All Obituaries

Janyce M. Fergus of Trumansburg passed away at Cayuga Medical Center surrounded by her family on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the age of 84.   Jan was born in Trumansburg, NY on May 30, 1939, a daughter of the late John and Leona (nee Murphy) Marquart. A local girl for her whole life, Jan spent many years working in and around Ithaca and finding a passion in her early years for bowling. That competitive spirit followed her in life, as she never turned down a card game with...

Allen G. Wilson of Brooktondale passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the age of 86. Allen was born on December 30, 1936 in Brooktondale, NY to the late Fred and Margaret (nee VanDemark) Wilson. Allen enjoyed many years working at Morse Chain in Ithaca and in his free time did small engine repair at home and for Agway. A servant to his community, he could be found as a flagger for the Brooktondale Fire Department, a poll inspector for Elections in Tompkins County and after retirement...

Dorothy F. “Dottie” Sears passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the age of 93. Dorothy was born on May 24, 1930, to Mary Wilkin Sears and Glenn Sears, who resided on Wilkins Road in the Town of Ulysses. Dorothy was one of eight children which included two older brothers, four older sisters, and one younger sister. All the Sears children were born at home in the same home their mother was born in, part of a working farm. Dorothy is predeceased by her beloved life partner of...

Helen Lena Hausner Bassett of Interlaken, NY, passed away at the age of 96 on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Cayuga Nursing and Rehab, with her daughter and granddaughters surrounding her.  Helen was born the second child of Charles and Anna Emmons Hausner on March 18, 1927. She grew up on the farm on County Road 142 in Interlaken. She loved animals and especially her trusty old blind pony, Billy, and her pretty paint horse, Dolly, which she often rode in local parades and...

Dianne L. Rizzo of Burdett passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the age of 77. Dianne was born in the Bronx on February 11, 1946, a daughter of the late Albert Wroblewski and Carole (nee Bode) Knight. Dianne is survived by her husband; Michael Joseph Rizzo; her children, Frank (Heidi) Szczepaniak, Tiffany (Tony) Giordano, Ukiah (Molly) Kraus and Micah Kraus; siblings, Michael (Julie) Knight, Michelle (Dave) Koyan, Marie Galperin and Laurie (Rick) Jensen; grandchildren, Paulina...

Edward Norman Dean, lifelong resident of Jacksonville, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023 at the age of 81. Norman was born in Ithaca on November 2, 1942, a son of the late Earl and Ruth (Elliot) Dean. He attended the two room school house in Jacksonville and has resided in his Jacksonville home since July of 1945. Norman enjoyed spending time outdoors and had an appreciation for animals and birds. He was also a member of the Jacksonville United Methodist Church. Norman is survived...

Ellen D. Haith of Trumansburg passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the age of 79. Ellie was born in White Plains, New York on October 16, 1944 a daughter of the late Arthur and Jannet (Anderberg) Douglass. One of her great passions was singing, beginning in high school, and continuing with college choruses and madrigal groups at Wellesley and Cornell. Her life in music culminated with her 18 years spent as a professional with the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble. Ellie’s early daily...

James A. “Jim” Meeker of Trumansburg passed away surrounded by family at home on his beloved farm on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at the age of 69. Jim was born on January 1, 1954 in Ithaca, a son of the late L. Grant and Bernita (Schmid) Meeker. James married Valerie Dawn Simmons, who he described as “his entire world” on December 11, 1976.  A life-long Trumansburg man through and through, Jim along with Val raised their 3 girls adjacent to his childhood home...

Dorothy Diane (McGill) Zaharis, 62, passed away on November 2, 2023 due to an extended illness. Dorothy was born in Ithaca on June 19, 1961 a daughter of the late Harold McGill and Lucille (Malm) McGill. She grew up in Trumansburg graduating from Charles O’Dickerson High School in 1979. Dorothy spent many years loving and riding horses. As a youth she earned many a blue ribbon riding both English and Western in area horse shows. Her talents with horses led to jobs as an exercise rider...

Much to our chagrin, this sassy lady told us she was ready to follow when her husband of 66+ years, Bernie, passed away nine years ago. She got the last word and made good on her promise October 31, 2023, passing away in the house she and Bernie built; the home where he too passed in 2014. Born Jean Lucille Jordan on November 29, 1927, one of 8 siblings, Jean J. Hankinson grew up in Ithaca eventually settling in Trumansburg, NY raising their only daughter, Linda. Jean was an avid golfer and...