Steven Diaz (1978-2018)
Steven Joseph Diaz, 39, a longtime resident of Beacon, died on Sept. 15, 2018, at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh following an automobile crash in Walden.
Born Dec. 2, 1978, in Cold Spring, he was the son of Anibal and Vanessa Diaz. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Richie Trinidad. He graduated from Beacon High School in 1998 and was a member of the Class B state champion varsity baseball team.
Steven worked as an equipment maintenance technician for IBM and later GlobalFoundries in East Fishkill. He loved fishing, hunting, and working out at the gym. He also loved to explore new cigars and craft beers and enjoyed fantasy football. He was a diehard fan of the Yankees, Niners and Chicago Bulls.
He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Jessica, and his three children: Steven Joseph Diaz Jr., Angelina Naomi Diaz and Jovani Manuel Diaz. He also is survived by his granddaughter, Aubrey Diaz, and his brothers, Tino Diaz and Eddie Irizarry.
Family and friends will be received on Friday, Sept. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, 2 Beekman St., in Beacon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 35 Willow St., Beacon, with burial to follow at St. Joachim Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the family at gf.me/u/mbhivm.
Frank Eraca (1929-2018)
Francis Joseph Eraca, 89, died on Sept. 11, 2018, at Wingate at Dutchess. He was known to friends and family as Frank, as well as Dad, Pee-pa and Summer Wingman.
Born on May 16, 1929 to Hungarian and Italian immigrants, he was the sixth of nine children raised in Beacon.
An accomplished athlete, in 1947 Frank was taken by limo from Beacon to the original Yankee Stadium for a try-out with Connie Mack, the longest serving Major League Baseball manager in history. Frank was offered a minor league contract as a catcher for the Class AAA team of the Philadelphia Athletics.
After returning to Beacon, he married Dolores Annis in 1949 and settled in Fishkill. For 13 years, Frank worked as a lineman for Central Hudson, until 1962, when he founded Fishkill Pools. Dolores died in 1976 and Frank married, second, Bonnie Blanchfield, in 2012.
An avid gardener, diehard Boston Red Sox fan and maker of the best sauce-and-turkey barley soup around, Frank will be remembered for his gabadost (stubborn) nature and living on his own terms.
He is survived by his children: Ardra Todd (John) of Hopewell Junction; Jeff Eraca (Valerie) of Hopewell Junction; Erika Stevens (Dave) of Poughkeepsie; Greg Eraca (Jennifer) of LaGrangeville; and Elizabeth Moses (Jesse) of Binghamton, as well as 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by the mother of his youngest child, Mary Eraca, of Binghamton.
A graveside service was held Sept. 17 at Fishkill Rural Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
Laura Exum
Laura Jean Exum, 73, a lifelong resident of Beacon, died Sept. 4, 2018, in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Laura was born April 17, 1945, the daughter of Jesse and Loretta (Roberts) Thomas. She graduated from Beacon High School and in 1993 retired as a manager from IBM after 30 years. Known to friends and family as Puddin or Buddy, she was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Laura enjoyed her doll and stamp collections; watching television; appreciated the arts; and treasured spending time with friends. Like her grandfather, Laura was an avid gardener.
She is survived by the father of her son, Bert Exum; her son, Bert (Tooch) Exum Jr., and three grandchildren: Najiya, Azahni and Malaki Exum. She also is survived by her sisters, Alice (Tiny) Lewis and Loretta (Eula) Dozier; her friend, Carmela Herring; two godsons, Emmanuel Davis and Isaiah Davis; and a goddaughter, Tatyana Powell.
A memorial service was held Sept. 15 in Fort Pierce.
Iris Kano-Wilson (1963-2018)
Iris Kano-Wilson, 55, of Fishkill, died on Sept. 12, 2018, at the Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, surrounded by her family.
She was born June 9, 1963, in the Bronx, the daughter of Rose and Arno Kano.
Iris was the supervising clerk for the state Department of Motor Vehicles office in Beacon. She loved camping, skiing and vacationing with her daughter, Amber, and sister, Michele. She also loved celebrating family events and holidays in her home. She was proud of her German heritage and its traditions, which she made sure the family carried on.
She is survived by her husband, Herbert Wilson; her daughter, Amber Wilson; her stepsons, James Wilson (Ishia) and Michael Wilson; her parents; her siblings, Michele Popielaski (Philip), Carol Neelis (Robert), Hannelore Harding and Lewis Bulson; her grandchildren, Devin, Lindsey and Hayden Wilson; and two great-grandchildren, Sophie and Skarlett.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. at Christ Church United Methodist, 60 Union St., in Beacon, followed by a celebration of life at St. Rocco’s Hall, 26 S. Chestnut St., in Beacon. Memorial donations may be made to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (ocrfa.org).
