Obituaries

Dunkirk Obituaries

Local obituaries for Dunkirk, New York

Joann L.  Vacanti

Joann L. Vacanti

Mar 1, 2018

JoAnn Louise Vacanti, 71, died Thursday, March 1st, 2018 at the Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Dunkirk, the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Simonetti) Vacanti. A lifelong resident, JoAnn lived in the Town of Dunkirk in the same home most of her life. She always supported the Dunkirk East Town Volunteer Fire Department. She...

Stanley D. Gliwa

Stanley D. Gliwa

Feb 26, 2018

Stanley D. Gliwa, 93, of Dunkirk, died Monday morning, February 26, 2018, at Buffalo General Hospital. He was born December 2, 1924, in Dunkirk, son of the late Joseph and Mary (Koval) Gliwa.A veteran of WWII, Stanley served in the U.S. Navy, and received the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal with four Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation (Navy...

Mary Jane Maslak

Mary Jane Maslak

Feb 18, 2018

Mary Jane Maslak, 73, of Dunkirk, died Sunday evening, February 18, 2018, at Brooks Memorial Hospital, following a lengthy illness. She was born May 27, 1944, in Dunkirk, daughter of the late John and Louise (Button) Harris.A retired employee of American Cleaners, the former M. Wile Plant in Dunkirk and Lake Shore Delivery, all in Dunkirk. An avid bowler Mary...

Richard J.  Jaffray

Richard J. Jaffray

Feb 13, 2018

Richard J. Jaffray, 73, of Dunkirk, died Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA. He was born in Dunkirk, October 12, 1944, son of the late Alfred and Genevieve (Crane) Jaffray. He was a retired employee of CSX Railroad as a Welder and an avid sports fan of the Buffalo Bills and fantasy football and fantasy...

Edward J.  Rak II

Edward J. Rak II

Feb 8, 2018

Edward J. Rak II, 69, of Dunkirk died unexpectedly Wednesday morning, February 28, 2018 at Brooks Memorial Hospital. He was born in Dunkirk June 24, 1948, son of the late Edward and Ethel (Timmerman) Rak Sr. A veteran of the U.S. Army during Vietnam, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Sharp Shooter M-14, Sharp Shooter M-16...

Terry A. Campbell

Terry A. Campbell

Jan 22, 2018

Terry A. Campbell, 55, of Dunkirk, died, Monday afternoon, January 22, 2108, at ECMC in Buffalo, following a lengthy illness, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was born in Dunkirk, August 17, 1962, daughter of the late Francis W. And Louise M. (McGiffin) Main Sr. Terry was devoted to her family and friends. She was the founding member...

Roger J.  Levandoske

Roger J. Levandoske

Jan 18, 2018

Roger J. “Joey” Levandoske, 53, of Dunkirk, died Thursday evening, January 18, 2018, at home with his family and friends at his side.He was born in Dunkirk, December 21, 1964, son of Roger C. Levandoske and the late Helen (Dziduch) Levandoske. Roger was a graduate of Dunkirk High School class of 1983.He retired from New York State Department of Correction at Gowanda...

Rosalie B.  Kuzdzal

Rosalie B. Kuzdzal

Jan 9, 2018

Rosalie B. Kuzdzal, 94, of Dunkirk, died Tuesday afternoon, January 9, 2018, at home.She was born in Dunkirk, January 2, 1924, daughter of the late Edward and Rose (Binkowski) Schultz. A retired employee of Kraft Foods in Dunkirk, she at a time during WWII was an employee of an air plane factory in Buffalo as one of the “Rosie the Riviters.”...

Mary Jane Krzyzanowicz

Mary Jane Krzyzanowicz

Jan 8, 2018

Mary Jane Krzyzanowicz, 71, of Dunkirk, NY, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on January 8, 2018. She was born in Dunkirk, NY, July 7, 1946, the daughter of the late Henry and Genevieve “Jean” (Dykas) Domanski. A graduate of Dunkirk High School, Class of 1964, Mary Jane attended Alfred State Agricultural and Technical College. Until her retirement, she worked...

John W.  Farrington

John W. Farrington

Jan 6, 2018

John W. “Jack” Farrington, 69, of the Chautauqua County Home, Dunkirk, NY passed away on January 6, 2018.Jack was born in Erie, PA, January 27, 1948, son of the late Donald and Agnes (Rettger) Farrington. Jack worked as an auto detailer for Mrs. Clean, a business his wife owned and operated, prior to that he was employed by Dunkirk Radiator. In the...

