "TED" BLIVEN McGraw House Ithaca, NY (Groton High School Class '49)		Listing Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Birth Date: Tuesday, January 22, 1929 Passing Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009 Age At Passing: 80 years, 2 days
GENERAL INFORMATION Ted Bliven passed away at Cayuga Medical Center on Saturday, 2 days following his 80th birthday. He was born in Westerley, Rhode Island and moved to Groton with his family when he was 16 years old. He was graduated from Groton High School in 1921, where, as a student, he was manager for various sports teams, played the tuba in the high school band, and was the official operator of the movie projector for the school. Ted two years active duty in the Army and when he returned to Groton, he fulfilled his five-year reserve duty in Ithaca where he was assigned to the 369th Field Artillery. Ted worked for Baker Lumber and Coal Company, National Cash Register, Hathaway Bakeries, Lake View Dairies, Cornell University, and finally Tompkins County, where he retired as a custodian. After retirement he continued to work for Pioneer Printing as a messenger and at the United Methodist Church in Trumansburg as a custodian. Ted attended the Mecklenburg United Methodist Church and was a lifelong member of the Mecklenburg Fire Department. He was also a member of the Trumansburg Masonic Lodge #157 F&AM for nearly 40 years.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Family Members Parents Emery Mimande and Elizabeth Freelove Deceased Spouse of 47 Years Lucille Bliven Deceased Foster Son Ronald Thomas Surviving Family Members Sisters Ida Hall of Greensboro, NC Shirley Ferguson of Bradington, FL Sister-in-law Edith Hall of Freeville, NY Daughter-in-law Sue Thomas of Wellsville, NY Other Surviving Family & Friends 3 Grandchildren Several Nieces and Mephews.

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Ness-Sibley Funeral Home 23 South Street Trumansburg, NY Calling Hours Friends may call from 1:00pm- 2:00pm Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Funeral Home Services Masonic Rites will be given by: The Trumansburg Masonic Lodge #157 F&AM 2:00pm, Thursday January 29, 2009 also at the funeral home. Funeral Services will follow the Masonic Rites with the Rev. Jeffery Losey officiating Interment Interment with full Military Honors: McLean Cemetery in the spring Contributions/Donations The family asks those who wish to do so, make a contribution in Ted's memory to The American Heart Association 3500 Winton Place Suite 4 Rochester, NY 14623.

BETTY VECELLIO HILBOLDT Las Vegas, NY (Groton H.S. Class of '61)		Listing Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Birth Date: unknown Passing Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Age At Passing: 66 years
GENERAL INFORMATION Betty Mary (nee: Vecellio) Hilboldt, 66, of Las Vegas, NV passed away December 31, 2008. Betty graduated from the Groton High School Class '61 and was a retired claims management specialist in the Las Vegas Area. Preliminary information regarding Mrs. Hilboldt's passing was provided by her friend, Mary Ellen Jones.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Parents Albert and Alice Vecellio Children Scott Hilboldt, Las Vegas, NV Cindy Hilboldt, Las Vegas, NV Marcia Hilboldt, North Las Vegas, NV

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director There are no local arrangements and services in Nevada were private Memorial contributions may be made to The Cancer Society/Breast Cancer Awareness

GEORGE J. GAVRAS 103 Clark Street Groton, NY		Listing Date: Friday, January 23, 2009 Birth Date: Saturday, August 21, 1926 Passing Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Age At Passing: 82 years, 5 months
GENERAL INFORMATION George J. Gavras, 82, passed away Wednesday at the Groton Nursing Facility following a short illness. Having been a life-long resident of Groton, he had been born in Cortland and graduated from Groton High School after which he served in the US Army during World War II. After the war he was employed by the US Postal Service as a letter carrier in Groton for over 31 years when he retired. A familiar face around Groton, George was an avid runner. He competed nationally in hundreds of long-distance runs and 24 marathons, including those in New York City and Boston. He helped organize the Finger Lakes Runners Club and was a charter member. In recent years he could be seen around Groton with his "G" shopping cart, prompting the question, "Was the "G" for George, Gavras or Groton?". When this editor asked him that question one day, George responded: "YES" Always proud of his military service he was a member of the Carrington-Fuller Post 800 American Legion in Groton since 1945 where he had been a member of the Post's Ritual Squad.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Parents John G. and Margaret Lawson Gavras Sisters Mary G. Maine of Centereach, NY Deceased sister, Helen G. Scott Other Surviving Family Members 1 Aunt 1 Nephew 3 Nieces Several Cousins and Many Friends

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Zirbel Funeral Home 115 Williams Street Groton, NY Calling Hours/Service/Interment/Contributions Graveside services with full Military Honors will be held in the spring at the Groton Rural Cemetery There are no calling hours Memorial contributions may be made to The National Parkinson Foundation 1501 NW 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road Miami, FL 33136-1494

