Josephine Riebling
Josephine M. Riebling (nee Dorney), formerly of Rye and the Bronx, passed away May 14, at the age of 89.
She graduated from Hunter College High School. In 1943 she married Erich Riebling. They worked together in the family business, she as the accountant, for several decades.
Mrs. Riebling was an active member of The Twig, helping raise money for United Hospital. She also enjoyed boating, sewing, needlework, embroidery, reading, bowling, and tennis. She and her husband were parishioners at Resurrection Church for 35 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Riebling were married for 64 years. He predeceased her in 2007.
She is survived by her children: Bill (Lucy), Steve (Donna), Marie (Tim), and Elaine (Bill); five grandchildren: Steve (Marcia), Jeff (Cindy), Daniel, Brian, and Casey; and five great-grandchildren: Liam, Connor, Riley, Griffin, and Mackenzie.
A funeral mass was held May 19 at Resurrection Church, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.
Donations in Mrs. Riebling’s memory may be made to Sisters of Mercy, 150 Ridge Road, Hartsdale, NY
10530.
Joan Garrity
Joan Brady Garrity passed away at her home April 29, surrounded by her family. The longtime Rye resident was 87.
Born August 31, 1924 in New York City, she was the fourth of five daughters of Anne O’Rourke and John J. Brady. She attended Columbia University.
She married James L. Garrity February 18, 1950 in New York City. They moved to Rye in 1964 and raised their nine children here.
Mrs. Garrity was an active volunteer in all Rye school organizations and several charitable organizations, including the Fresh Air Fund, POTS, and Meals on Wheels, which recognized her as
Volunteer of the Year in 2002.
She was a dedicated member of Resurrection Church, the Rye Democratic Committee, Ceres Garden
Club, and the Rye Historical Society. She was also an avid gardener, swimmer, and walker.
Mrs. Garrity is survived by her nine children: Joan Flynn of Weston, Mass., Elizabeth Ellis of London, James of Somers, Katherine Lade of Morris Plains, N.J., Deirdre Heilbron of West Newton, Mass., John of Rye, Sarah of Rye, Mary Anne Whitney of Sacramento, Calif., and Paul of Madison, N.J.; 20 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Eileen Morrison.
She was predeceased by her husband Jim; a grandson, Joseph Heilbron; and three sisters: Anne Brown, Marion Martin, and Peg Reynolds.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Church of the Resurrection May 3. Donations in her memory may be made to the Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0311.
Concetta Galasso
Concetta Rich Galasso, 95, passed away peacefully in Memphis, April 18.
Known to her friends as Connie, she was born July 4, 1916 in Rye, and lived there the majority of her life. It was in Rye that she worked for many years at the family florist, John B. Rich and Sons. In 1999, she retired to Memphis to be near her daughter and family.
“When I was growing up I saw my mom as an amazingly strong woman,” said her daughter, Brandy Miller. “Even when things seemed sad to me, she would be strong. She had an amazing resolve to live, and live she did. She died a young 95.”
Mrs. Galasso was predeceased by her husband, Nicholas Galasso. She is survived by her brothers, Dante Rich and his wife Agnes of Rye, and John Rich and his wife Alla of Fort Lauderdale; her daughter, Brandoria “Brandy” Miller and her husband Frederick of Germantown, Tenn.; granddaughters Elizabeth Kennedy and Jennifer Miller; a great-grandson, Nicholas Kennedy; and many other family members.
A funeral mass was celebrated April 29 at Church of the Resurrection. She now rests husband next to her husband at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Mrs. Galasso’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee.
Joan Cresap
Joan Wilmarth Cresap, a resident of Rye for over 40 years, died peacefully May 8 of natural causes at Greenwich Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was 86.
Born April 23, 1926 in Brooklyn, to Helen Dorothy Weck and Frank White Wilmarth, she grew up in Larchmont.
After graduating from Mamaroneck High School in 1944, she attended Connecticut College for Women, earning a B.S. in Chemistry in 1948. After college, she attended Yale Nursing School, where she received an MSN in 1952.
She was married in July 1956 to Charles Nash Cresap, and then lived in Scarsdale for seven years. The family moved to Pawling in 1963. After she and her husband divorced in 1970, Mrs. Cresap moved to Rye as a single parent and made a life for herself and her children here.
