Obituaries

Esther Johnson, 96, of Oakfield was received by her Lord and Savior on December 22, 2022 at United Memorial Medical Center.   Esther was born July 28, 1926 in Alabama, a daughter of the late Raymond and Bertha (Rich) Stokes.  Esther was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elba for 59 years.  She taught Sunday School for 54 years, was also, at different times, active on the Missions Board, Social Committee, and Vacation Bible School.  She worked at the C and G Sharp Farms in Oakfield.

Surviving are her son, Brice Johnson of Oakfield; a brother, Raymond (Shirley) Stokes of East Bethany; sisters, Edith Bezon of Byron and Dixie (Charles) Rudolph of Batavia; a sister -in-law, Doris Stokes of East Bethany, close niece Laurie Vogt, and several other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.  

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Johnson; brothers, Robert Stokes and Marvin Stokes; sister, Virginia Kidney; brothers-in-law, Joseph Bezon and Ogan Kidney; a sister-in-law, Viola Stokes, and a close niece Libby (Stokes) Jurs.

Calling hours are Saturday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the First Baptist Church of Elba, 31 South Main Street, Elba, where the funeral will be held at 11:30 am also on Saturday.   She will be laid to rest in Maple Lawn Cemetery in Elba.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Elba, 31 South Main Street, Elba, NY 14058.

Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.burdettandsanford.com.

Arrangements for Esther were entrusted to the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, Oakfield, (585) 948-5325.

Renee S. Richley, 69 of Darien Center, passed away peacefully on Thursday (December 22, 2022) at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

She was born January 12, 1953 in Corning, NY, a daughter of the late Loren and Ada King Copp.

Renee was raised in Corning, NY where she would spend summers on Keuka Lake and found her love for the outdoors which included watersports, fishing and nature. She was musically talented and that led to her involvement in theater productions, especially the Batavia Rotary shows and as a choreographer.

She was employed as an accounts manager with Cold Spring Construction Co. in Akron, where she worked for over 20 years. Renee was an avid gardener, great cook and a fan of the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills.

She was the heart and spirit of shaping the family. Renee will be greatly missed

Survivors include her husband, Timothy Richley of Darien Center. Daughter, Samara (Justin) Valla of Michigan. Son, Darryl (Ashley) Howe of East Aurora. Step-son, Andrew (Carolyn) Richley of Montenegro. Grandchildren, Myah, Julia, Lara, Aliza, Owen, Joan, Michaela and Analise. Brother, Raymond (Carolyn) Copp of Pennsylvania.

Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at: www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.

ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 32 JOHN ST., AKRON, NY 14001. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.

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.