Patti Debronsky (1960-2024)
Patricia Ann “Patti” Debronsky died Aug. 2.
She was born in 1960, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Condren) Mehrtens. She attended Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, where she played softball. She graduated in 1977, a year earlier than expected, and worked as a bank teller before beginning a career in accounting and insurance.
In 1985, she married Brian Debronsky. They divorced in 2012. A spiritual woman, Patti regularly attended the Roman Catholic church closest to wherever she lived, most recently St. John’s in Beacon. She was always willing to share stories or chat with anyone, and her love of animals was truly intertwined with her personality, her family said. Patti would go out of her way to ask anyone what their fur babies were up to, and when she could see them next.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Brian Debronsky Jr. (Renée) and Hazel, Michael Debronsky (Lauren) and Jordan and Elias and Nicholas Debronsky (Caroline Banks) of Beacon. She is also survived by her siblings, Edward Mehrtens (Aggie), Maureen Mehrtens-Lee (John) and Betty Anne Mehrtens (Michele Renchner).
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John’s on Aug. 8, followed by interment at St. Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx. Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca.org).
Joan Schnetzler (1937-2024)
Joan Schnetzler, 86, died Aug. 5 at her home.
She was born in Cornwall on Aug. 22, 1937, one of the 13 children of David and Ethel (Terwilliger) Babcock. She married George Schnetzler on Feb. 13, 1959, in Beacon. He died in 1991.
Joan worked as a press operator at Chemprene in Beacon until her retirement. She enjoyed gardening and tending to her yard. She will be remembered for her cooking and her love of feeding her entire family.
She is survived by her daughters, Robin McConnell, Louise Luchetta and Jennifer Luchetta; her sister, Kathleen Keenan; and her grandchildren, John Mesnick III (Jamie), Scott McConnell (Maria), Richard Hults Jr. (Beth), George Luchetta and Tina Luchetta.
She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Paige Kirchner (Collin), John Mesnick IV, Lilly McConnell, Madelyn Hults, Tyler McConnell and Tyler Evans; and her great-great-granddaughter, Kennedy Kirchner.
A funeral service was held Aug. 9 at Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey in Beacon, followed by interment at Fairview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
Judith Taplitz (1936-2024)
Judith Taplitz, 88, died Aug 4.
She was born July 9, 1936, in Brooklyn, the daughter of Morris and Ruth (Berman) Taplitz. She grew up in Edison, New Jersey, until the age of 11, when her father died and the family moved to the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Judith graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School at age 17 and enrolled for a year at Brooklyn College, after which she spent a year living and working on a kibbutz in the newly founded state of Israel. Upon her return, she moved to Toronto, where she met her Paul Davidovits. They were married in May 1957 and built a life rich with friends, travel, a love of Judaism and a deep devotion to one another. They lived in New York City; New Haven, Connecticut; Newton, Massachusetts, and most recently Beacon. They also maintained a winter residence in Osprey, Florida.
In addition to taking care of her family, Judith maintained a career that had several chapters, united by her commitment to nurturing and caring for others. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State College with a degree in special education, worked for a few years in that field and then started and directed a preschool at Synagogue Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts.
She then returned to school, earning a master’s degree in social work from Boston University, and worked as a psychotherapist until her retirement in 2020. She was a compassionate clinician, beloved by her patients, who were as committed to her as she was to them, her family said.
Judith loved the Southwest, birds, a beautiful idea, a walk in the woods, reading, carving stone, collecting interesting sticks and rocks, writing and reading poetry, a clever pun, a good stinky pinkie, Jewish philosophy and repairing the world.
Along with her husband of 67 years, she is survived by her children, Michael Davidovits (Markie Sallick) and Deborah Davidovits (Matthew Harle); her grandchildren, Samuel Harle, Ava Davidovits and Shoshana Davidovits; and her brother, Henry Taplitz (Edward Cohen).
