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Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, PO Box 141, Millerton, NY (2026)

10/13/2026

Obituary and Graveside Service Information for Longtime Dover Plains, NY, Resident, Lelah M. Somers, Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Companion and Dear Friend to Many.

Dover Plains – Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, NY, resident passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, NY. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929 in Pawling, NY, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on November 22, 1946 in Pleasant Valley, NY, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on September 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.

She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, NY, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.

Lelah was a loving mother and a strong willed and hard-working woman. She was an avid NASCAR fan for many years and traveled with her companion “Mac” up and down the east coast following the sport. Her favorite track was the Daytona International Speedway in Florida that they went to every February to attend the Daytona 500 race. She loved her family so much and she will be dearly missed; she lived a long life and for that her family is deeply grateful.

Graveside services and burial will take place on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 11:30 am at Valley View Cemetery in Dover Plains, NY. Pastor Rick Totten will officiate. A reception in Lelah’s honor will follow at the VFW Post # 5444, 3422 Route 22, Dover Plains, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Lelah’s honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

09/21/2026

Obituary and Funeral Information for Beloved Millerton, NY, Resident, Mark Edward Peck, Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather and Dear Friend to Many.

Village of Millerton – Mark Edward Peck, 70, a lifelong area resident died peacefully at his childhood home in Millerton, NY, just as his beloved father had several years prior. Mark worked as a self-employed roofing contractor for MCM Construction in Millerton, prior to his illness.

Born June 5, 1956 in Great Barrington, MA, he was the son of the late Alan G. and S. Jean (Bathrick) Peck. He was educated in the Webutuck School District and he graduated high school with the class of 1974. On September 22, 1984 in Copake Falls, NY, he married the love of his life, Jane E. Robertson. Mrs. Peck survives at home in Millerton. Mark was an avid musician and played and sang in multiple bands throughout his life. He loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed caring for his lawn and yardwork in general. He was an avid New York Giants fan and greatly enjoyed long rides over Mount Riga with his beloved wife Jane. Mark will forever be remembered as an all-around good guy and he will be dearly missed by his family and many dear friends.

In addition to his wife Jane, Mark is survived by his son, Edward Brammer III and his wife Amy of Sandisfield, MA; two brothers, Bruce Peck of Au Sable Forks, NY, and Glenn Peck and his wife Lynn of Webster, NY; two grandchildren, Jessica Stevens and her husband Will of Canaan, CT, and Abby Magner and her husband Alex of Pittsfield, MA, and five great grandchildren, Brayden, Lyla, Eli, Wyatt and Noah. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Gary Peck of Copake, NY.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 1pm to 3pm at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY. A funeral service will take place at 3pm at the funeral home. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. A reception in Mark’s honor will follow at the Millerton Firehouse. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree is Mark’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

09/19/2026

Obituary and Graveside Service Information for Lifelong Dutchess County, NY, Resident, Geraldine M. Reid. Beloved Sister, Cousin, Companion and Friend.

09/17/2026

Dover Plains - At Oresta's request, there will be no obituary at this time. A memorial service at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 40 Leedsville Road in Amenia Union, NY will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 11 a.m. Oresta's cremains will be buried in the memorial garden at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

Food of Life Pantry at St. Thomas

https://www.stthomasamenia.com/ways-to-give

or

Episcopal Relief and Development - Ukraine Crisis

https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-releases/supporting-humanitarian-response-to-the-crisis-in-ukraine/

08/30/2026

Obituary and Funeral Information for Lifelong Area Resident, Helen K. Roux, Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Sister.

Copake Falls – Helen K. Roux, 84, of Copake Falls, NY, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026 at Sharon Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Sharon, CT.

Born in Sharon, CT, on August 30, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Helen Kilmer. Helen grew up in Millerton, NY, where she formed deep roots in the community. On October 29, 1961, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Roux, who survives at home. Together, they shared nearly sixty-five-years of marriage, devotion and family. Helen was a remarkably kind and sweet person who consistently put the needs of others ahead of her own. Throughout her life, she held several local jobs, concluding her career in the kitchen at Hotchkiss School. She deeply loved the students and staff at Hotchkiss, and her warmth left a lasting impression on the school community. Helen found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially playing games. She cherished card games with her family and in her later years thoroughly enjoyed spending time on her laptop.
Above all, Helen’s family was her world. In addition to her beloved husband, Kenneth, she is survived by her two devoted sons and their families, Brian and Roseann Roux of Sharon, CT, and Timothy and Christy Roux of Lancaster, SC. Helen also leaves behind four grandchildren, who were truly the light of her life, Lauren Roux of Charlotte, NC, Brittany Roux of Lancaster, SC, Courtney Roux of Wallkill, NY and Justin Roux of Sharon, CT; a brother, James Kilmer and his wife Rhonda of Ancram, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by three sisters, Mary Duell, Judith Murphy and Constance Decker.

