Hornell, NY / Palmyra, NY

Douglas A. “Doug” Hare – 81 – formerly of Palmyra, NY died Saturday afternoon (July 11, 2026) at Maple City Rehab (formerly Hornell Gardens) where he had resided for the past three years.

Born in Rochester on June 11, 1945, he was the son of John & Alyce Mae (Winney) Hare.

Doug grew up in the Rochester area and was a graduate of R.L. Thomas High School in Webster, NY. Following high school graduation, he was employed as a general farm hand, working on several farms in the Rochester area. Throughout the years, Doug owned several auto dealerships including Nice Car Auto Sales in Palmyra, retiring about 8 years ago. Following his “retirement,” he served as a part-time driver for other area car dealerships.

He was an avid Buffalo Bills Football fan (especially during the Super Bowl years) and also loved attending Drag Racing events. He was “die-hard” baseball fan and enjoyed attending Rochester Red Wing games and watching baseball on TV.

Doug was an avid collector of antiques and owned & operated Douglas Hare Antiques in Palmyra. When his health allowed, he enjoyed taking long car rides around the Fingerlakes and long walks on his property. Doug was a true animal lover and had a special affection for feral cats.

In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his sister, Judy Duval and his brother, Raymond Hare.

Doug was married for 26 years to his wife, Amaidi Hare who survives. Also surviving are 2 sisters, Bonita Palka and Valerie Janci; along with several nieces & nephews. Doug will also be sadly missed by many friends, including Doug Scott & Gary Cooper.

At Doug’s request there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Doug’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to any animal shelter or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Hornell, NY / Nashua, NH

JoAnn Marie McCarthy, 86, died peacefully on June 9th at Courville Nursing Facility surrounded by her loving family. She suffered a catastrophic stroke after a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2018 in Fairport, New York. Ever since, she has resided at The Courville at Nashua, where she received wonderful and loving care. Many of the staff have known her for all eight years.

She was the beloved wife of the late Robert McCarthy who passed away in 1987 following 30 years of marriage.

JoAnn was born in Hornell, New York on November 12, 1939 and was the daughter of the late Juan (John) Orihuel and Thommasa (Grillo) Dake. She received her education in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School.

For more than 20 years, JoAnn proudly owned and operated the “Hair Zoo,” her beloved hair salon in Hornell. She enjoyed creating art with pencil, oil and ceramics. She was passionate about her work and dedicated to helping others look and feel their best. JoAnn treasured the relationships she built with her clients. She took great pride in serving her community and will be remembered for the joy, kindness, and friendship she shared with so many.

In her free time, JoAnn enjoyed cooking and spending countless hours playing cards with family and friends. She especially enjoyed playing in their monthly “Bunko” nights. She was an avid golfer who found great joy on the course and embraced every opportunity to enjoy the game. Her joy golfing was remembered as she would skip to the first tee box. A woman of many talents, JoAnn was proud to have published her own children’s book, “Three Spooks,” inspired by her three uncles. She also had a passion for acting and singing, performing whenever she could and even appearing as an extra on the popular show “Murder She Wrote,” as well as a Jim Belushi Movie.

JoAnn loved to be on the go and explore new places, with Paris holding a special place in her heart. Above all else, she cherished the time she spent with her family. Her love for them was immeasurable, and the memories they shared together will remain a lasting source of comfort and joy.

She is survived by her two children, Kim Fitzpatrick and her husband Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick of Nashua, NH and Robert “Mike” McCarthy and his wife Joann of Charlottesville, VA; her grandchildren Samuel Sutcliffe, Andy Sutcliffe and his wife Olivia, and Chris Slater; and her great-grandchildren, Cyrus, Eli, and Jonah. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Orihuel of Vero Beach, FL; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her son, Gerald T. McCarthy and her sister Mary Ann Leon and her husband Earl.

At JoAnn’s request there will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Family & friends are invited to attend a “Celebration of Life” on Friday, July 10, 2026 at from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at The Main Place, 251 Main St., Hornell, NY. All are welcome.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

JoAnn’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell Area Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or by visiting https://www.hornellanimalshelter.org/Donate.

