Noel Devia Hernandez
April 15, 1942—November, 26, 2020
Cornwall
Noel, a longtime resident of Cornwall, NY passed away at home November 26th on Thanksgiving Day 2020 with his family by his side, following a brief illness. He was 78 years old.
Noel was born in Dolores, Colombia on April 15, 1942, where he grew up very poor and loved running in and around the beautiful mountain terrain of rural Colombia. As a young man, he learned the trade of a tailor, he also studied Accounting, and at the age of 26 in 1968, he decided that he wanted to come to America, and go to school where he learned English, where he would meet the love of his life, Mercedes Abad. They married on May 17, 1969 in New York City, NY, married for 51 years. Noel worked at various jobs as a tailor in Manhattan, Queens, Nanuet, and finally at the United States Military Academy at West Point, as an award winning Master Tailor, where he spent 33 years keeping cadets looking sharp in their tailored cadet uniforms.
Noel truly lived and achieved the American dream. In 1973, Noel and Mercedes moved their family out of the Bronx to Cornwall, NY for a better life. He worked multiple tailoring jobs on nights and weekends to support his family. He felt so proud to come to this country, and built a new home in 1978, where he even had his home street named after him. He was very devoted to his family, they meant everything to him, as he enjoyed raising his kids, and felt proud in the manner in which he raised his children, which was passed on to his grandchildren. He enjoyed vacationing with friends and family, watching soccer, playing chess, loved dancing, word puzzles, and eating at his favorite Chinese Restaurant when his master chef wife needed a break from the kitchen.
In his retirement in 2006, he received one of the biggest honors of his life, a wonderful retirement send off at West Point Military Academy. He was invited to retire alongside Five Star Generals, where you could see a pageantry parade of cadets marching in perfect unison out onto The Plain Field from their barracks, while Noel stood up straight and proud with his head held high, a moment that his family will never forget for him. Noel also worked as an Election Poll Worker in his retirement, and this year was the last time he was able to exercise his right to vote with an absentee ballot.
Noel could also be seen enjoying a brisk walk along Boulevard & Continental Road in Cornwall, with his wife every morning. Noel was a great father, grandfather, and husband. He loved attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events, dance recitals, and educational accomplishments. His family will forever miss him.
He is survived by his wife and three children, Martha Christensen (Jim), Tom Hernandez (Dana), and David Hernandez (Michelle) along with his cherished grandchildren Christopher, Emily, Olivia, Bobby, Cecilia, Marcella, Nicholas, and Caitlyn. He was predeceased by his mother, Bertha Devia, and father Indalecio Devia, three brothers Marcos, Indalecio and Simon, and sister Irma.
Noel requested no services upon his departure, and that this would be the only way to celebrate his life, but his family would like to request, if you wish, to make a donation to the charity of your choice in his name.
Grantham Thomas
December 13, 1941— November 16, 2020
Grantham Thomas, age 78, beloved husband, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and cousin died peacefully at home on Monday, November 16, 2020 after a long bout with cancer. Born in Brooklyn on December 13, 1941 to Jesse Edward Thomas and Mary Mathews Thomas, he spent most of his early life first in New Rochelle, NY, later in St. Louis, Missouri, and then in Greenwich, Connecticut, where his father, a Methodist minister, was posted by the church. No matter where the family was living, however, every year Grant’s parents packed up Grant and his older brother Shailer, and the four of them spent summers at the family cabin in Monson, Maine.
Grant graduated from John Burroughs School in St. Louis and then earned a BA in Religion from Oberlin College. Later he earned a Master’s Degree in Education with a related field in Student Personnel Work in Higher Education at Syracuse University and eventually took classes at Mt. St. Mary College and passed several CLEP tests to earn his permanent teaching certification in high school English. Immediately after college Grant joined the Navy, and during the Viet Nam Conflict he served as a simultaneous translator in the Intelligence division. When he left the service, he worked at Oberlin College (Assistant Dean of Men), SUNY at Morrisville (Assistant Dean of Students), and Illinois State University (Residence Hall Faculty) where he met the love of his life, his wife Marion.
Grant balanced his academic adventures with involvement with food service, and after working for Saga Food Service as a student at Oberlin, he again worked for the company after returning from Viet Nam and served as the food service director at colleges in Massachusetts and Connecticut before being transferred to New York Military Academy. It was at NYMA that Grant first started teaching, and after leaving NYMA he spent the remainder of his career teaching for Orange-Ulster BOCES and then Rockland BOCES where he discovered both his love and talent for teaching students who were seeking their high school diplomas.
His greatest love was his church where he served in many leadership positions over the years but none as dear to his heart as beginning and supervising the monthly Fellowship Meals. Grant enjoyed everything he did, the people he worked with and for, and his church family. He cared about his pets and his friends, his family, and going to and exploring Maine.
He was a voracious reader, had a dry sense of humor, loved watching TV programs based on well-written British mystery series, watched any and all college football or ice hockey matches, and watched CNN and read The New York Times and The Washington Post. He was kind to everyone, fair and loyal, and enjoyed every minute of every day and wanted to help others to do the same.
Grant is survived by his wife, Marion Stoops Thomas; his brother Shailer, his wife Sherry, and his three sons and their families; his brother-in-law Paul George Stoops and his wife Kaye and their two daughters and their families; and many loving cousins.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Grant’s life will be held at a later date, when people can gather and enjoy reminiscing about his joy-filled life and perhaps eat some of the tuna fish sandwiches that he made famous.
Contributions in Grant’s memory may be made to the Cornwall Presbyterian Church, 222 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520, a no-kill animal rescue shelter of your choice, or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
Arrangements are under the direction of James F. Lulves Funeral Home. To send condolences please visit www.lulvesfuneralhome.com
Mary Lee Zent
July 27, 1947— November 24, 2020
formerly of Marlboro
Mary Lee Zent, 73, of Ticonderoga, and formerly of Marlboro, New York, passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
She was born in Manhattan on July 27, 1947.
Mary was a resident of Marlboro, NY, before moving to Ticonderoga in 2004.
While in Marlboro, she was employed by West Point Tours and drove school buses for the Newburgh School District for 33 years. At the same time, she was employed by Dr. Passiear, where she worked for 22 years.
Mary loved to crochet, especially afghans, and has donated over 300 to friends in the Ticonderoga community, various drawings, and nursing homes.
She was a giving person and loved to help others.
She was pre-deceased by one daughter, Pamela McGuire; and her sister-in-law, Maureen McGuire.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Michael J. Zent; one daughter, Victoria Kartis and her husband Fran of Newburgh; two step-sons, Joshua Zent of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Ryan Zent of Rockwood, Illinois; and four grandchildren, Elisha, Allison, Amber and Caitlyn.
A Graveside Service will take place at a later date in Cornwall, NY.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga. To offer online condolences, please visit www.wilcoxandreganfuneralhome.com.