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obits: MATHER; JONES; WILLIAMS; SERKNIS; MERRILL; MULDOON;

LOUIS V. MATHER

Louis V. Mather, 67, husband of E. Mural (Lewis) Mather of Great Quarter Road

in Sandy Hook, died Wednesday, November 12, at Danbury Hospital.

Mr Mather was born in Boston, Mass., July 14, 1930, a son of Louis and

Elizabeth Kane Mather.

He has been a resident of Newtown for the past 23 years and was a retired

welder. He was a World War II army veteran.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two stepdaughters, Ellen Atkins of

Bomoseen, Vt., and Christine Plumley of Knoxville, Tenn.; and nine

step-grandchildren.

Private funeral services will take place at the convenience of the family.

Cremation will take place at Mountain Grove Crematory in Bridgeport.

There are no calling hours.

Arrangements are by the Honan Funeral Home on 58 Main Street, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997

SYDNEY V. JONES, SR.

Sydney Valender Jones, Sr, 92, father of Sandy Hook resident Ronald Jones,

died Thursday, November 6, at Geer Memorial Extended Care in Canaan, where he

had been a resident since 1993. He was formerly a resident of Mount

Washington, Mass.

Mr Jones was born March 15, 1905, in Birmingham, England, the last surviving

child of four children born to William Henry and Emma Hodierne Jones.

He came with his parents to the United States at the age of five. The family

settled in Mt Vernon, N.Y., in 1911, where he attended schools. Mr Jones left

high school to help support his family.

He retired in 1969, after 25 of service as a field engineer for the Columbia

Broadcasting System in New York City. Starting in the 1940s as a radio

engineer traveling throughout the country with the "Big Bands" of that era, he

tended to the details of broadcasting their music.

During his career, Mr Jones at times was assigned to engineer presidential and

other notable broadcasts. He met many of the presidents, including President

Eisenhower. He also met Albert Einstein.

Mr Jones was an active HAM radio operator starting in 1917, with the call

letters of W2BPH. When he moved to Mount Washington from Mt Vernon, N.Y., in

the early 1970s, his call letters where W1GF1. In Mount Washington, he was

also a civil defense warden. He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church

in Mt Vernon, and a member of the American Radio Relay League.

His wife, Marion E. Atwell Jones, whom he married September 4, 1930, died

December 13, 1993.

He is survived by his two sons, Sydney V. Jones, Jr, of Beach Haven Park,

N.J., and Mr Jones, of Sandy Hook; his daughter, Mrs Nancy J. Wessel of

Ferrum, Va.; nine grandchildren: Kathy, Ronald, Jr, David, Steven, Deborah,

Kenneth, Dianna, Marne, and James; two step-grandchildren, Amy and Gary

Treadwell; and six great-grandchildren: Lauren, Ronald, Melanie, Jeffrey,

Shannon, and Kirsten.

His two brothers, Harry and Albert, and his sister, Edith, have predeceased

him.

Funeral services were held November 8 at the Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home

at 3 pm with the Rev James S. Chase officiating. Burial was in Mount

Washington Town Cemetery.

Those who desire to make donations in memory of Sydney V. Jones, Sr, may send

checks to the Geer Foundation, 99 South Canaan Road, Canaan, CT, 06018.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997

RICHARD T. WILLIAMS

Richard T. Williams, 72, father of JoAnn Giesen of Newtown, died Monday,

November 10, at his home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Mr Williams was the husband of Joan B. Sheehan Williams.

He was born in Manhattan on December 24, 1924, a son of James and Marie

Duchacek Williams. He was a graduate of New York Technical Institute in New

York City.

A United States Navy veteran of World War II, he served in the South Pacific

aboard the USS West Virginia.

Before his retirement in 1987, Mr Williams was employed by IBM in Poughkeepsie

for 39 years. He was a manager there for 35 years.

He was a member of the Town of Poughkeepsie Lions Club, was co-founder of the

Dutchess County Eye Bank, and was a member of the Dutchess Golf and Country

Club.

He served on the advisory board for Our Lady of Lourdes High School and was

also a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He was a member of St Martin de Porres

Roman Catholic Church in Poughkeepsie.

Besides his wife and daughter, Mr Williams is survived by a son, Richard T.

Williams, Jr, of Westford, Mass.; a sister, Marie Ryan of Hauppauge, N.Y.; two

brothers, Donald Williams of South River, N.J., and James Williams of

Poughkeepsie; three granddaughters; three grandsons; and several nieces and

nephews.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 45

Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, or to St Martin de Porres Church Building

Fund, 40 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997

LEO F. SERKNIS

Leo F. Serknis, age 86, brother of Newtown resident Mary Biroscak, and beloved

husband of Josephine Kusinski Serknis of Fairfield, died Saturday, November 8,

in Bridgeport Hospital.

Mr Serknis was born in Bridgeport and had resided in Fairfield for the past 45

years.

He was employed with the Carpenter Technology Company for 37 years and was a

member of their Quarter Century Club.

In addition to his devoted wife, Josephine, and his sister, Mary Biroscak, he

is survived by one brother, John Serknis of Bridgeport, and several nieces and

nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Wednesday, November 12.

Interment will be in St Michael's Cemetery. The Galello-Luchansky &

Samorajczyk Funeral Home, 2189 Barnum Avenue, Stratford, was in charge of

arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, those who so desire may contribute to the United Home

Care, 1931 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, Conn.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997

THOMAS A. MERRILL

Thomas Anthony Merrill, infant son of Richard A. and Jennifer P. Jardeleza

Merrill, Sr, died Friday, November 7, at Danbury Hospital shortly after his

birth.

He was the grandson of Newtown residents Richard C. and Betty Presnell

Merrill, and of Jane L. Merrill of Holtwood, Pa.

His maternal grandparents are Orlando and Mary Anne Jardeleza of Danbury.

Besides his parents and grandparents, Thomas is survived by a brother, Richard

A. Merrill, Jr, of Danbury; and several aunts and uncles.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Merrill Family, P.O. Box 3792,

Danbury 06813-3792.

A Mass of the Angels at St Gregory the Great Church in Danbury was held

Wednesday at 10 am.

Burial will be in St Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

The Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury, is in charge of

arrangements.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997

MARY MULDOON

Mary A. (Moore) Muldoon, mother of Dorothy Mulligan of Newtown, died Monday at

the Beaumont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Northbridge, Mass.

Mrs Muldoon, 96, a former resident of Mendon, Mass., was the widow of Thomas

Muldoon.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by a son, another daughter, 14

grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

There are no calling hours and services will be private.

Burial will be in the Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, N.J., a former and

longtime hometown for Mrs Muldoon.

Carr Funeral Home of Shitinsville, Mass., is in charge of the arrangements.

The Newtown Bee November 14, 1997