Hornell, New York

Frank J. Eichinger  was born on April 5, 1936 in Hartford, CT, grew up in East Hampton, CT and passed away at home in Hornell, NY on July 4, 2026.  He was 90 years old.

He graduated from East Hampton High School in 1954 and after graduation, worked in a machine shop learning the tool and die trade.  He enjoyed hunting and shooting, and forged several of his own weapons.

Frank joined the U.S. Army in 1956 and served with the 10th Mountain Division.  While stationed in Germany, he oversaw the armory, was an expert marksman and worked as a German-English translator.

After the Army, he became a Senior Engineer with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, CT and later transferred to the South Florida branch in 1972.  After retiring from Pratt & Whitney, he worked as a Senior Inspector at Perry Tritech, Inc. in Jupiter, FL, a company that designed and built unmanned submarines.

While in Florida, Frank owned and operated two assisted living facilities, known as The Swiss House 1 and 2.

He enjoyed boating, camping and biking. He was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and the BPOE. He loved poetry and music and was a man of faith and integrity.

Frank married his wife, Michele, in 2010 and moved to New York State in 2013, where he continued to enjoy his active lifestyle and spending time with his grandson, Zakai.

He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Katharine (Birner) Eichinger, who owned and operated the Heidelberg Inn in East Hampton, CT.

He is survived by his wife, Michele (Travis-Stuckey) Eichinger of Hornell; his sister, Ann Louise (Dan) Hall of Andover, MA; two daughters, Ellie Ann Schwartz of Jupiter, FL, and Christine (Joel) Jenkins of Fairfax, VA; and son, Thomas Eichinger of Stuart, FL.  Also surviving are two stepsons, Adam Stuckey (Kiani Stank) and Kyle Stuckey (Aerial Henry); grandchildren Zakai Stuckey and Lillianna Baumgartner of Hornell; grandsons Mark, Kevin and Justin Schwartz, and David McClure of Florida; granddaughter Marie (AJ) Guagenti of Virginia; great-grandchildren Andrew Henderson, Anthony and Abigail Guagenti of VA; nephews Christopher and Jonathan Hall and grand-niece Abigail Hall of MA; and cousin Mary (George) Loos of East Hampton CT.

At the family’s request, there will be no calling hours.  Private graveside services will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in East Hampton, CT where he will be laid to rest with his father.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the Special Olympics.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Hornell, New York

Mary T. George – 61 – of Sawyer Street, Hornell, died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon (July 5, 2026) at her home.

Born in Wellsville on April 18, 1965, she was the daughter of James & Ann (Brown) McKinley.

Mary grew up in Wellsville and was a graduate of Wellsville High School (class of 1983). After attending college in Kansas, she later went on to study at Alfred State College where she earned her associates degree in court reporting. Mary completed two account clerk certificates as well as studied accounting.

A resident of the Hornell area for the past 33 years, Mary volunteered her time at the former
St. James Mercy Hospital working in the gift shop and also serving as an office worker. She later volunteered her time at the “new” St. James Hospital gift shop.

Mary was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. A cornerstone of her week was her quiet hour spent in adoration, finding peace and strength in the presence of the Lord. She was the oldest daughter of 10 siblings, and her faith was instilled in her from a young age. Mary was deeply proud of her Irish heritage and was known to polish off a plate of corned beef and cabbage. She was a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan (especially during the Super Bowl years) and was an avid reader — especially mystery and crime novels. Mary had a great sense of humor and was arguably Chris Farley’s biggest fan. She could quote ‘Tommy Boy’ line for line and it inspired many belly laughs and tears of laughter from her and her family. She enjoyed watching Grey’s Anatomy and the Sopranos. She was known to love a good cup of coffee, taking walks and her go-to choice of footwear-Crocs. Her favorite time of year was Christmas time, and Christmas music was her favorite as it always made her happy no matter the time of year. She enjoyed making Christmas cookies with a special family recipe that would make a “bushel” of cookies. She always wanted to make sure her family was happy and had made sure they wanted for nothing. She loved the time that she spent caring for her grandchildren and nothing made her happier than to spend time with her family. Mary lived a life of rich simplicity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James & Ann McKinley; her former husband and friend, Doug George; 2 brothers, Billy McKinley and Pat McKinley.

