Death Notices for the week of April 23, 2001

Sister Carol Fox, St. Christopher’s parish leader

Sister Carol Fox, pastoral assistant at St. Christopher’s Church in North Chili, used to end the homily each week with the words, “I’m glad you all came. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” And now St. Christopher’s won’t be the same without her. On April 8, 2001, Palm Sunday, the much-loved Sister of Mercy died. Sister Carol had been at St. Christopher’s Church in North Chili for 23 years. She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2000 and had received chemotherapy treatments almost every week since that time. She has also been in and out of Park Ridge Hospital several times during the past year. However, per her wishes, she was able to come home to die with hospice care. She was 67 years old.

To hear anyone talk about Sister Carol, one would conclude that those 67 years were well spent. “She was quite a lady,” said parishioner Dave Lavery. “She was energetic and involved in the parish until the end.”

“She ran a Penance Retreat Day a week before she died,” said Chris McCabe, an associate of the Sisters of Mercy. “She was very active and very well-liked by the community,” McCabe said. “She was at St. Christopher’s through six different priests and got along with them all.”

McCabe said that Sister Carol was involved with the Parish Life Committee, which works within the parish doing such things as picnics, festivals and welcoming new members. She said that Sister Carol also did First Friday Communion calls, making visits and taking Communion to homes and nursing homes. She did Communion services at College Green, a senior apartment complex. In addition, Sister Carol was active on the Human Services Committee, which is responsible for outreach activities and community service events, such as clothing drives.

Sister Carol and Chris McCabe ran a House of Hospitality for 17 years, taking in people in need of temporary housing. They helped about 43 people in that time period.

“She was just about the best friend anyone could have,” McCabe said. She was sensitive, caring, loyal and always looking out for others. She was a fun-loving person – not a straight-laced type of person. She was very casual.”

McCabe said that she and Sister Carol planned her funeral Mass together. The Mass was held Wednesday, April 11 at St. Christopher’s Church with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, located off Lake Avenue. “It was beautiful!” McCabe said. “It was her wish to have representatives from St. Christopher’s Church Community, from the church staff and from the Sisters of Mercy participating. Anyone who wanted to sing in the folk group at the service could do so. There were about 25 singers. They sang “On Eagles Wings” and “Be Not Afraid”.

Sister Carol grew up in the Charlotte area. She attended Mercy High School and became a nun in 1953. She graduated from Catherine McAuley College, a junior college formerly located in Rochester. She then went to Medaille College in Buffalo and then St. Bernard’s Institute in Rochester for her master’s degree.

Sister Carol taught elementary school at St. Andrews, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of Mercy and at St. John the Evangelist in Clyde and in Rochester.

Sister Fran Wegman, Vice President of the Sisters of Mercy, said, “The amazing thing about Carol was that she lived life fully. She never looked at the end of life. Sister Fran has also had cancer and is now in remission. “It was a bonding experience for the two of us. I did not know her well before that. We shared our journeys.”

“I saw her as a very gentle and caring person,” Sister Fran said. “She was also a very hard worker. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and pitch in.”

Sister Nancy Whitley entered the convent with Sister Carol. She describes her as a “very generous, loving, peaceful woman who had a tremendous love for the poor. She was always reaching out to children, teenagers, the elderly ... supporting them in whatever ways they needed most. She was a very cheerful woman with a great sense of humor and a great love for her God. She was a woman of peace in life and in death.”

Sister Fran said, “Her presence will be deeply missed, especially for the parishioners of St. Christopher’s. One of her regrets was that she did not get to say good-bye to them.”

Perhaps that is because she can’t say good-bye; because, in her own words, “it wouldn’t be the same” without her.

Earl C. Steffen, community advocate, library supporter

Even though he has left this Earth, the book on Earl C. Steffen is far from finished.

Mr. Steffen, a Rochester native and Hilton resident for the past 41 years, died April 4 at the age of 73, leaving behind children, grandchildren, friends and many admirers. Earl "the Pearl" as he was referred to, was a graduate of Brighton High School who worked at Eastman Kodak for 40 years after a brief stint in the Navy.

Mr. Steffen was known throughout Monroe County for his tireless dedication to community service, including heavy involvement in the Parma Library. He was active as a board member and past president of both the Parma Public Library and the Monroe County Library System. Mr. Steffen was also a voting member of the Rochester Public Library Board of Trustees. For his involvement with the library system and other facets of the community, Mr. Steffen was honored by Monroe County with a Certificate of Recognition in 1992.

His involvement with the library system was a testament to the way he lived his life as a self-made man. His son, David Steffen, one of five children, said his father always poured over books that he brought home from the library.

"He'd go to the library at least once a week and come home with more books than most people would read in a year," said David Steffen. The knowledge he accrued from his reading Mr. Steffen translated into the common sense answers that came to be associated with his name. Sue Henderson, Parma Library director, said Mr. Steffen's approach for tackling issues was refreshing.

