Frances Dumke (1926-2017)
Frances Dumke, 91, died on May 10, 2017, in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Frances was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Houston, the only child of Francis and Sara Rhinesmith. She graduated from Beacon High School and Mount Holyoke College in 1948 and began her career at Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation, spending several years specializing in employee relations. In 1950, she married Dr. Carver Charles Dumke, who died in 2006. They lived in multiple cities, traveling with the Navy, before settling down in Dutchess County to raise their family.
As members of the Chelsea Yacht Club, Frances and Carver spent countless hours sailing on the Hudson River. They took that passion with them when they moved to Punta Gorda in 1993 where they also enjoyed sailing around Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico, and were members of the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club and Punta Gorda Boat Club.
Frances loved to play tennis and was known to watch any tennis match she could find on TV. She was also an avid bridge player, participating in many bridge clubs. Frances enjoyed working as a docent at Boscobel in Cold Spring for many years as well. Throughout her life, Frances spent countless hours volunteering for various organizations and causes.
Without question, Frances made her biggest impact through years of volunteering and participation with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She served in multiple positions at the local, state and national levels including Melzingah Chapter Regent, New York State Corresponding Secretary, New York State Chairman of Conservation, Public Relations and Protocol, and President of the New York State Officers Club. She was also a member of the Charlotte Bay Chapter, NSDAR. Always interested in preserving Melzingah Chapter’s historic home, the Madam Brett Homestead, she spent hours giving tours to the public and school children and beautifying the gardens. She was also a proud member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Frances is survived by her children; Carver Dumke (Allison) of Michigan, Elizabeth McKee (Mark) of Florida, Charles Dumke (Celia) of Tennessee and Sara Nero (Timothy) of Virginia. She also is survived by her grandchildren Kendra (Dan), Jonathan (Alyce), William (Kim), Jeffrey (Katy), Sara (Bryce), Evan, Alec, Brian, Ashley, Megan; and her great-grandchildren Gavin, Caden, Nathan, Hudson, Layla, Emma and Milo.
A celebration of her life will be held June 17 at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Memorial donations made to the Madam Brett Homestead, 50 Van Nydeck Ave., Beacon, NY 12508.
Paul Eraca (1959-2017)
Paul S. Eraca, 58, a lifelong resident of Beacon, died May 24, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie surrounded by his loved ones.
Paul was born March 24, 1959, in Beacon, the son of Paul and Jacqueline (Frost) Eraca. Known as “GQ” to friends, he retired from the City of Beacon Parks Department after 35 years. He was an avid Yankees and Jets fan and also a member of Trinity Council #445, Knights of Columbus.
Paul is survived by his children, Steven Eraca (Tanya) of San Diego; Kimberly Eraca of Costa Rica; Kevin Eraca (Shannon) of Whidbey Island, Washington; and Emily Eraca of Beacon. He also is survived by four grandchildren (Audrey, Avelyn, Dianne and Colt) and his siblings, David Eraca (Allyn), Tracy Pavlovic (Steve) and Scott Eraca.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on May 29 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Beacon with burial at St. Joachim Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Beacon Parks & Recreation Department, attention Susan Tucker, with checks made out to the City of Beacon, 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY 12508. Please note Memorial Park on memo line.
Rudolph Mendoza (1928-2017)
Rudolph Mendoza, 88, of Beacon, died May 27, 2017, at Elant of Fishkill.
Born Oct. 7, 1928 in Los Angeles, he was the son of Aurielo and Soledad Mendoza.
Rudolph was a retired public worker with the City of Beacon and M&M Photo of Newburgh. An avid photographer, he enjoyed painting and was well known for his art work around the Beacon area. He was a member of Lewis Tompkins Hose, Beacon, the Third Order of St. Francis, St. Lawrence of Beacon and St. John’s Church in Beacon. He also was a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1954 to 1956.
Along with his wife Pauline, his survivors include four children: Paulette Case of Beacon; Patricia Buchalski (Richard) of Palm Bay, Florida; Ed Mendoza of Beacon; and Arthur Mendoza (Janelle) of East Fishkill; 10 grandchildren (Devon, Jenn, Niki, Patricia, Alisha, Amanda, Alyssa, Sienna, Leyna and Dawson) and five great-grandchildren (Katelynn, Abbygail, Vanessa, Corbin and Bronson).
Visitation will be held May 31 from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at Libby Funeral Home, 55 Teller Ave., in Beacon, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. John’s The Evangelist Catholic Church, 31 Willow St., Beacon. Interment will follow with Military Honors at St. Joachim’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Animal Rescue Foundation, 54 Simmons Lane, Beacon, NY 12508.
Jean Musacchio (1943-2017)
Jean M. Musacchio, 74, a longtime resident of Fishkill, died May 25, 2017, at Wingate at Beacon surrounded by her family.
Jean was born March 19, 1943, to Dominick and Marie (McIlravy) DiCastro. She attended Beacon High School and Krissler Business Institute. After graduation she worked at Financial Access and, after raising a family, at Beacon High School and two real estate companies. She was a parishioner of St. Joachim – St. John the Evangelist Church in Beacon.
On Sept. 20, 1964, she married James Musacchio at St. Joachim Church. In addition to her husband, Jean is survived by her sons, James Musacchio (Stephanie) and Jeffrey Musacchio (Christina) and her six grandchildren: Anthony, Jessica, Tyler, Nicole, Michael and Matthew.
She is also survived by her brothers, William DiCastro (Susan), Thomas DiCastro (Joanne) and James DiCastro, and a sister, Charlene Westerhuis (Gus), as well as a brother-in-law, Anthony Musacchio (Nancy) and sister-in-law, Patricia Mastro (Bob) and two aunts, Irma DiCastro and Lucy Robyck.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on May 30 at St. Joachim Church, with burial at St. Joachim Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
Shirley Ann Urspruch (1936-2017)
Shirley Ann Urspruch, 81, of Beacon, died May 25, 2017, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Born Jan. 22, 1936, in Cornwall, she was the daughter of David and Ethel (Terwilliger) Babcock.
Shirley was a retired supervisor for Rhodes Cleaning Service in East Fishkill.
Her survivors include six children: Charles Cable (Carol) of Massachusetts, Cherry Rivera (Julio) of Beacon, Daniel Cable (JoAnn) of Beacon, William Cable (Debbie) of Amsterdam, New York, Candy Santiago of Beacon, and Lou Ann Cable (Marcie) of Lake Champlain. She also is survived by two sisters, Joan Schnetzler of Beacon and Kathleen Keenan of Stormville, as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. She had 11 siblings who died before her.
Visitation will be held May 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Libby Funeral Home, 55 Teller Ave., Beacon. Interment will be private.
