Ruth Lauritsen (1913-2018)
Ruth Lauritsen, 104, died June 14, 2018, at her home at the Fountains at Millbrook.
Born in Beacon on Aug. 31, 1913, she was the daughter of Bertram and Louise Tompkins. After graduating from Beacon High School and the Vassar Brothers Hospital Training School for Nurses, she spent many years as an operating room nurse and working in public health. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Oneonta State University and became a school nurse teacher in the Wappingers Central School District until her retirement in 1983.
Ruth was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie. She also did volunteer work with the Mended Hearts organization. Her passions were gardening, caring for others, and dogs.
She was married on 2 Sept. 1939, in Poughkeepsie to Charles Lauritsen, who died in 1996. She is survived by a daughter, Andrea Kryworuczko (Peter) of Wilton, Connecticut.
A funeral service was held June 22 at St. John’s Church, with burial at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Nick Romano (1944-2018)
Nick Romano, 73, died June 8, 2018, in Rotterdam, New York.
Born Dec. 11, 1944, he was a private first class in the Marine Corps and served for 25 years for the Yonkers Fire Department. After moving to Wappingers Falls in 1974, he served as a pastor for Faith Assembly and Beacon Christian Assembly (now Salem Tabernacle). He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean, three children and five grandchildren.
A service was held on June 13 at Calvary Tabernacle in Schenectady. Memorial donations may be made to Masoyi Home Based Care, South Africa c/o Frank Wey, 989 Altamont Boulevard, Altamont, NY 12009.
Richard Straley Sr. (1934-2018)
Richard “Buzzy” Joseph Straley Sr., 84, of Salt Point, died June 22, 2018, in Poughkeepsie due to complications from mantel cell lymphoma.
Richard was Jan. 13, 1934, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Joseph and Veronica Straley. He attended school at St. Joachim and graduated from Beacon High School.
On Jan. 16, 1965, he married Sandy Wirsch at St. Joseph’s Church in Poughkeepsie. He worked as a sheet metal worker with Local 38 out of Brewster and was a union member for 60 years. He also served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He enjoyed working in his yard, attending antique car shows and spending time with his family and friends.
Besides his wife, Richard is survived by his children, Richard Straley Jr., Robert Straley (Patricia Duffy), Heather Davenport (Romine) and Amanda Straley (Christian Corcoran). He also is survived by his grandchildren Randy, Cassidy, and Christian Jr.; his step-grandchildren, Dennis Vogel, Karley and Devin Davenport and Sean and Kevin Duffy; a great granddaughter, Elizabeth; and three siblings: Barbara Hamm, Phillip Straley (Barbara) and Thomas Straley (Michelle).
Visitation will be held Sunday, June 24, at Allen Funeral Home, 1605 Main St., in Pleasant Valley from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 25, at St. Joseph Church in Millbrook with burial to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Poughkeepsie.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Church, 15 North Ave., Millbrook, NY 12545 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org)
Edward Sullivan (1954-2018)
Edward Michael Sullivan, 64, a longtime Beacon resident, died June 16, 2018, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Born March 26, 1954, in the Bronx, he was the son of Lawrence and Sarah (Cavanaugh) Sullivan.
Known to friends and family as “Sully,” he was employed for 25 years as a sheet metal worker for Local Union 38 of Brewster until his retirement in 2008, when he became a part-time driver for the Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor in Garrison.
On Dec. 1, 1990, he married Veronica “Roni” McEnroe, who survives at home.
Edward enjoyed time spent reading, golfing, listening to music, and going on cruises. He was a loving husband, son and father.
Along with his wife of 27 years, and his mother, he is survived by his son, Jason Biszick; two sisters, Anne Camporeale and Joan Sullivan; and a brother, Lawrence Sullivan.
A prayer service was offered at the Libby Funeral Home in Beacon on June 19. Interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association (lung.org) or to the senior community at the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (atonementfriars.org).
Sue Sweeney (1948-2018)
Anne Marie “Sue” Sweeney, 70, of Newburgh, a former school bus driver for the Beacon City School District for more than 30 years, died on June 13, 2018.
She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Jan. 17, 1948, one of the seven children of Theodore and Margaret Routhier.
She married Richard Sweeney in 1969, after they met at the top of the Empire State Building in a chance encounter. Known to friends and family as “Susie” or “Sue,” she enjoyed spending time with her family, playing and watching sports and dancing and laughing with loved ones. Her favorite pastime was being a loving and playful Memere to her grandchildren, Colin, Keira and Gavin.
Sue was a line-drive hitter, all-star shortstop, fearless volleyball player, automatic quarterback for her children and their neighborhood friends, exceptional dancer, and always the life of the party.
Besides her husband and grandchildren, she is survived by her children, Richard Sweeney (Michelle) of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Renee Rafferty (Brian) of Wilton, Connecticut. She also is survived by her siblings: Emil Routhier (Susan) of Holliston, Massachusetts; Don Routhier (Nina) of Ashburn, Virginia; Helen Flis (John) of Colchester, Connecticut; and Diane Routhier of Middletown, Connecticut.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 19 at St Mary’s Church in Marlboro.
Information provided by local funeral homes.