Surviving are 3 daughters that she will remain forever proud of, Jillian (Doug) Speegle of NV, Megan (Brian) Doty of Hornell and Laura (Eric) Kepner of Hornell; 4 brothers, Dennis McKinley, Mike McKinley, Tim McKinley and Jimmy McKinley; 3 sisters, Maureen Sibble, Margaret Whitehouse and Kate Murphy; 12 grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

At Mary’s request there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Mary’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to St. Ann’s Academy, 41 Genesee St., Hornell, NY 14843.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Arkport, New York

Gary R. Recktenwald – 78 – of North Augusta, SC, formerly of Arkport, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 14,  2026 at the Piedmont Hospital in Augusta, GA.

Born in Hornell on April 8, 1947, he was the son of George & Suzanne (Pruner) Recktenwald.  Gary had been a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church where he actually served as a church “grounds-keeper” in his youth by cutting grass and trimming bushes.

Gary grew up in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School class of 1966.  While living in Brockport, NY, he married to the former Alana Loohn (who died in 1984).  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Brockport State College (SUNY Brockport) and his Master’s Degree in Geography from the University of Florida.

After moving back to New York State, Gary & Alana resided in Arkport where Gary began his teaching career at Arkport Central School.  During this time he continued his education by taking classes at Alfred University.

Gary served as a History teacher at Arkport Central School for 33 years and even after his retirement continued to serve as a substitute teacher for seven more years for a total of 40 years of educating the youth at Arkport Central School.  During his teaching years he helped coach track, served as advisor for classes, Yearbook Advisor and later was the Ski Club Advisor.  When subbing for art classes his love for art blossomed.  He began drawing and painting which he continued throughout his life.  During the summer months, Gary stayed busy painting houses with friends and a few previous years cleaning and maintaining Arkport Central School.  Throughout the years, he owned several rental properties which also kept him busy with repairs and general maintenance.

Gary began traveling abroad with his wife Alana during the summer of 1969.  They backpacked in Europe for two months.  Then when Gary started teaching he began taking student groups to Europe with EF.  He also included  parents and family members.  He traveled to 4 continents.  Another big activity was family trips to Disney World.  He went dozens of times and also collected hundreds of Disney pins.  Gary’s love of collecting started with stamps and then when he was a Boy Scout he earned every patch on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.  He attended scout camp every summer.  As a Boy Scout he joined a special group that learned beading and making American Indian costumes.  Gary honored Native Americans by performing authentic dances in parades wearing ceremonial headdresses and costumes.  He collected stamps, cards, coins, pocket watches and a variety of memorabilia. Gary also enjoyed his time spent golfing with friends & fellow teachers and belonged to a golf league at the Hornell Country Club.  He loved building, construction and handyman work.  He also  loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.  Gary was genuinely warm-hearted.  He found joy in every day.

In addition to his first wife, (and high school sweetheart) Alana Loohn, Gary was preceded in death by his brother, Robert “Bob” Recktenwald.

He was married on July 6, 1986 to the former Linda Sue Flaitz who survives.  Also surviving are his children, Heidi (Brian) Lewis of Corning, Gary (Molly) Recktenwald of North Augusta, SC and George “Jake” Recktenwald of Greenwood, SC; his sister, Sally Della Villa of Mendon, NY; 4 grandchildren, Daniel Marino, Mary Ruth Ballard, Samuel Recktenwald and Lucas Recktenwald; along with many nieces & nephews.

The family of Gary R. Recktenwald will receive friends on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.   A Memorial Service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 2:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating.  Following services there will be a memorial gathering for Gary at The Main Place, Hornell, NY.  Family, friends and former students are invited from 3-6 pm. (Please let family know if you will attend.)