IRENE A. VanBenSCHOTEN North Parkway Groton, NY		Listing Date: Monday, January 19, 2009 Birth Date: Saturday, July 2, 1921 Passing Date: Saturday, January 17, 2009 Age At Passing: 87 years, 6 months, 15 days
GENERAL INFORMATION Irene A. VanBenSchoten of North Parkway in Groton passed away at the Groton Nursing Facility after a short illness. A lifelong resident of Groton, she had been employed at Cornell in the 1950's and had worked at Smith Corona as well. She had a passion for collecting stray kitties and caring for her own beloved Bubbee. She was also a collector of various items.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Parents George and Hazel Owen Harris Deceased Husband Arthur VanBenSchoten Children & Step Children Gary (Kim) VanBenSchoten of Groton Floyd "Jay" (Joyce) Morris Sr. of Scott, NY Arthur L. VanBenSchoten of Auburn Ann Holl of Groton Marie Bancroft of Groton Deceased Siblings Clifford Harris Lyman Harris Dorothy "Doe" Harris

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Zirbel Funeral Home 115 Williams Street Groton, NY Calling Hours/Service/Interment/Contributions Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 2:00pm - 3:00pm (prior to services) Funeral services will be held 3:00pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2009 at the funeral home with with the Rev. Chris Xenakis officiating Spring interment will be in the Groton Rural Cemetery Contributions may made to the Groton Fire Department Ambulance Fund, Groton OR The SPCA of one's choice

GRACE (BETTY) W. KNAPP Groton, NY		Listing Date: Saturday, January 17, 2009 Birth Date: unknown Passing Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Age At Passing: 90 years
GENERAL INFORMATION Grace (Betty) W. Knapp, 90, of Groton, NY, passed away last month in Vestal, NY. Betty retired from Cornell in 1980 and was a 60-year plus member of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of the Groton Community Church.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Spouse of 57 Years Carlton Knapp Daughter Judy Webster Deceased Daughter Linda Knapp Brother Chuck (Barb) Williams Other Surviving Family Members 1 Grandchild 1 Great-grandchild Several Nephews & Their Families

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Zirbel Funeral Home 115 Williams Street Groton, NY Calling Hours/Service/Interment/Contributions Calling Hours An Eastern Star service and a time for remembrance will be conducted on Saturday, January 24, 2009, 2:00pm at The Center Village Court Community Room 200 W. South Street Groton, NY

JOHAN F. PAGE Franziska Racker Center 707 Elm Street Groton, NY		Listing Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009 Birth Date: Saturday,October 1, 1932 Passing Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 Age At Passing: 76 years, 3 months, 5 days
GENERAL INFORMATION Johan F. Page, resident of the Franziska Racker Center,707 Elm Street, Groton, NY, passed away Tuesday at Cayuga Medical Center after an extended illness. She was born in Windsor, NY, but has resided in Groton for the past 20 years. She had made lasting friends and leaves behind her extended family at the Center.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Parents John and Viola Page

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Zirbel Funeral Home 115 Williams Street Groton, NY Calling Hours/Service/Interment/Contributions Funeral services will be held 11:00am, Friday, January 9, 2009 at the McLean Community Church with the Rev. Leslie Smith officiating.

HELEN B. BURKE Center Village Court Groton, NY		Listing Date: Monday, January 5, 2009 Birth Date: Saturday,October 16, 1911 Passing Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009 Age At Passing: 97 years, 2 months, 16 days
GENERAL INFORMATION GROTON - Helen B. Burke, 97, of 200 West South Street, Groton, passed away Thursday, January 1, 2009, at the Groton Nursing Facility. She had bee born in Niagara Falls. Helen was a lifelong resident of the Lansing-Groton area, and was employed by Smith-Corona for 40+ years. She was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church of Groton, enjoyed playing cards and Bingo and loved to sew.

RELATIONSHIPS Deceased Parents Stanislaus and Agatha (Bak) Blazejcryk Deceased Husband Stanley A. Burke (1977) Children Stanley (Sharon) of Moravia, NY Mary Burke of Groton Sibling Sophie Chowanice of Florida Other Deceased Family Members Daughter, Dorothy B. Ryan Brother, John Blazek Brother, Brownie Blazek Sister, Stephanie Young Other Surviving Family Members 6 Grandchildren Several Great and Great-Great Grandchildren

ARRANGEMENTS Funeral Director Shurtleff Funeral Home 103 Lincoln Avenue Groton, NY Calling Hours/Service/Interment/Contributions Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm (prior to services) Funeral services will be held 3:00pm, Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at the funeral home with with the Rev. Scott Kubinski officiating Interment will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Groton Contributions may made to the Groton Fire Department Ambulance Fund, Groton OR St. Anthony's Church, Groton.