Obituaries for the week of Feb. 16, 2012

Rita Widger

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday (Feb. 11) from Blessed John Paul II Church for Rita A. (Gehen) Widger, 69, of Hamburg, who died on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

She is survived by her husband, Boyd Widger; children, Dr. Kari (Chris) Bovenzi and Jim (Carol) Widger; grandchildren, Jimmy Jr., Abby, Elivia, Charlotte and Elijah; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Rita Gehen; and siblings, JoAnne Flowers, Mary Burnsworth and Joseph Gehen.

Mrs. Widger was a certified nursing assistant at ElderWood Health Care Center. She was chosen as the “2006 C.N.A. of the Year” for the entire east coast.

Arrangements were made through the Addison Funeral Home.

Ann Sinclair

A funeral service was held on Saturday (Feb. 11) from St. John’s Lutheran Church for Ann E. (Simbritz) Sinclair of Angola, who died on Friday, February 3, 2012.

She is survived by her children, John (Ronna) and Geordie (Tammy) Sinclair; sister, Carol (late Leslie) Smades; seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, George Sinclair.

Memorials may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation W.N.Y., 331 Alberta Drive, Buffalo, NY 14226.

Arrangements were made through the Latimore-Schiavone Funeral Home.

Pearl Smith

Funeral service were be held on Tuesday (Feb. 14) from the Long House on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation for Pearl (White) Smith of the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, who died on Saturday, February 11, 2012.

She is survived by her children, Edith John, Kevin (Bertha) Varga, Yolanda Russell and Eva and Wilford Smith; siblings, Rita (K.T.) Twoguns and Beatrice, Russell, Harriett, Ralph and Stanley White; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Wilford Smith; and children, David Smith, Pearl L’enee Marion and Barry White.

Arrangements were made through the Wentland Funeral Home.

Donald D. Spence Jr.

Word has been received that Donald D. Spence Jr., 56, of Angola, died on Saturday, December 31, 2011.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen R. Spence; son, Adam Spence; stepson, Edward Botsford; mother, Mary Anne Spence; siblings, Missy Corp and James and Kenny (Sharon) Spence; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Donald D. Spence Sr.

With his father in the military, Mr. Spence traveled often growing up.

He, too, joined the military and was a Vietnam veteran with honors and received an honorable discharge from the Air Force.

He graduated from Eden Central High School. His wife was a member of his graduating class and the two married in 1986.

He was a member of the American Legion in Albany, VFW Post No. 8265 and a charter member of the Mens Auxiliary for Post No. 8265.

He always loved making people laugh, putting a smile on people’s faces and helping others in their time of need.

He was cremated by Latimore-Schiavone Funeral Home.

Barbara Hunt

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Feb. 20 at 9:30 a.m. from St. Leo’s Mission in Nalcrest, Fla. for Barbara A. “Barb” Hunt, 74, of Lake Wales, Fla., formerly of Hamburg, who died on Monday, February 6, 2012.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Mervin A. Hunt; children, Ellen (Scott) Buchannan, Terri Flynn, Ronald (Linda) Cornwell and Paula and Kenneth (Barbara A.) Hunt; sister, Marie Hoelscher; and nine grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Judy Beth Cornwell.

Mrs. Hunt was born in Hamburg.

She graduated from D’Youville College.

A retired nurse, she worked for the Eden Central School District.

She moved to Florida in 1988 and was a member of the St. Leo’s Mission in Nalcrest.

She enjoyed golfing, walking and taking care of her dogs, Gretchen and Heidi.

Arrangements were made through the Marion Nelson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com.

Genevieve Herzog

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday (Feb. 14) from Immaculate Conception Church for Genevieve T. (Guzinski) Herzog, 89, of Eden, who died on Saturday, February 11, 2011.

She is survived by her children, Eugene P. Herzog Jr., Barbara (late Bruce) Bettinger, Ceil (Gary) Grobe and Teri Anselmo; brother, Peter (Terri) Guzinski; grandchildren, Dawn, Nick, Phil, Autumn and Jackie; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Howard) Vail; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene P. Herzog; parents, Peter and Mary (Kolacka) Guzinski and seven siblings.

Mrs. Herzog will be remembered by her family as a wonderful cook. Her speciality was homemade soups.

She enjoyed walking, playing cards and bingo, taking trips to the casino and traveling throughout the U.S. with her son, Eugene.

Religion and faith were a large part of her life.

She loved listening to music and had the opportunity to see some of the performers on the “Lawrence Welk Show” play at Melody Fair. She also enjoyed polka dancing.

Arrangements were made through the Laing Funeral Home.