Gary’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to the Arkport Alumni Association, PO Box 28, Arkport, NY 14807.  All donations go directly to student scholarships.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Arkport, New York

Laura A. Sehm – 65 – of State Route 36, Arkport, died Monday morning (June 23, 2026) at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, following a long illness.

Born in Middlesex, NY on March 27, 1961, she was the daughter of Donald & Sally (Walker) Payne and the stepdaughter of John Legault.

Laura grew up in Middlesex and graduated from Marcus Whitman High School in Rushville, NY (class of 1979). She later received her Associate’s Degree in Accounting and Data Processing from Webster College in Port Richey, FL.

Throughout the years, Laura resided in several locations, including Canandaigua, Rochester (where she was employed at Kodak Corporation), New Port Richey, FL (for about 16 years), Wayland, NY and had lived in Arkport for the past 10 years.

In her younger years when her health allowed, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting & cooking. She was an avid reader (especially Stephen King novels) and loved rooting for the Buffalo Bills.

Laura was preceded in death by her father, Donald Payne; her mother, Sally Payne Legault and her step-father, John Legault.

On August 22, 1986, Laura married Jeffrey “Jeff” Sehm who survives. Also surviving are her daughter, Melissa Sue Sehm of Arkport; her sister, Rebecca (Aaron) Eastman of Holiday, FL.

At Laura’s request there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

Laura’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Hornell, NY / Lakeland, FL

James G. “Jim” Congelli – 88 – of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Hornell, died early Sunday morning (May 3, 2026) at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, following a long illness. He was a beloved father to James M. and Jennifer Ann, a proud grandfather to Emma, Zachary and Connor and a friend to many.

James Gerard Congelli was born on May 18, 1937, the eldest son of Gerard & Ann (Iervalino) Congelli. He grew up on Cottage Avenue and was a member of Hornell High School’s class of 1956. James, known as “Jim” to close high school friends and family, was always fun-loving and good natured with a true zest for life.

Following high school, Jim worked for several years as a cashier at the former Loblaw’s Grocery Store before enlisting in the US Army. He served stateside and was also stationed in Korea. Although he did not see combat, his time in the military proved both personally meaningful and formative. The experience deepened his commitment to a life defined by duty, service, and loyalty — qualities that guided him through every stage of his life. He was honorably discharged in 1962.

After his discharge from the US Army, Jim returned to Hornell, where he resumed work at the former Loblaw’s Grocery Store and later served as a sales representative for the Evening Tribune. During that time, he formed a close friendship with the Buisch family, especially Adrian Buisch. That bond grew even stronger after Jim purchased a home on Delaware Avenue, where he and his family lived until June 1990, and where their neighbors—the late Frank, Lena, and “Aunt Fran” Libordi—were regarded as family.

Jim was employed as a sales representative and truck driver for Interstate Brands (Millbrook Bread) Company, which operated a depot on the Hornell–Arkport Road for many years. Up at the crack of dawn each day, he was dedicated to his customers. From Hornell to Dansville, Wayland to Cuba, and Wellsville to Alfred State College, Jim’s lighthearted sense of humor brought an infectious smile to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He especially enjoyed delivering to Alfred State College’s dining hall, where breakfast and a hot cup of coffee often awaited him, thanks to his sister, the late Margaret Carrig, who managed the dining hall for many years. In his free time, Jim also coached in the Hornell Babe Ruth Baseball League and served honorably on its Board of Directors.

In 1990, the Congelli family moved to Elmira, where Jim continued his career as a sales representative and truck driver for Strohmann Bakeries. From downtown Elmira to Elmira Heights, his infectious smile and fun-loving personality earned him a lasting reputation throughout the Southern Tier until his retirement in 1999.

He was married on June 1, 1968, at St. Ignatius Loyola Church to the former Mary Catherine “Katie” Leahy, who survives. Jim was a devoted family man who always put his loved ones first. He especially loved attending his children’s high school sporting events and was an avid football fan, proudly cheering on the Hornell Red Raiders and the Buffalo Bills. Over the years, many friends and neighbors became like family, and some of the most cherished memories with Jim were made around the kitchen table, often over “Jim’s Homemade Pizza.”