"He was just a really great man, very smart and totally down to Earth," said Henderson. Ken Blackburn, a Hilton resident and friend of Mr. Steffen, said he found that he could tackle any obstacle put in front of him.

"Nothing was too big for Earl. He always said 'if you use common sense it will work out,' " said Blackburn.

Everything did work out for Mr. Steffen. He remained a dedicated husband to his wife of 47 years, Arlene, through a battle with Alzheimer's that she eventually lost in December 1998, and an active father traveling often to see his children located all over the map.

As a result of the work that he accomplished and the people whom he has touched, Mr. Steffen's chapter on Earth may be over, but his book is far from finished.

ALBION

•Davis, Susie Mae, 86, April 10, 2001 at the Lockport Hospital. Mrs. Davis was born in Macon, Georgia in January 1915.

Mrs. Davis was a long time worker at Hunt's in Albion and later on at Duffy Mott's.

Mrs. Davis is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Leonard Davis, in 1994. She is survived by two nephews, Raymond Holt and Earnest Wilson of Albion and many friends from her extended church family.

A Funeral Service was said at the Saint Paul Baptist Church, Albion at April 13. Interment Mount Albion Cemetery. Those wishing can make memorial remembrances to Saint Paul Baptist Church.

•Knight, James, April 14, 2001 at the age of 85. Mr. Knight was born in February 1916 in Eastman, Georgia. As a child, Mr. Knight worked in the cotton fields to help support the family and eventually moved to western NY to continue working as a farm laborer on various farms from Elba to Albion. During his later years, he enjoyed listening to music and dancing and got great enjoyment out of playing checkers, spades, or rummy.

His parents and a brother and sister predeceased Mr. Knight. His wife, Bronnie Mae Knight of Rochester, survives him as well as their children, Sally White, Dondel Knight, Mergitic Wright all of Rochester, Jimmie Lee Knight of Attica, and a dear friend, Ella McGee, of Albion. Also surviving is a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral Services were held at the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home, Albion, April 18. Interment Mount Albion Cemetery. Memorial remembrances can be made to a charity of one's choice.

BROCKPORT

•D'Agostino, Anthony P. Sr. "Tony," On Sunday, April 15, 2001. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Christine (Daniel) Klafehn, Anthony Jr. (Karen) and Sandra; eight grandchildren; and his sister, Josephine; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held April 18 at the Fowler Funeral Home Inc., Brockport. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends wishing can make contributions to Multiple Sclerosis in his memory.

•Luskey, Bernice C. (Cary), On April 14, 2001 at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Francis J. Luskey; daughter, Margaret (Steven) Luskey-Feld; son, Francis Timothy (Irina) Luskey; five grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Prior to her marriage, she was a teacher in the Schenectady Public School System for 18 years. Graduate of Brockport State Normal School, class of 1930. During her teaching years, she took courses at night and on weekends at the New York State Teacher's College where she earned her bachelor's degree. This school is now known as the State University of Albany. In 1950 and 1951 she took a leave of absence to care for her father who was ill. During this time, she studied at Brockport State College and earned her master's degree. On September 1, 1951 she married an old acquaintance, Francis J. Luskey.

A Funeral Mass was said April 17 at the Church of the Nativity, B.V.M., Brockport. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery, at a later date. Donations can be made to a charity of one's choice.

NORTH CHILI

•McElhany, Elizabeth V., on April 12, 2001. Predeceased by her husband, Edward D. McElhany; son, Edward V. McElhany. Survived by son, Steven (Susan) McElhany and several grandchildren. Elizabeth was a retired school teacher from the Westfield, NY school system.

Funeral Services were held April 17 at First United Presbyterian Church, Dunkirk, NY. Memorials can be made to the church, 10 West Fourth Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048.

PARMA

•Steffen, Earl C., Suddenly, April 4, 2001. Predeceased by his parents, Charles Steffen (1900-1985) and Arline Steffen (1902-1999); his wife, Arlene Steffen (1926-1998). He is survived by sons, David (Terri) Steffen, Wayne (Sandra) Steffen, Paul Steffen and Neil (Paula) Steffen; daughter, Diane (Dale) Cooper-Currier; sister, Rhea del Solar; grandchildren, Kelsey, Clara and Sierra Steffen; other special family members including Mark and Melanie Cooper and Alysa and Lyndsey Currier; several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Mr. Steffen was active in the community as board member and past president of both the Parma Public Library and Monroe County Library System, voting member for the Rochester Public Library Board of Trustees, past member of the Town of Parma Zoning Board, member of Churchville Lodge #667 (Right Worshipful), Grotto, Damascus Shrine, Rochester Consistory and Vestry Member of St. George's Episcopal Church, Hilton.

Funeral Services were held April 17 at St. George's Episcopal Church. Contributions can be made to St. George's Church, 635 Wilder Road, Hilton, NY 14468 or Alzheimer's Association, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620.