Obituaries – January 23, 2015

Ellen Dawn Bishop

December 31, 2014

Ellen Dawn Bishop of Cornwall-on-Hudson passed away gently in her sleep on Dec. 31 at Maryhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenview, Ill. She was 77.

Ellen Dawn was born to John and Ellen Lenahan in Cornwall-and-Hudson and lived there for most of her life. She attended St. Thomas of Canterbury Elementary School and Cornwall-on-Hudson High School. In 1954, she enrolled in Vassar Brothers’ Hospital School of Nursing and graduated from there in 1957 with a nursing degree.

Ellen Dawn worked for 37 years as a pediatric nurse at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. For many years, she supervised the Pediatric Recovery Room. She eventually left the clinical setting for the Business Office, where she monitored patient data and chart compliance in accordance with state laws and regulations. At Columbia, Ellen Dawn met Lester Bishop and the two were married.

In 1992, Ellen Dawn and husband Les moved back to Cornwall-on-Hudson to make their home in the house where she grew up.

Ellen Dawn was preceded in death by her beloved and devoted husband, Les, who passed away on April 6, 2006. She is survived by her sister, Martha Mayer of Chicago and her nephew Christopher and his wife Shannon Mayer of Cary, Ill.

Per Ellen Dawn’s wishes, cremation was carried out by Elegy Memorial Services of Arlington Heights, Ill. A remembrance service will be held in Cornwall-on-Hudson in the spring of 2015.

In lieu of flowers, Ellen Dawn asked that donations be made to the HHT Foundation, P.O. Box 329, Monkton, MD 21111 (www.hht.org).

George H. Blohm Jr.

August 3, 1945-January 6, 2015

George H. Blohm Jr. of Cornwall, the son of Margaret Blohm and the late George H. Blohm Sr., passed away on Jan. 6 in St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. He was 69.

George was a dedicated educator, who loved to teach. He worked with Orange-Ulster BOCES and, locally, in the Cornwall Central School District for many years.

He is survived by his mother Margaret, his sister Virginia and his brother Gerald, as well as seven nieces and nephews, and six great nieces and nephews.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and students.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31 at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 21 Still Road in Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, his family is asking that donations be made in his name to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 21 Still Road, Monroe, NY 10950.

Eileen (Ellen) Hartmann

January 16, 2015

Eileen (Ellen) A. Hartmann, a long-time resident of Cornwall passed away at home on Jan. 16, after a long illness. She was 92.

One of six children and twin daughter of Thomas McWeeney and Anna Timmons McWeeney, she was born in Manhattan in 1922.  She was married to the late William J. Hartmann in 1953 and they resided in Queens before moving to Cornwall in 1967.

She is survived by her children, Cathie and her husband David in New Zealand; Kevin and his wife Kimberley in Texas and Eileen in Cornwall, and her grandchildren Sean, Emma and Kate in New Zealand.  She is also survived by her eldest brother John McWeeney in California; brother and sister-in-law Edward and Sue Hartmann of Long Island; cousins Patsy and Herb Schonwetter of Kentucky, and Jane and Bill Benzing, and many nieces and nephews.

Eileen worked for designer Pauline Trigere in New York City. She created wedding dresses, children’s clothing, dolls clothing and furnishings for family and friends.  In Cornwall, she worked at the high school and was well- known for her peanut butter cookies and baking.

She was an active member of the Cornwall Senior Citizens group and enjoyed lunches with friends at Munger Cottage and group outings, especially the Wildwood trip and trips to casinos.  She was a loyal friend and was always running errands for those who needed her.  She will be missed by her family, friends and family golden-doodle Brew.

Her family received visitors at Quigley Bros. Funeral Home in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Father Andrew Kurzyna  presided at a Mass of Christian Burial on Jan. 20 at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church in Cornwall-on-Hudson. It was followed by burial in St. Thomas Cemetery in Cornwall.

Memorial donations can be made to an organization of your choice.

Charles “Chuck” Robert Hurley

March 14, 1957-January 17, 2015

Chuck Hurley of Cornwall entered into eternal rest on Jan. 17 at home with family by his side. He was 57.

The son of Mary Alice Hurley and the late William B. Hurley of Stony Point, Chuck was born on March 14, 1957 in Suffern. He was employed by Verizon in Pomona, NY. He was also a licensed home inspector.

Chuck was a devoted family man. He was a remarkable husband and father, brother, uncle, and son. A true friend to many, he was an integral part of people’s lives. He was an avid baseball fan and active in youth sports. Chuck had an outgoing and friendly demeanor and everyone who met Chuck just once, remembered him for a lifetime. With a smile that reached his eyes, Chuck connected with people and made them feel special.

Chuck is survived by his mother, Mary Alice Hurley of Stony Point, his wife Joanne, daughter Christine and son Charles of Cornwall, his five siblings: Rita Milmore, William (Bill) Hurley and wife Katie, Thomas Hurley and wife Marybeth, Ann McBee and husband Jimmy and John Hurley and wife Janetlee, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family received visitors on Jan. 21 at Quigley Bros. Funeral Home in  Cornwall-on-Hudson. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Jan. 22 at St. Mary’s Church in Washingtonville. It was followed by burial in St. Peter’s  Cemetery in Haverstraw.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chuck Hurley Memorial Fund at www.gofundme.com/kgb1x8 to help cover unexpected expenses and establish a college fund.

Alice O’Keefe

October 16, 1917-January 17, 2015

Alice O’Keefe entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Jan. 17. She was 97.

The daughter of James and  Margaret  Fitzsimmons,  Alice was born on October 16, 1917, in Brooklyn.

Alice graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School, and attended Brooklyn College.  She married her beloved husband, James O’Keefe, in 1941, and moved to Wantagh, Long Island,  after his return from World War II.  There she raised her five children.  She will be missed greatly.

Alice is survived by her children, James O’Keefe and his wife Ann of St. Charles, Ill., Robert O’Keefe, of Colorado Springs, Col., Alice(O’Keefe) Demarais  and her husband Chip Demarais, of Gilbert, Ariz.,  Denis O’Keefe and his wife Barbara of Alexandria, Va., and David O’Keefe and his wife Dee Anne of Cornwall; by her grandchildren James O’Keefe and his wife Jennifer, Bernadette O’Keefe, Jennifer Corso and her husband Bob, Kathleen Christian and her husband Doug, Carolyn Villa and her husband Sam, Richard Demarais and his wife Michelle, Kevin O’Keefe, Daniel O’Keefe, Kathryn Truman and her husband Josh, Brigette O’Keefe, Dannen O’Keefe, Janette O’Keefe; great-grandchildren Tessa O’Keefe, Sadie O’Keefe, James O’Keefe, Isabella Corso, Jack Christian, Morgan Villa, Dominic Demarais, and Sawyer Truman.

Her family will receive visitors from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, at Quigley Bros. Funeral Home, 337 Hudson Street in Cornwall-on-Hudson.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24 at St. Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson.  She will be buried on Jan. 26 at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y.