Elise Arell (1920-2016)
Elise Arell, 96, of Beacon, died at home on Dec. 23, 2016.
She was born in Finland on Feb. 21, 1920, to Gustaf Adolf Waldemar and Fanny Mathilda (Kullberg) Soderberg. In April 1946, she married William Anselm Arell, who died in 2006.
Elise and William were both greatly impacted by the war that raged between Finland and the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1943. Elise, as a “Lotta,” perched atop a tower watching for enemy airplanes and William was fighting on the front lines until he was severely wounded by a bomb. They met after the war when William and his family were relocated to the Porvoo area of Finland.
In the early 1950s Elise and William packed up their belongings and sailed into New York harbor with their three small children in tow. They made their home in Brooklyn’s “Finntown.” After the children were grown, they moved to Dutchess County, where gardening and weaving on a room-size loom kept them both busy.
Elise is survived by her children, Maire Kowalewski of Salt Point, Leila Vuorenmaa of Pleasant Valley and Tom Arell (Barbara) of Bedminster, New Jersey; her brother, Kurt Soderberg; four granddaughters; and four great-granddaughters. Three of her brothers died before her.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home, 1028 Main St., Fishkill, with a funeral service at 1 p.m. and burial at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
Daniel B. Keenan (1937-2016)
Daniel B. Keenan, 79, of Port Charlotte, Florida, died at home on Dec. 2, 2016. Dan was born in Beacon on May 11, 1937, to Patrick and Susan (Bradley) Keenan.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Geraldine Keenan, and his children Joyce Mary Banks of Hilton Head, South Carolina; Eileen Keenan (Jay Ellsoffer) and Jeffrey Michael Keenan of Wappinger Falls; Daniel Bradley Keenan of Groton; Brian Patrick Keenan (Colleen) of East Worcester and Patrick John Keenan (Bonnie) of Ashburn, Virginia. He also is survived by 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Dan was one of 10 children; his surviving sibling are brothers, Msgr. Patrick John, Hugh and Colin Keenan and sisters Rosalea Megna and Sharon Wallace.
Dan served his country in Japan and aboard the USS Midway. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus No. 445 in Beacon. A memorial mass was held Dec. 28 at St. Joachim Church in Beacon with burial at St. Joachim’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Jack Oswald (1949-2016)
Jack J. Oswald, 67, of Beacon, died Dec. 25, 2016, at his home.
Born Sept. 8, 1949, in Peekskill, he was the son of Edward and Elnora (Wilke) Oswald.
Jack was a retired corrections officer for the Fishkill Correctional Facility and a U.S. Army veteran, serving as an M.P. during the Vietnam era.
His survivors include his wife Brenda (Mandl) Oswald, son Mark Bauer (Gina) of Fishkill, daughter Ashley Bartlett (Tim) of Albany, two granddaughters (Victoria Bauer and Samantha Bauer, both of Fishkill), two nieces (Dyane Oswald and Becky Oswald), a nephew (Bobby Oswald) and a sister-in-law, Vicky Oswald, as well as several cousins.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Libby Funeral Home, 55 Teller Ave., Beacon, with services at 8 p.m. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society 2678 South Road, No. 103, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to the Castle Point VAMC, 41 Castle Point Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590.