James Owen Bowers (1926-2017)
James Owen Bowers, 90, a longtime resident of Utica, died Feb. 13, 2017. Among his survivors is a daughter, Debbie Keppel (Roger) of Cold Spring.
James was born in Hudson on May 26, 1926, and graduated from Hudson High School in 1943. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as part of the Navy V-12 program and graduated from flight school, but World War II ended before he was assigned to combat. In 1948, he married Mary Jane Rehder of Hudson. Jim worked for the New York Telephone Company for 45 years.
A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. on May 20 at St. Mary-in-the Highlands in Cold Spring. Memorial contributions can be made to Canine Companions for Independence (cci.org).
Jessie Brauser (1935-2017)
Jessie Marie Brauser, 82, a resident of Cold Spring and formerly of Verplanck and Bolton Landing, died Feb. 23, 2017, at home surrounded by her family.
Born in Bolton Landing on Jan. 12, 1935, she was the daughter of Walter and Madeline (Burgess) Ross. Jessie was employed by BOCES in Valhalla for 18 years until her retirement in 1998. She was a member of St. Mary-in-the-Highlands and enjoyed knitting, reading books, spending summers at camp, playing solitaire and doing jigsaw puzzles. Her favorite bird was the cardinal, and she loved spending time with her family.
On Oct. 29, 1965, in Bolton Landing, Jessie married Allen M. Brauser, who survives at home. She is also survived by her daughters Wendy Stinson (William) of Fishkill, Bonnie O’Rourke (William) of Bolton Landing and Betsy Ackley (Keith) of Pine Plains; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She also is survived by three siblings: Margie Duggan, Audrey Vernon and Louis Ross.
A funeral service was held March 2 at St. Mary’s, with entombment at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Putnam Valley.
Otto Gazzigli (1934-2017)
Otto H. Gazzigli, 82, of Peekskill, died Feb. 20, 2017. Among his survivors is a son, Christopher Gazzigli, of Garrison.
Otto was born in Port Chester on March 20, 1934 to Louis and Muriel (Merritt) Gazzigli. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1955, attaining the rank of Sergeant 1st Class. Otto was a repair and maintenance worker for the Lakeland School District. On July 7, 1958, he married Barbara Rozmus in Port Chester, who survives him. A funeral service was held Feb. 24.
Sister Mary Bride Spratt (1916-2017)
Sister Mary Bride (Hannah Marie) Spratt, 100, a Franciscan Sister of the Atonement, died at Graymoor in Garrison on March 3, 2017.
Sister Mary Bride was born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland on Nov. 22, 1916, to Cornelius and Mary (Cahill) Spratt. She is survived by her brother, Kevin. Sister was an Atonement Missionary for 87 years. Services will be held at 4 and 7 p.m. on Monday, March 6, with a funeral mass on March 7 at 11 a.m. at Graymoor Sister’s Chapel.