Jim had a true passion for cooking and could often be found in the kitchen on his days off preparing one of his specialties—homemade pizza, Italian ditalini soup with fresh-baked bread, or a pot of his signature spaghetti sauce.

While living in Hornell, Jim and Katie were communicants of St. Ann’s Church. In 2012, Jim and Katie moved to Lakeland, FL, where they were members of St. Anthony’s Church. Jim is a former member of the Hornell Knights of Columbus and throughout the years was an avid golfer. In his younger years, Jim enjoyed bowling at the Hornell Bowl in several leagues. An avid history buff, Jim was a huge fan of a good John Wayne western or any type of good old-fashioned war movie.

Jim was preceded in death by his sisters, Patricia Ann Flansburg and Margaret Ann Carrig; his brother-in-law, Raymond M. Carrig; and his former sister-in-law, the late Sharon A. Congelli.

In addition to his wife of 58 years, Katie, survivors include his son, James M. “Jimmy” Congelli of Belmont, NC; his daughter, Jennifer Ann (Darrell) Ingold of Holbrook, Long Island, NY; his brother, John Congelli of Hornell; three grandchildren, Connor Congelli, Emma Ingold and Zachary Ingold; several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church Street, Hornell, NY. A Christian Service of Remembrance with Military Honors will follow at 1:00 PM. With Deacon Robert McCormick officiating. Final interment with committal prayers will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.

In recognition of Jim’s service to his country as a member of the US Army, the American Flag at the Dagon Funeral Home will be flown at half-staff.

Services will be live streamed and may be seen on the Facebook page of The Dagon Funeral Home by visiting https://www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome beginning at 1:00 PM. The video will remain online and will be available for viewing for 30 days.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in Jim’s memory to St. Ann’s Academy, P.O. Box 446, Hornell, NY 14843 to continue supporting Catholic education. Memorial forms for contributions will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Big Flats, New York

Anthony E. “Tony” Vallone, 72, of Churchill Place, Big Flats, New York, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, June 21, 2026, following a long illness.

Born in Buffalo, New York, on December 11, 1953, he was the son of John and Anna (Mastrangelo) Vallone.

Tony grew up in Buffalo’s Lovejoy neighborhood and graduated from Iroquois High School with the Class of 1971 before attending Canisius College. Throughout his life, he lived in several places, including Buffalo, Tennessee, Elma, New York, and Pennsylvania, before spending his final months in Big Flats with his daughter and family.

Throughout his career, Tony worked in a variety of fields, including aerospace manufacturing, automobile sales, and skilled trades. He was employed by Derrick Corporation and Moog during his working years and spent part of his career helping build components used in the aerospace industry.

Tony was known for his ability to fix, build, or figure out just about anything. Whether working on cars, plumbing, painting, home repairs, or countless other projects, he took pride in sharing his knowledge and lending a helping hand whenever it was needed. He was a man of many talents whose resourcefulness and determination left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
Tony was an avid Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan and also enjoyed following professional basketball. He was a passionate fisherman, spending many of his retirement days by the lake. More than any hobby or pastime, however, he cherished time spent with his family, especially his beloved grandchildren, Alex and Abby, who brought him tremendous pride and joy.

Surviving are his former wife, Annette Guzal Vallone of Depew; his daughter, Elizabeth (Gregory) Stachowski, with whom he resided; two brothers, Joseph (Bunny) Vallone of Cherry Creek, New York, and John (Corrine) Vallone of Buffalo; two sisters, Anne (Bob) Champagne of Depew, New York, and Julie (Rich) Beers of Orchard Park, New York; two beloved grandchildren, Alexander “Alex” Stachowski and Abigail “Abby” Stachowski; along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In accordance with Tony’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church Street, Hornell, NY.

Tony’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory be made to CareFirstNY by visiting https://carefirstny.org/donate.