Mrs. Cresap worked as a Registered Nurse for Rye Psychiatric Hospital Center from 1975-1981, JC Penney Occupational Health Center in New York from 1981-1986, and High Point Hospital in Port Chester from 1987-1995.
She was a member of a number of local organizations, including the 25th Twig of United Hospital, the White Plains Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Rye Presbyterian Church, which she joined soon after moving here and where she taught Sunday school.
She enjoyed traveling in Europe with her cousins, and family vacations at her home in Harwichport, Cape Cod. She was an expert at bridge, and enjoyed reading, stitching, Big Band music, and animals, especially dogs.
Her greatest joys were her children and grandchildren, and her dog Maisie, who was at her side until she died.
“Our mother continually gave more of herself than she wanted from others,” said her children. “Those who knew her will always be touched by her pragmatism for all situations, sense of humor, and quiet intelligence. She created a relaxed, happy, and modest life for her family, by exemplary honest behavior, grounded in independence.”
She is survived by her children: Nancy Higbee, of Greenwich, Callie and Patrick O’Malley, of Summit, N. J.; Frank and Brenda Cresap of Ladera Ranch, Calif., and Joan M. Cresap, with whom she resided in Rye. She was the loving grandmother of Alexandra Higbee, Tara O’Malley, Clare O’Malley, Jeffrey Higbee, Kevin O’Malley, Trent Cresap, Payton Risner, and Lindsay Cresap.
Family visiting hours will be held Friday, May 11 from 4-7 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Rye Presbyterian Church. She will be interred in the church Columbarium.
Donations in her memory may be made to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and My Sister’s Place of Westchester County.
Marian Shea
Marian Mari Moto Shea, a longtime Rye resident and volunteer who made such an enormous difference in the life of the community, died April 11. She was 88.
She was born on January 1, 1924 in Dobbs Ferry, to Tomeo Mori Moto and Mary Worzar. After graduating from Dobbs Ferry High School, she entered Manhattanville College of the Sacred
Heart in New York City. She graduated with a B.A. in Sociology.
While at Manhattanville, she was a member of the Bronson Honor Society, the Class Council for three years, the basketball and hockey teams, and the Glee Club. She was also vice president of the Missionary Association.
After graduation, she worked in a publishing house and attended Columbia University to study Japanese. While at Columbia, she met her future husband, James A. Shea, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He served his country from 1942 to 1946, and upon his separation from service, they were married.
The couple lived in New York City and later relocated to Westchester, settling on Brookdale Place in Rye.
During her years in Rye, Ms. Shea became active with the Girl Scouts and was responsible for
merging the many small units into one regional council. For her fine work, she received the Americanism Award from the American Legion Post 128.
She was also active in the League of Women Voters, Ceres Garden Club, and the Woman’s Club of Rye. In between these demanding activities, she played bridge at Coveleigh Club, where she was a member. She served as the chair of the Rye Senior Advocacy Committee, whose mission was to help seniors needing assistance. For this endeavor, she was inducted into the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services as a special inductee into the Senior Hall of Fame in 2004.
“Marian’s life was focused on helping others in so many ways,” said Carolyn Cunningham, who served with her on the Board of Rye Interfaith Housing Corporation, which runs Rye Manor, the senior citizen apartment complex. “She served on our Board for nearly 20 years, as a representative, along with Ed Collins, from Resurrection Church, and also on its committee to provide taxi vouchers to income-limited seniors. She recently joined the board of SPRYE (Staying in Place in Rye).
“And she was a longtime gardener and lover of the earth, who drove a Prius. She will be deeply missed by so many in Rye,” added Cunningham.
Mrs. Shea’s life was also informed by faith. She was a devoted and very involved member of Resurrection Church, said fellow church member Jane O’Sullivan.
“Marian was a member of the choir, the flower and People of the Church committees. She was also the church representative to the Archdiocese Vicariate and the Resurrection Parish Council.
“She was a woman of sharp intellect who freely gave of her time, talent and sharp intellect, which she kept to the end. She took it upon herself to personally drive Bishop Anthony Mestice to these Vicariate meetings, allowing him to smoke cigars in her car and would later laugh good naturedly about getting lost — somewhere in Westchester, before the days of GPS, in a smoke-filled car! Marian took it all good naturedly and in her stride. She was a woman of great perseverance and personal strength and dignity, who really came into her own after her husband Jim died.”
