Obituaries

Local Obituaries for Dryden, New York

Duane Totman

Duane Totman

Dec 16, 2025

Duane Totman, 54, passed away peacefully at Guthrie Cortland Nursing surrounded by family and many CNA’s and nursing staff, some of the best around and who treated him like family.

Duane suffered an aneurysm in 2010 which has taken a lot from him, but he worked hard, much like he did with his many outdoor jobs to get what he could...

Carole Morehouse

Carole Morehouse

Dec 9, 2025

Carole Morehouse, born January 3, 1944 in Ithaca, New York, passed away peacefully at home on December 9, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her sister Nancy Neilson; children Caralina (Dave) Kimbrough, Gerry (Rebecca) Hays, and Jim (Angela) Hays; ten grandchildren; fifteen great‑grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Carole retired after 35 years at Cornell University and cherished...

Joyce Ann VanDeWeert

Joyce Ann VanDeWeert

Dec 28, 2025

Joyce Ann (Lynch) VanDeWeert of Harford Mills, NY passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at the age of 89 with her family by her side, following a brief illness.

Born June 11, 1936 in Middletown, NY. She was the daughter of Mary Budd and Warren Lynch. She was married to Garret VanDeWeert for 70 years. Joyce was the Senior...

Eric Jon Humerez

Eric Jon Humerez

Dec 13, 2025

Eric Jon Humerez, 68, passed away on December 13, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida. Born on December 12, 1957, in Ithaca, New York, Eric lived a life rich with creativity, curiosity, and compassion.

Eric’s early years were spent in Ithaca, where he attended East Hill and Belle Sherman Elementary Schools before continuing his education at Dewitt Junior High and Ithaca High School....

Eugene "Gene" Wright

Eugene "Gene" Wright

Dec 23, 2025

Eugene “Gene” Wright, 97, of Homer, NY, passed away on December 23, 2025.

Born April 22, 1928, Gene is the son to the late Ernest and Bessie Bahler Wright. Gene grew up on his family farm in Johnson City where he graduated from Union- Endicott High School and later went on to Cornell University, graduating from the School of Agriculture with...

Jeanne Marie Owens Ross

Jeanne Marie Owens Ross

Dec 22, 2025

Jeanne Marie Owens Ross 83 of Dryden NY passed away peacefully Monday, December 22, 2025 after fighting a long battle of Breast Cancer. Jeanne was known as a wonderful, caring and loving person. She passed away peacefully after being transported to Hospice care.

She was born May 14th, 1942 in Ithaca NY and she was the daughter of Luther Owens and...

Marian M. Brand

Marian M. Brand

Dec 12, 2025

“Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets her wings.” Those bells rang loud and clear on Friday, December 12, when our beautiful mother gained her wings, having almost completed her 93rd year of life. The family of Marian M. Brand has lost their loving matriarch, leaving behind a rich legacy of love, laughter, and treasured memories that...

Gary Wilson

Gary Wilson

Dec 11, 2025

A sweet, wonderful man passed away on December 11, 2025, at his residence and no one is quite sure how we’ll get along without him.

81 years old, Gary Wilson was a husband, brother, father, uncle, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, an avid golfer and bowler, and friend to many.

He grew up on the late Dennis and Pauline (Briggs) Wilson’s farm in Harford,...

Richard "Jake" Jacobs

Richard "Jake" Jacobs

Dec 9, 2025

Richard “Jake” Jacobs passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025, at the NYS Veterans Home in Oxford, NY at the age of 93.

Born April 7, 1932 in Cortland, Dick was the son of the late Leon and Ila Jacobs. He was a graduate of Virgil Central School and resided the majority of his life in the Virgil area.

Dick was a...

Nancy E. DeSarro

Nancy E. DeSarro

Nov 30, 2025

Nancy E. DeSarro, 75 of Dryden, NY passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

She was born on September 10, 1950 in Waterloo, NY to Luigi and Alberta Sarasino DeSarro and grew up in Seneca Falls. Nancy went to college to become a speech therapist and spent her career working with children. She also participated in a diversity project with...