A funeral service will take place on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 10:30 am at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. Burial will follow at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 301 Manchester Road, Suite 105, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.

To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Helen’s memory please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

08/28/2026

Millerton – Joan DeWitt Silvernail, 91, a lifelong Millerton, NY resident passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT, surrounded by her loved ones. Joan worked as a bookkeeper for Dutchess Auto Company, Inc. on Main Street in Millerton for many years prior to her retirement.

Born November 22, 1934 in Millerton, NY, she was the daughter of the late Silas and Laneta (Robertson) DeWitt. Joan was a graduate of Millerton High School. On June 23, 1953 in Millerton, she married Bernard Oliver Silvernail. Their loving and devoted marriage last nearly seventy-years. Bernie passed away on February 22, 2023. Joan was an avid red cardinal figurine collector who also enjoyed watching T.V. gameshows, especially Family Feud, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal on a daily basis. She will be dearly missed by all.

Joan is survived by her son, Robert Silvernail of Millerton and several extended family members and many friends.

At Joan’s request, a private burial will take place at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Bernie. Memorial contributions may be made to the Millerton Fire Company, P.O. Box 733, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree is Joan’s memory please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

08/21/2026

Ronald C. Watson, a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, and beloved member of his community, passed away leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will forever carry his love with them.

Ronald was born on December 3, 1948, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Connecticut, to Roy Watson and Theresa Linderman. Throughout his life, Ronald was a man who valued the things that mattered most—family, loyalty, friendship, and time spent doing the things he loved.

Ronald was predeceased by his parents, Roy Watson and Theresa Linderman; his brother, Roy Watson II; his sisters, Patty Watson and Theresa Eiserman; his beloved granddaughter, Ellie Dunlop; and the love of his life, Audrey Watson. The love Ronald and Audrey shared was a defining part of his life, and there is comfort in knowing that after enduring the heartbreak of her absence, they are together once again.

Ronald’s greatest legacy can be found in the family he loved so deeply. His memory will live on through his two daughters, Rene (Rob) and Jody Watson; his grandchildren, Reneisha Vielman, Robert Haskell, Tatyana Watson, Christian Haskell, Kenya Castillo, William Haskell, Daja Williams, and Shantasia Thompson; their spouses; and his many cherished great-grandchildren. Each of them carries a piece of Ronald with them—in the stories they will tell, the traditions they will continue, and the memories they will hold close for generations to come.

He is also survived by his siblings, Edward Watson Sr., Al Watson, Thomas Watson, Larry Watson, Kathy Ahearn, Jackie Mangarillo, Wendy Wilms, Timothy Watson, and Richard Watson, Otto Eiserman, as well as many nieces and nephews who truly made his life better.

Ronald was a true outdoorsman and an avid hunter who found peace and happiness in nature. He was an active member of the Millerton Gun Club, where he enjoyed spending time among friends who shared his interests. And when it came to fishing, those who knew Ronald would tell you there was simply no one better. Whether he was hunting, casting a line, or sharing a story about the one that did—or didn’t—get away, those were the moments when Ronald was truly in his element.

He also loved a good flea market. There was something special about wandering through tables filled with old treasures, never knowing what he might find or what story might come along with it. The simple things in life brought Ronald happiness, especially when they could be shared with the people he loved.

Above everything else, Poppy was a family man. He was loyal to his core, loved deeply, and stood by the people who mattered to him. His family was his greatest pride, and his presence created the kind of memories that time can never erase. He was someone you could count on, someone whose stories will continue to be repeated around kitchen tables and family gatherings, and someone whose absence will be felt in countless moments.

To know Poppy was to know a man who lived life in his own way, loved his family fiercely, and left his mark on generations of people who were fortunate enough to call him Dad, Poppy, Uncle Ron, Sir, family, or friend.

Although saying goodbye to Poppy brings an immeasurable sadness, his life was so much bigger than this goodbye. It lives on in every fishing story, every hunting memory, every flea-market treasure, every family gathering, every laugh shared in his honor, and every piece of wisdom passed from one generation to the next.

Those who loved Ronald will miss his presence more than words can express, but the love he gave them does not end here. It remains in his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, family, and friends.