Nancy  A.  Battaglia-Danileson

Nancy A. Battaglia-Danileson

Jan 2, 2018

Nancy A. Battaglia-Danielson, 63, of Fredonia, died Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Buffalo-General Hospital, following a sudden illness. She was born in Dunkirk, September 10, 1954, daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Jane(Dloniak) Battaglia. A graduate of SUNY at Fredonia with a Bachelors Degree in Social Administration and a Masters Degree from Suny at Buffalo in Business.Nancy was a...

Grace J.  Kugler

Grace J. Kugler

Dec 20, 2017

Grace J. Kugler, 96, of Dunkirk, died Wednesday, December 20, 2017, peacefully at home. She was born in Fredonia, January 11, 1921, daughter of the late Charles and Lucy (Latona) Coniglio. Grace was a homemaker who loved spending time with her family. She also enjoyed playing the Kentucky Derby, cheering on her favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers and traveling...

Rexford P. Johnson

Rexford P. Johnson

Dec 12, 2017

Rexford “Pat” Johnson, 80, of Dunkirk, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, December 12, 2017. He was born October 7, 1937, in Dunkirk, son of the late Rexford D. and Rosemary (Goggin) Johnson. A graduate of Cardinal Mindzenty High School Class of 1956. Pat was a veteran of the US Navy and served on the USS Mills as...

Victoria L.  Nalepa

Victoria L. Nalepa

Dec 7, 2017

Victoria L. Nalepa, 93, of Dunkirk, died Sunday, December 17, 2017, peacefully at the Absolut at Dunkirk. She was born in Dunkirk, December 21, 1923, daughter of the late John and Laura (Ludwiszewski) Doktor. Victoria was a homemaker and past employee of the former Van Raalte Corporation during WW II. Victoria loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to cook, animals, her...

Clifford N. Nickerson

Clifford N. Nickerson

Nov 17, 2017

Clifford N. “Cliff” Nickerson, 74, of Brocton, unexpectedly, Friday afternoon, November 17, 2017, at South Buffalo Mercy Hospital. He was born in Jamestown, May 16, 1943, son of the late Herschel and Mae (Rice) Nickerson. Cliff started Nickerson Atlantic in Dunkirk in 1965, later moved to Fredonia until settling in Brocton with his own business in 1982 as Nickerson’s Used Cars until...

Joyce Burd-Puranen

Joyce Burd-Puranen

Nov 9, 2017

Joyce C. Byrd-Puranen, 69, of Dunkirk, former of Kenmore, died Thursday, November 9, 2017, at home. She was born in Buffalo January 30, 1948, daughter of the late Edward and Elvira (Griffiths) Burd. She was a retired employee of Chautauqua County. Surviving is a brother Dennis (Judith) Burd of Kenmore. Preceded by her husband Paavo Puranen and sister Ann Burd.

Kathleen M.  VanWey

Kathleen M. VanWey

Nov 7, 2017

Kathleen M. VanWey, 72, of Dunkirk, died Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at Buffalo General Hospital following an extended illness. She was born on September 14, 1945 to the late Stanley and Helen (Worczak) Zebracki. Kathleen was a 1959 graduate of St. Hedwig’s School and a 1963 graduate of Cardinal Mindszenty High School. She was a lifelong member of St. Hedwig’s...

Barbara A. Spekczynski

Barbara A. Spekczynski

Nov 3, 2017

Barbara A. Spekczynski, 71, of Dunkirk, died Friday, November 3, 2017 at home in Angola. She was born in Dunkirk, June 20, 1946, daughter of the late Peter and Stella (Matecki) Michalak. A retired employee of the Dollar Store in the D & F Plaza in Dunkirk.Her memberships include Blessed Mary Angela R.C. Parish Church of St. Hyacinth and parish...

Maurice A. Burgess

Maurice A. Burgess

Nov 2, 2017

Maurice A. Burgess, 79, of Dunkirk, died Thursday morning, November 2, 2017. He was born in Ripley, NY, August 23, 1938, son of the late James and Margaret (Lanphere) Burgess. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he retired from Clifstar and was an avid hunter. Surviving is his wife, Jean L. (Schafer) Burgess; sons, Frederick (Janice) Burgess of Arkwright, Howard...

Robert J.  Zielinski

Robert J. Zielinski

Oct 12, 2017

Robert J. Zielinski, 87, of Dunkirk, died Thursday, October 12, 2017 at home, surrounded by his beloved family. He was born November 12, 1929, in Dunkirk, the son of the late John and Francis (Szary) Zielinski. Bob attended Grade School 6, and graduated as president of Dunkirk Senior High in 1948. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and...