Jane Harriet Roarke Schenck

Jane Harriet Roarke Schenck

Nov 30, 2025

Jane Harriet Roarke Schenck, 93, of Dryden, NY passed away November 30, 2025 at home.

Born in Cato, NY on June 26, 1932, Jane is the daughter of the late John and Ruth Tyler Roarke. She graduated from Union Springs High School in 1950, where she went on to go to Eastman School for Dental Hygienists in Rochester. Jane spent her...

Lorna F. Burns

Lorna F. Burns

Nov 22, 2025

Lorna F. Burns, born on March 10, 1937, in Ithaca, New York, peacefully departed this life on November 22, 2025, at Groton Community Health Care. She was a cherished member of her community and a devoted family member, known for her loving spirit and generous heart.

Lorna dedicated many years of her career to the Cortland County Senior Food Service Program,...

Charles Lee Dickinson III

Charles Lee Dickinson III

Nov 19, 2025

Charlie Dickinson 1955-2025

Charles Lee Dickinson, III, died on November 19th at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. He was 70 years old.

Charles (Charlie) was born in Ithaca, New York, the first born of his parents’ four children. His parents, Charles Lee Dickinson and Jane Genung Dickinson predeceased him.

Charlie spent the early part of his childhood in the small hamlet of Ludlowville,...

Janet M. McArthur

Janet M. McArthur

Nov 18, 2025

Janet M. McArthur, 86 of Cortland, NY passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Crown Park Nursing Center in Cortland, NY.

Born January 24, 1939, in Chenango, NY she was the daughter of the late Harold P. and Edith E. Angell Williams and wife of the late L. John McArthur who died November 22, 2017. Janet graduated from Truxton High School...

Richard Jorgensen

Richard Jorgensen

Nov 13, 2025

Richard Ernest “Dick” Jorgensen

October 9, 1943 – November 13, 2025



Richard Ernest Jorgensen, known to all as Dick, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2025 at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York. Born on October 9, 1943, Dick lived a life defined by creativity, curiosity, and craftsmanship.



Dick proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, carrying with him...

David Vincent Walters

David Vincent Walters

Nov 9, 2025

David Vincent Walters, 54 of Dryden, NY passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025 at home.

Born May 17, 1971 in Cortland, NY he is the son of David L. Walters and Geraldine J. Sweetland. David was employed with Cornell University for 33 years.

In addition to his father and mother, David is survived by his sister, Tracy Walters; aunt, Mary Sweetland (Peter...

MaryEllen Rumsey

MaryEllen Rumsey

Nov 7, 2025

MaryEllen Rumsey died Friday November 7 2025 at her Dryden NY home in the company of family.

She was born MaryEllen Travis in Geneva NY February 19 1937.

Her husband of 50+ years Gary L. Rumsey predeceased her in 2009.

MaryEllen will continue to shine brightly through her 5 children and her many grand / great-grand children, and in the memory of so...

Anne R. Williams

Anne R. Williams

Nov 5, 2025

Anne R. Williams, 76, of Brooktondale, NY passed away at home on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Anne is survived by her brother; Jamie (Margaret) Rubin of Colorado.

There are no services at this time.

Anne had a deep love for dogs, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to www.belgiantervurenrescue.com or malinoisrescue.org.

Harmony Hill Haines

Harmony Hill Haines

Nov 4, 2025

Harmony Hill Haines, 64, of McLean passed away November 4, 2025, at the Unity House in Ithaca. Harmony was born on August 8, 1961, in Cortland the daughter of the late Janice Hoyt and Richard Haines Sr. Harmony had an infectious smile and giggle. Her zest for life will be sorely missed. She was the best little sister we could...

Marcy Ann Czock

Marcy Ann Czock

Oct 29, 2025

Marcy Ann Czock age 70 of Spencer, NY passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Cayuga Medical Center of Ithaca.

Born on September 24, 1955 and raised in Wilkes Barre, PA she is the daughter of Lawrence and Dorothy Sura Marini. She was a 1973 graduate of Coughlin High School in Wilkes Barre and on September 1, 1973 she married her...