May Ronald rest peacefully, reunited with Audrey, Ellie, and all those he loved who went before him. His work here is finished, but his stories, his love, and his legacy will live on forever in the hearts of the family he treasured most.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 12:30pm at Millerton American Legion Post # 178, 155 Route 44, Millerton, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Millerton Gun Club, P.O. Box 720, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the Celebration of Life or to plant a tree in Ronnie's memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

08/18/2026

Obituary and Funeral Information for Lifelong Amenia, NY, Resident, William O'Connell, Beloved Brother, Uncle and Friend.

Amenia - William (Bill) O’Connell died peacefully surrounded by family at Sharon Hospital on
August 12, 2026, due to complications of cancer. Bill was born into a large Irish Catholic family in Bay Shore, NY, on March 3, 1964. After Bill completed kindergarten, the family moved upstate, settling on Depot Hill in Amenia, NY, where he was a lifelong resident. He attended Catholic School at Immaculate Conception, transferring to Webutuck Middle School in the sixth grade. He graduated from Webutuck High School in 1982.

As a child he was an avid (obsessed) fisherman, asking for a new fishing pole every year for his birthday. He was given permission to skip school every opening day of fishing season. He cherished fond memories of growing up as a “Depot Hill Gang” member. He enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, and baseball throughout high school. While hitchhiking home from his job as a lifeguard at the Millerton Town Pool, good looks and charm got him discovered. First as a print model, then as an actor in eleven television commercials and as an extra in a couple of movies.
Anyone who knew him at that time was fair game for a ride to the train station or directly
into the city for the many auditions, he went to. He was a painter by trade, working in partnership with his brother Michael, at O’Connell Painting for many years serving the tri-state area. Bill was adventurous, loved to travel, and spent several months on a walk-a-bout through Australia and New Zealand. Bill was always up for a concert, a Giants game, or picking the freshest berries on the way to a cool fishing spot. He was well known locally at many recreational leagues for indoor soccer, darts, pool, cards, and golf. He was quite a competitor at everything he enjoyed. Bill and Michael organized the annual O’Connell Paint Can Open for many years, with loyal enthusiasts flying in to attend year after year. In the latter years, complications from multiple ailments made his life increasingly difficult, dulling his natural shine. The bright spot of that time was how patient and attentive he was while caring for his mother, Frankie. Being present in her daily life so she could remain at home. This obituary was
lovingly composed by his siblings, who loved him dearly.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, John & Evelyn O’Connell, and is survived by his
three siblings; Karen Grimaldi (Mark) of Salisbury, CT, Michael O’Connell of Florida, and
Kathleen Lacko of Casper, WY; two nieces and three nephews, Connor Washburn
(Hannah), Mickaela Grimaldi, Liam Girmaldi, Kenny Lacko, and Marykate Lacko,
dozens of cousins, and countless friends who will miss him tremendously.

A graveside service and burial will take place on Thursday, August, 20, 2026 at 11 am at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Amenia, NY. Rev. Andrew O’Connor will officiate. A reception in Bill’s honor will follow at the Amenia Steakhouse. Memorial contributions may be made to the Amenia Fire Company & Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 166, Amenia, NY 12501. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Bill’s memory please visit www.conklinfuneral.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

08/12/2026

Obituary and Graveside Service Information for Longtime Ancramdale, NY, Resident, George K. Wittlinger.

Ancramdale – George King Wittlinger, 91, a thirty-two-year resident of Ancramdale, NY, died peacefully on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at his home in Ancramdale surrounded by his loved ones. Mr. Wittlinger was a retired estate supervisor having worked at Old Westbury Gardens in Westbury, Long Island, NY, for over thirty years. He also served as Town Justice for Ancram, NY, from 1999 until 2021.

Born August 11, 1934 in Hyde Park, NY, he was the son of the late George H. and Josephine (King) Wittlinger. He was a graduate of Westbury High School on Long Island and attended college at Farmingdale College and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he received a Bachelor Degree in Animal Husbandry. Mr. Wittlinger served in the United States Army, before receiving an honorable discharge following his service to our nation. Mr. Wittlinger was a longtime member and past president of the Ancram Volunteer Fire Company and was past president of the Columbia County Magistrates Association as well as a member of the New York State Magistrates Association. He was a longtime member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ancram and was well known for being a “workaholic”. In his spare time, he enjoyed trap shooting and caring for his properties.

Mr. Wittlinger is survived by his wife, Ruth (Raitz) Wittlinger; his former wife, Agnes Wittlinger; a son, Daniel Wittlinger and his wife, Lindsy Barrett-Wittlinger; three grandchildren, Jackie Wittlinger, Morgan Wittlinger and Milo Wittlinger and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, Mr. Wittlinger was also predeceased by his son, George K. Wittlinger, Jr., and his daughter, Dianne Willlinger and his grandson, James John Wittlinger.

