All Obituaries

Donna Jean (Shafer) Yacavone, 77, of Melbourne, FL died peacefully at her home on Tuesday June 23, 2020 after a 4-year battle with dementia. Donna was born in Cobleskill, NY on September 26, 1942 to Franklin Leland Shafer and Murial Enfield (Bassler) Shafer. She was a 1960 graduate of Cobleskill High School and a 1964 graduate of Ithaca College where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Donna married William E. Yacavone (“Bill”) on December 28, 1968, going...

Phyllis has left the building! Phyllis B. Wainman, 75, of Sunset Dr., Homer, passed away following a brief illness on June 16, 2020. A lifelong area resident, she was born July 22, 1944 in Cortland, a daughter of the late Wendell and Dorothy Clark Bush. Phyllis was a 1963 graduate of Cortland High and had attended Daytona Beach Community College. She had most recently been employed as a clerk at the Saulsbury Fire & Rescue retail store and had also worked for a number of years at...

Michael A. Coon, of Glen Haven Rd., Scott, passed away unexpectedly on May 31, 2020 at the age of 52. Mike was a lifelong area resident. He was born March 8, 1968 in Cortland, a son of the late Carlton and Janet Wafer Coon. Mike was self-employed carpenter and remodeler, working alongside his friend Mark Waterson for many years. He was avid golfer and was a member of the Elm Tree League for several years. He also loved to cook, and can vegetables from his own garden. Surviving is his...

Amelia Bronowich, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away May 29, 2020 with her husband and children by her side.  Amy battled various cancers for 45 years and yet was able to always have a beautiful smile and be a positive, loving influence to those around her.  Amy made friends easily, everywhere she went.  Amelia was born June 10, 1943 in New Jersey, daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Corso) Savianeso. Amy is survived by the love of her...

Marjorie H. Soule, 97, a resident of the Friendship House, Cortland, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2020 following a brief illness. She was born August 5, 1922 in Mileses, NY, a daughter of the late Guy and Zella Burdick Walters. Marjorie was employed as a custodian at the Homer Elementary School for 26 years. Following her retirement, Marjorie, and her late husband, Roger, moved to Zephyrhills, FL, where they lived for 21 years. She loved nature especially flowers and birds. Surviving...

Jody L. Lawrence, 49, of Moravia, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. She was born May 21, 1970 in Cortland, a daughter of the late Judith A. Welch and had attended Ithaca Central School. Jody had an extensive career in the transportation industry, most recently at Bur-Trans Trucking Co. in Moravia and formerly at George Banks Trucking. Jody was passionate about her work and for the safety of her drivers. She was instrumental in the growth of the Moravia Youth Football and...

Scott A. Randolph, 55, of Hoy Rd., Cortland, passed away following a brief illness on Monday, May 11, 2020 in SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse. A lifelong area resident, Scott was born December 12, 1964, a son of Earl and Janet Lewis Randolph. Scott had a lifelong love of farming, growing up on the family farm, working for various farms and was currently employed at New Hope View Farm in Homer. In addition to his parents, Earl and Janet Randolph of Cortland; he is survived by a...

  Nancy Louise (Thiel) Hopkins, a devoted mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away early on the morning of April 5 after a long illness with her family by her side. She was 64. Nancy was born to Marjorie (Robinson) and Carleton Thiel on October 8, 1955. She graduated from Homer High School in 1973 and spent a short time living in California with her son before returning to Cortland County, where she lived for the rest of her life. She spent more than three decades helping...

Richard J. Ottenschot, Homer, NY, passed away unexpectedly on May 7, 2020 at the age of 73.  A lifelong area resident, Dick was born October 18, 1946, a son of the late Leonard and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Quinn Ottenschot. Since 1963, Dick was involved with the operation of Ottenschot Construction Co. in Homer, where he was currently the owner and President. Dick devoted his life to the success of his business and was happiest operating one of his Caterpillar excavators or...

Dale P. Halstead, of River St., Homer, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2020 at Loretto Health and Rehabilitation Center, Syracuse, at the age of 85. A lifelong area resident, Dale was born February 26, 1935, a son of Perry and Dora Moore Halstead. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1957. Dale had been employed at Wilson Sporting Goods but was better known as a well-respected auto mechanic, owning and operating Dale’s Repair Shop for several...