Tony will be remembered for his resilience, his generosity, the knowledge and skills he freely shared with others, and above all, the love he held for his family.

Bath, NY / Arkport, NY

Frank L. “Josh” Cook – 77 – of Birch St., Bath, formerly; of Lattimer Hill Road, Arkport, died Sunday morning (June 14, 2026) at St. James Hospital, following a long illness.

Born in North Hornell on November 16, 1948, he was the son of the late Walker & Carrie (Parks) Cook.

Josh grew up in Canisteo and graduated from Canisteo Central School (class of 1967). Upon graduation, he began his 41-year career on the railroad before enlisting in the Air Force. Throughout the years, he was a conductor with the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad and Conrail out of Hornell, and later CSX in Buffalo before retiring in 2009.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served his country for four years. He was stationed in California and was deployed to Thailand for one year before his honorable discharge on February 3, 1972.

Josh was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Canisteo. He also was a member of the Hornell Elks Lodge and the American Legion.

On August 31, 2002, Josh married the former Jessie Hanchett who survives. Also surviving are his children, Joshua (Tresa) Cook of Hornell, Gregory (Bryn Baube) Cook of Rochester, and Jennifer (Jody) Fisk of Wayland; 2 sisters; many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, & cousins.

In addition to his parents, Josh was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, James Gillis.

To honor Josh’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or services. Final interment will be at the Bath National Cemetery, Bath, NY.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church Street, Hornell, NY.

Josh’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.

Hornell, NY / Nashua, NH

JoAnn Marie McCarthy, 86, died peacefully on June 9th at Courville Nursing Facility surrounded by her loving family. She suffered a catastrophic stroke after a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2018 in Fairport, New York. Ever since, she has resided at The Courville at Nashua, where she received wonderful and loving care. Many of the staff have known her for all eight years.

She was the beloved wife of the late Robert McCarthy who passed away in 1987 following 30 years of marriage.

JoAnn was born in Hornell, New York on November 12, 1939 and was the daughter of the late Juan (John) Orihuel and Thommasa (Grillo) Dake. She received her education in Hornell and was a graduate of Hornell High School.

For more than 20 years, JoAnn proudly owned and operated the “Hair Zoo,” her beloved hair salon in Hornell. She enjoyed creating art with pencil, oil and ceramics. She was passionate about her work and dedicated to helping others look and feel their best. JoAnn treasured the relationships she built with her clients. She took great pride in serving her community and will be remembered for the joy, kindness, and friendship she shared with so many.

In her free time, JoAnn enjoyed cooking and spending countless hours playing cards with family and friends. She especially enjoyed playing in their monthly “Bunko” nights. She was an avid golfer who found great joy on the course and embraced every opportunity to enjoy the game. Her joy golfing was remembered as she would skip to the first tee box. A woman of many talents, JoAnn was proud to have published her own children’s book, “Three Spooks,” inspired by her three uncles. She also had a passion for acting and singing, performing whenever she could and even appearing as an extra on the popular show “Murder She Wrote,” as well as a Jim Belushi Movie.

JoAnn loved to be on the go and explore new places, with Paris holding a special place in her heart. Above all else, she cherished the time she spent with her family. Her love for them was immeasurable, and the memories they shared together will remain a lasting source of comfort and joy.

She is survived by her two children, Kim Fitzpatrick and her husband Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick of Nashua, NH and Robert “Mike” McCarthy and his wife Joann of Charlottesville, VA; her grandchildren Samuel Sutcliffe, Andy Sutcliffe and his wife Olivia, and Chris Slater; and her great-grandchildren, Cyrus, Eli, and Jonah. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Orihuel of Vero Beach, FL; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her son, Gerald T. McCarthy and her sister Mary Ann Leon and her husband Earl.

At JoAnn’s request there will be no calling hours. A private graveside service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Family & friends are invited to attend a “Celebration of Life” on Friday, July 10, 2026 at from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at The Main Place, 251 Main St., Hornell, NY. All are welcome.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.

JoAnn’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hornell Area Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or by visiting https://www.hornellanimalshelter.org/Donate.