A Graveside Service will be held at the Ancram Cemetery, County Route 7, Ancram, NY, on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 11:30am. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. A reception in Mr. Wittlinger’s honor will follow at the Ancram Firehouse. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dianne Wittlinger Memorial Tree Fund, c/o Old Westbury Gardens, P.O. Box 430, Old Westbury, NY 11568. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Mr. Wittlinger’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.

08/02/2026

Obituary and Visitation Information for Lifelong Area Resident Francis C. "Frank" Grusauskas. Beloved Companion, Father, Brother and Grandfather.

Frank Camille Grusauskas
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Camille Grusauskas of Falls
Village, CT, on July 22, 2026 at the age of 70. Frank was born on November 14, 1955 in
Goshen, CT. He was a beloved father and grandfather, uncle, brother, and partner. He was a
fine woodworker and craftsman, an insatiable library patron, a musician, and a lover of life and
the natural world. He was an extraordinary and talented man.
Frank spent his boyhood exploring the woods behind his childhood home, on Pie Hill Road in
Goshen. He was the youngest and only son of Francis and Doris Grusauskas, with four older
sisters, who he called his “Other Mothers.” From an early age he embraced Native American
culture, and one of his favorite pastimes was walking local cornfields after a rain, in search of
arrowheads, points, and stone tools.
Curious by nature, Frank spent his lifetime learning about earth science, history and art. He
loved to sit outside on his front patio pondering crossword puzzles. He was a voracious reader
and read until the day before he died. The book he reached for most during his final week was
To Catch a Fish, by Mark Kurlansky.
From an early age, Frank lived his life enjoying one pleasure as he anticipated the next. He
taught himself to play guitar and mandolin, and loved to camp with his family and instruments at
bluegrass festivals, jamming with friends and strangers into the night. He loved seafood, the
ocean, homegrown cannabis, throwing dinner parties, stoking the woodstove—his house often
approaching 90 degrees in the dead of winter—gardening, and creating. From basket weaving
to bread-making, and carving wooden birds and spoons, to tying flies and feather earrings,
Frank was almost always working on something. He was resourceful and unconventional in his
life and in his creativity. Even the sandcastles he built with his kids while vacationing in Cape
Cod were works of art—giant sea serpents and elaborate pyramids and ziggurats with precisely
sculpted stairways.
Frank’s passion for woodworking began at the age of five, when his father gave him a pearlhandled
jackknife, a block of wood, some nails, and a hammer in their tiny basement. Frank
learned to appreciate wood, as his father would only give him a piece of wood if he planned to
use it wisely. He banged together a crooked birdhouse, then taught himself to whittle—which,
he recalled, was how he learned to work with and against the grain. Frank attended Wamogo
High School, and one year of college at Eastern Connecticut State University, before choosing
his path of self-taught artisanship. To anybody interested in working with wood, he recommends
starting with Bruce Hoadley’s book Understanding Wood—or, “traveling way back in time to
watch the Viking ship builders,” which he did via books.
At the age of 26, Frank realized his dream of building a modest and beautiful house on a
shoestring budget and with his own two hands, and with the help of his father and his close
friends Richard Zimany and Mike Minnick. His children still call that house their home. While
raising his three children, he worked as a carpenter, sheetrocker, roofer, painter, sculpture
builder, cabinet maker, caretaker, and gardener.
Frank’s deep respect for trees and a reverence for the wood that they produce kept him inspired
through his prolific retirement years. In his home workshop, which looked out over his beloved
Robbins Swamp, he produced fine bowls, hundreds of spoons and cooking utensils, abstract
sculptures inspired by the natural world, tables, chairs, and so much more. Following a brief
hospitalization in 2016, during which his son brought him a book on lutherie, Frank spent the
next three years building guitars and mandolins, many of which his musician son still plays.
Frank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on June 10, and the disease progressed rapidly.
He was kept mostly pain-free and remained curious and present throughout the end. He is
predeceased by his parents, and sisters Joan Crown, Patricia Rickard, and Denise Garrett. As
was his wish, Frank died at his home on Robbins Swamp, where he loved to watch the beavers
and murmurations of starlings. He was surrounded by his family.
Frank is survived by his longtime partner of 28 years, Trudy Schaelchli, his sister Barbara
Costello and her husband Tom, his children Caitlin, Maria Rose, and Jonathan, and his three
grandchildren, Arthur, Eloise, and Phoebe. He is greatly missed, and will never be forgotten.
“Love you to tears.”

Calling hours for Frank Grusauskas will be held from 1pm to 3 pm on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY, 12546. Please save the date for a celebration of Frank’s life at the Salisbury Town Grove on Saturday, November 14, time TBD. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County, at vnhlc.org/giving/donate.

Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home

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