One of O’Sullivan’s fondest memories of Mrs. Shea occurred four years ago. “Marian was home from Greenwich Hospital after her first bout with cancer. The Resurrection Church Choir surprised her by coming to her house with Sunday lunch and singing a chorus of her favorite hymns and songs. Marian was so thrilled, just beaming. She was sitting on the makeshift bed/couch in her living room, surrounded by newspapers, magazines, church bulletins, phone books and ‘working the phone’ as she called it!
“Marian was a very special lady and will be greatly missed.”
Mrs. Shea was predeceased by her husband, and is survived by many nephews and nieces on her husband’s side.
A funeral Mass was held at Church of the Resurrection on April 17.
Donations in Marian Shea’s memory may be made to the Carver Center in Port Chester.
Eleanor Lush
Eleanor Caroline Lush, a longtime Rye resident, died May 6 at Greenwich Hospital after a brief illness. She was 96.
The daughter of John Jordan Kelly Sr. and Gertrude Herderich Niedringhaus Kelly, she was born at United Hospital in Port Chester, February 9, 1916. As a young girl, she lived in Greenwich and attended the Havermayer School.
On November 14, 1942, she married Walter Edgar Lush.
She worked for many years at General Foods Corporation, where she managed the GF Company Bank. After retiring, she remained an active member of the General Foods Northeast Alumni Association.
Mrs. Lush was a volunteer for 35 years at United Hospital, and after it closed she joined a newly formed volunteer force at The Osborn, where she served until a few years ago. Mrs. Lush was a parishioner at Church of the Resurrection.
On November 14, 1942, she married Walter Edgar Lush, who predeceased her in 1952.
Her brother Dan Kelly said, “Eleanor was dedicated to family and friends, focusing on others rather than herself, a major force in her life. Her inner strength was an inspiration to all.”
She was also predeceased by her siblings Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Gedney and John Jordan Kelly Jr. She is survived by her daughter Linda Lush Richardson of Albany, grandson Jeremiah Kelly Richardson of Ballston Lake, N.Y., and brother Daniel Jordan Kelly of Rye. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and -nephews.
Calling hours are May 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held May 10 at 11 a.m. at Resurrection Church. A reception for family and friends will be held at Coveleigh Club following the Mass.
Contributions may be made in her memory to Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524.
Blanche Holley
Blanche May Gill Holley, a longtime resident of Rye, died peacefully April 21 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire. During the last several days of her life, she was surrounded by family.
Born in Brooklyn on July 20, 1923, to Harold and Inez (Dunne) Gill, she grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens, where she attended high school. At Columbia University, she studied English.
She went to work for Johns Manville, before establishing her career at Time, Inc., where she worked on the cable desk and served as liaison between overseas correspondents and editors.
She thoroughly enjoyed her work, which gave her great insight into current events of the world.
In 1955, she married James Holley, and in 1963 they moved to Rye, where they have lived ever since.
Known to family and friends as a true gentlewoman, Mrs. Holley loved quiet times at home as well as trips to Scotland, England, and Bermuda.
She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, James Holley; a son, Robert Holley and his wife Lisa; and a grandson, Duncan Holley. She was predeceased by her siblings, Doris Sandercock, Harold Gill, and Keats Gill; and a grandson, James Holley.
A Memorial Service will be held at Rye Presbyterian Church Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to the charity of choice.
Hildegard Chapderlane
Hildegard (Hilda) Chapderlane passed away April 29. She was 88.
Born July 18, 1923 in Munich, Germany, she was the daughter of Theodore and Katrina Sitzman.
For over 20 years, she was co-owner of Baskin-Robbins in Rye and co-owner, with her husband Robert and daughter Gerri, of Poppy’s Café in Rye.
Mrs. Chapderlane was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was also an avid bowler for over 56 years and won many titles and awards.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert L. Chapderlane, in 1996. She is survived by her children, Gerri Piovesan and Robert Chapderlane of Rye; her sister, Irma Buxeder; six grandchildren: Cindy Agosto of Port Chester, Steve Massinello of Greenwich, Cari Chapderlane-Cox of Springfield, Mass., Bobby Chapderlane of Tribes Hill, N.Y., Zachary and Kelsey Chapderlane of Rye; and a nephew, Ralph Buxeder.
Friends may call at Graham Funeral Home May 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Church of the Resurrection May 2.
Donations may be made in Mrs. Chapderlane’s memory to the Rye Seniors, c/o Esther Martensen, 38A Rye Colony, Rye, NY 10580.