Dr. Kimberly Noble

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eden for Dr. Kimberly A. (Leavitt) Noble, 40, of Boston, who died on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

She is survived by her husband, Matthew R. Noble; parents, Terry Leavitt and Cynthia (James Thompson) Herg-Leavitt; siblings, Christopher, Ryan (Kristin) and Todd (Lisa) Leavitt; parents-in-law, Christian and Janet Mae (Johnston) Noble; siblings-in-law, Jennifer (William) Dunlap, Julie (Alex) Soto and Christie (Christopher Wilson), Phillip and Tracey Noble; nieces and nephews, Hailey and Carter Leavitt, Joseph and Jason Dunlap and Alexander Soto; beloved “kids,” Scout, Lily, Chewey and Bella; and many other loving family members and friends.

Dr. Noble was a professor at Canisius College.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 16 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home in Hamburg.

James Schneider

A funeral service will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 from the Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home for James E. Schneider of Lake View, who died on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Schneider; children, James (Cynthnia) Schneider, Lynn (late Gary) Carloni, Sandra (David) Winnen and Susan (Joseph) Bonafede; five siblings, three grandchildren, one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two siblings.

Memorials may be made to VA Buffalo.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, where online condolences and donations may be made at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.

RoseAnn Galenza

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday (Feb. 15) from SS. Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg for RoseAnn (Nieman) Galenza of Hamburg, who died on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

She is survived by her children, Denise (Carl Mazzu) Davison, Edward Galenza and Liane (Joel) Schenfield; siblings, Mary Margaret Cline, Jessica Faraci and Trudy (John) Schaffer; grandchildren, Jessica, Sarah, Richard, Taylor, Michael, Kendra, Theresa, Christina, Myles and Reece; great-grandson, Benjamin; and nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Galenza.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo.

Arrangements were made through the Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, to which online condolences and donations may be made at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.

Ellen Hughes

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday (Jan. 25) from SS. Peter and Paul Church in Tyler, Texas for Ellen Marie (Krempa) Hughes, 56, of Tyler, formerly of Eden, who died on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Arthur Hughes; children, Bradley and Allison Hughes; mother, Patricia Ann Krempa; and brother, Eric Krempa.

She was predeceased by her father, Leonard Joseph Krempa.

Mrs. Hughes was born in Buffalo. She attended grammar school and high school in Eden.

She graduated from Kansas State University in 1978.

After moving to Texas, she managed several Cloth World stores and later worked at Atlantic Richfield Co. in various accounting capacities.

She married her husband in 1982.

Her children became her first priority, She took part in all of their education-related activities from preschool through college, including serving as president of the Robert E. Lee Band Parents Association and as vice president of programs of the Tyler A&M Mothers’ Club.

In her spare time, she enjoyed making various crafts and stamping personalized greeting cards.

Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Arrangements were made through Boren-Conner Funeral Home and Covenant Cremations.

Victoria Allen

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 26. at 2 p.m. from the Hamburg United Methodist Church for Victoria (Nepokroeff) “Vicky” Allen, 83, of Hamburg, who died on Sunday, February 5, 2012.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Harold Allen; children, Douglas (Fran) and Kurt (Patricia) Allen; and grandchildren, Jacqueline, Christina and Michael Allen and Katherine Shuknecht.

She was predeceased by her parents, Serge and Marie Nepokroeff.

Mrs. Allen graduated from Tonawanda High School. After graduation, she was employed at Spaulding Fibre, also located inTonawanda.

Shortly after her marriage in 1947 she resided in Williamsville, where she worked as an administrative assistant for the Williamsville School District.

She then resided in Ellicottville before moving to Hamburg.

Always having a great interest in gardening, she served as president of the Garden Club of the Tonawandas, as an active member of the Hamburg Garden Club and as a volunteer at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

She was an avid skier and tennis player and spent many a day sailing the waters of Lake Erie with friends and family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14227.

Arrangements were made through the John E. Roberts Funeral Home.

Thomas Bagen

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. from Blessed John Paul II Church in Lake View for Thomas P. Bagen, 84, of Hamburg, who died on Monday, February 13, 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Mary L. (Leopold) Bagen; children, Paula (David) Bates, Joanne (Chad) Schneider and Mary, Daniel, Thomas (Laura) and Susan Bagen; sister, Sr. Elizabeth Bagen; grandchildren, Karin, William, Kristin, Sarah, Emily, Corrine, Nickole and Jack; and great-grandchildren, Brianna, Timmy, Thomas and James; and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his son, Michael Bagen; grandson, Benjamin Bagen; and sister, Mary Seyfried.

Mr. Bagen was an attorney with Delaware North Company in Buffalo.

He was a member of VFW Post No. 1419.

Arrangements were made through the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home.

David Lewis

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. from the John J. Kaczor Funeral Home Hamburg Chapel for David P. Lewis, of Hamburg, who died on Monday, February 13, 2012.

He is survived by his daughter, Lisa; father, Paul Lewis; siblings, Debbie, Duane and Dana (Cindy); grandchildren, Brittany, Ashley and Alexis; and nephews, Dana Paul and Duane.

He was predeceased by his mother, Joan (Newland) Lewis.