Obituaries

Batavia, NY - Joan Mary Francis, 70, of Oviedo, FL, formerly of Batavia, NY, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, FL.

Joan was born Sunday, September 14, 1952 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, NY, a daughter of the late George Jr. and Virginia (Klee) Schaefer.

Joan married the love of her life, Fred Francis. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Education from SUNY Geneseo, then worked as a Special Education Teacher at Attica Central School, until dedicating her time to raising five wonderful children and later caring for her mother, Virginia.

Her greatest joy was her family, supporting her children in sports, dance, music, and any endeavor they pursued. Her love for the outdoors was a part of her everyday life. She enjoyed identifying trees, taking trips to National Parks, floating in the pool, and camping trips – especially at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. She always looked forward to days that involved Disney or supporting her favorite football teams, the Bills and the UCF Knights. Joan had pure joy for life and brought cheer to those around her, opening her home and heart to everyone she met. For her, every moment was an opportunity to “play the glad game.”

Joan is survived by her husband, Fred Francis, of Oviedo, Fl; children, Freddie Francis of Locust, NC, Karen (Chris) Jones of Newnan, GA, Eddie Francis of Oviedo, FL, Kristen Francis of Denver, CO, and Kathren (Trey Koons) Francis of Fraser, CO; grandchildren, Ethan, Jacob, and Blakely Jones of Newnan, GA; brother, George (Paula Miller) Schaefer III; and many nieces and nephews.

In death, Joan is reunited with her parents, George Schaefer Jr. and Virginia Ann Schaefer.  

Family and friends are invited to call on Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 10:30AM to 12:30PM at H.E Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia, NY. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Church at 1 pm. Reception to follow at Leroy Country Club. The family will be wearing blue in honor of Joan’s love for the outdoors and the blue sky. They invite others to do the same in celebration of her bright life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Notre Dame High School. Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Dorothy Rooney, born 8 August 1922 to Myron and Lula Tutchell Russell in LeRoy, NY, died on 22 December 2022 at home in LeRoy.

     Dorothy graduated from LeRoy High School in 1939, attended Albany Teachers College, Rochester Business Institute and Utah State University.  She married Robert Paul Rooney in LeRoy 12 June 1943.

     In 1954 she accompanied her husband and four daughters overseas where they lived for the next eighteen years in Cairo, Egypt; Tripoli, Libya; Kabul, Afghanistan; Lahore, Pakistan; Teheran, Iran and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while Bob worked as Agricultural Engineer for USAID.  She worked as a librarian in the American schools in Lahore and Addis.  Upon Bob’s retirement, they located to Tacoma, Washington, where she pursued her hobbies of family history, gardening, YMCA, reading and volunteered at the Tacoma Family History Center for several years.  In 2003, Bob and she moved to The Greens of LeRoy to be nearer more of their families.

     She is survived by her beloved daughters, Kathleen (Charles) Frazer of Eugene, OR; Leigh (Nigel) Gallaher of Winchester, MA and Joyce Jimmink of Westwood, NJ; son-in-law, Gerald (Linda) Call of Stafford, NY; grandchildren, Erin Call (Jay Frink), Robert (Jeannine) Call, James (Stephanie) Call, Devin (Jun) Jimmink, Christopher (Rachael) Jimmink, Colin (Coryander) Frazer and Courtney (Dan) Costello; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Janet McHardy of LeRoy and nieces, Linda (Perrin) Gower and Roxanne (Dana) Poray. 

     Her husband, a much loved daughter, Susan Call and sister, Beverly predeceased her.

     At her request, there will be no services.  Please no flowers, but Dorothy requested that any donations be made to Mercy Corps, PO Box 2669, Portland, OR 97208-9652, for humanitarian relief around the world or LeRoy Ambulance Service Inc., PO Box 5, LeRoy, NY 14482.

     Your memories and condolences may be shared with Dorothy’s family at www.falconefuneralhome.com.

  Rocco D. “Rocky” Gringer, 89, of Batavia passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022 at United Memorial Medical Center with his family by his side. He was born on December 12, 1933 in Batavia to the late Rocco and Josephine (Divita) Gringer.

In addition to his parents, Rocky is predeceased by his first wife; Nancy (Figlow) Gringer; siblings Tony (Kate) Gringer, Joe (Kate) Gringer, Margaret (Jerry) Condello; Sarah Panepent, Angie (Angelo) Vultura and Mary (Louis) Dispenza; brothers in law Charles Puccio and Patsy Palermo. 

Rocky was a United States Army Veteran. He worked for many years at Delco Products in Rochester. Rocky was an avid hunter and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed remodeling old houses. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren and would often visit with his siblings’ who he loved so much. Rocky will be remembered as a great husband and mate.

He is survived by his beloved partner; Maria Bucior; his son David Gringer of Batavia; daughter Lisa Ross of East Bethany; siblings Celia Puccio of Batavia, John (Lois) Gringer of Spencerport, Virginia Palermo of Batavia; 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

There will be no prior calling hours. Friends and family are invited to attend a 9:30AM Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Resurrection Parish, 303 East Main St., Batavia, NY. He will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Genesee Cancer Assistance 127 North St. in Batavia or Disabled American Veterans www.dav.org. To leave a message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020.

Batavia - Florence "Bunny" Ficarella Hamilton, age 79, of Batavia, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at her home.

She was born Monday, July 5th, 1943 in Batavia, a daughter of the late Alphonso Ficarella Sr. and Mary Strollo Ficarella.

Bunny enjoyed going to Batavia Downs to gamble and loved playing Bingo. She and her late husband, Gary, lived in Las Vegas for many years where she worked for the Santa Fe Station Hotel. Upon his passing, she moved back to Batavia to be closer to family. She enjoyed her weekly poker game at her brother John's home with her late sister, Jeanne,  John and his wife Pattie.

She is predeceased by her husband, Gary Hamilton who passed away on July 21, 2018; her siblings, Anthony Strollo, Jeanne Woodhouse and Alphonso Ficarella, Jr. and her loving dog, Cinder.

Surviving are her siblings, John (Patricia) Ficarella of Pavilion, Anthony "Butch" Ficarella of Batavia, Paul Ficarella of Batavia, Joe (JoAnn) Ficarella of Batavia, Janet (Butch) Heredegen of Batavia, Mary Reeger of Deleware, and Karen Roesch of Batavia along with several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to call on Monday, December 26th, 2022  from 2:00 pm  to 4:00 pm at H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 East Main Street, Batavia. She will be laid to rest privately in Grandview Cemetery, Batavia.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads House, P.O. Box 403, Batavia, New York 14021. To leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle in her memory, please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

***PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN DAY OF VISITATION FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY DUE TO THE IMPENDING SNOW STORM***