Oak Crest Village

As the U.S. Postal Service considers closing hundreds of post offices nationwide to save money, one question looms, especially for those 25 and younger: Who'd notice? During her freshman year at the University of Richmond, Kaitlyn McDowell enjoyed receiving the occasional letter with a care package from younger cousins. Beyond that, though, the 19-year-old from Ellicott City mostly corresponds by e-mail, text messaging and social networking, like many of her generation. "It's easier.

Rosalie D. Bonica, a retired Social Security Administration worker and a world traveler, died in her sleep April 14 at Oak Crest Village in Parkville. She was 101. Rosalie D. Macaluso was born and spent her early years in Calascibetta, Sicily, and arrived with her family at Ellis Island in New York in 1911. Her father, a coal miner, settled his family originally in Beaverdale, Pa., before moving to Dundalk in 1918. "She always said how grateful she was to her father, who had the foresight to bring them to this country where there were jobs and opportunity," said a daughter, Patricia M. Marani of Parkville.

On February 23, 2007, FRANCIS HAROLD WYATT, a resident of Oak Crest Village, Parkville, MD; beloved husband of Palma Fabre Wyatt; beloved brother of the late Lavinia W. Blankenship and Thomas Crouse Wyatt, Sr.; dear brother-in-law of William A. Blankenship, Jr.; cherished uncle of Carol B. Davis and her husband Sam, William A. Blankenship, III and Thomas C. Wyatt, Jr. Also survived by his great-nephew, William A. Blankenship, IV. A Funeral Mass will be...

Dorothea Duerling, a homemaker, died of Parkinson's disease complications Friday at Oak Crest Village Retirement Community in Parkville. The former Fallston resident was 86. Born Eva Dorothea Beigel in Baltimore and raised on East 30th Street, she was a 1939 Eastern High School graduate. As a young woman, she was a secretary at the old Sears Roebuck store on North Avenue and at the U.S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. In 1942, she married James Ray Duerling, a Lord Baltimore Press accountant.

William R. Heffernan, a telephone technology executive who helped introduce touch-tone service in the 1960s, died Tuesday of heart disease at Oak Crest Village. The former Towson resident was 84. Born and raised in Springfield, Ill., Mr. Heffernan was hired by the old Western Electric Co. in 1941, shortly before he joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. An aerial radar technician, he flew numerous combat missions and survived a plane crash. After the war, he returned to the telephone equipment manufacturer and was among the first personnel to staff Western Electric's Eastern regional headquarters in Cockeysville, beginning in 1964.

Robert Francis Awalt, a Navy veteran and former engineer and engineering teacher from Timonium, died of Parkinson's disease Friday at Oak Crest Village. He was 82. Mr. Awalt was born in Baltimore and graduated in 1942 from Polytechnic Institute. At age 19, he graduated from the Johns Hopkins University with a bachelor's degree in engineering. He condensed his studies during World War II so he could graduate before enlisting in the Navy. He also earned a certificate in industrial supervision and management from Hopkins.

William Burnett Kenney, a former Penn-Central Railroad locomotive engineer, died of heart failure Wednesday at Oak Crest Village in Parkville. He was 86.After living in Pimlico for 48 years, he moved to Parkville in 1968 and to Oak Crest Village in 1997.The son of a Pennsylvania Railroad conductor, he was reared in Gardenville and graduated from Baltimore City College before following in his father's footsteps and becoming a Pennsy locomotive fireman in 1942. He was promoted to engineer in 1946 and retired in 1975.

John Sellors Jr., 74, executive, aviation enthusiastJohn Sellors Jr., a Baltimore native who was a business executive and aviation enthusiast, died April 22 in a seaplane crash in the South River. He was 74 and lived in Sarasota, Fla.Mr. Sellors retired in 1983 as vice president of Alco Standard Corp. in Valley Forge, Pa. Earlier, he was president of Pyronics, a Cleveland combustion equipment firm.He graduated from Polytechnic Institute and the Johns Hopkins University and served in the Army Air Corps as a radio and gunnery instructor during World War II.Mr.

P. Austin Dolan, who operated a family-owned saloon on Greenmount Avenue, died Wednesday of heart failure at Oak Crest Village Care Center in Parkville. He was 80.Mr. Dolan was a partner in Dolan's Bar and Grill in the 1900 block of Greenmount Ave."My father pretty much ran the place," said Peter A. Dolan Jr. of Catonsville.Mr. Dolan, a Baltimore native, received his high school diploma from Calvert Hall College and enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in the United States as a B-29 crewman and was honorably discharged in 1946.

Martin Saia Jr., 51, brewer, dog loverMartin Saia Jr., a retired brewer and dog lover, died Sunday of renal failure at Harbor Hospital Center. The Catonsville resident was 51.Mr. Saia began his career in 1973 at the old National Brewing Co. facility in Lansdowne and remained there under its subsequent owners, Carling Brewing Co. and G. Heileman Brewing Co. He retired in 1996, the year that Heileman closed the brewery.A South Baltimore native, Mr. Saia was a 1965 graduate of Southern High School and served with the Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971.

As the U.S. Postal Service considers closing hundreds of post offices nationwide to save money, one question looms, especially for those 25 and younger: Who'd notice? During her freshman year at the University of Richmond, Kaitlyn McDowell enjoyed receiving the occasional letter with a care package from younger cousins. Beyond that, though, the 19-year-old from Ellicott City mostly corresponds by e-mail, text messaging and social networking, like many of her generation. "It's easier.

On June 20, 2009, GEORGE J. PANZER; beloved husband of the late E. Jacqueline Panzer (nee Smith); devoted father of Nancy J. McHugh and Geraldine Kanu; loving grandfather of Kelly Lucia and Daniel Kanu; dearest great-grandfather of Jacqueline and Dorothy Lucia. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 2 P.M. in the chapel at Oak Crest Village, where a funeral mass will be celebrated at 2:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oak Crest Village Catholic Community, 8820 Walther Blvd.

George J. Panzer, a retired Western Electric cable specialist and jeweler who was a decorated World War II veteran, died of complications from lung disease Saturday at Oak Crest Village. The former Dundalk resident was 91. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of a pickle and sauerkraut maker and grew up near Patterson Park. He was a 1931 graduate of St. Michael's Parochial School and attended the Marianist Brothers Preparatory School in Beacon, N.Y. He was a bicycle messenger for Western Union and the Radio Corp.

On May 15, 2009, MARIE O. SCHMIDT (nee Cole), beloved wife of the late Francis W. Schmidt, loving sister of the late George J. Cole, dear aunt of Elizabeth A. Bauman, William F. Cole and George J. Cole, Jr. Ms. Schmidt will lie in state at the Oak Crest Village Chapel on Tuesday 10 to 11 A.M. at which time the funeral mass will be celebrated. Interment Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery.

On March 30, 2009, HELENA SORANDES JOHN of Oak Crest Village, Parkville, MD, beloved wife of Thomas S. John, and devoted mother of Thomas Nicholas John and his wife Mary Stewart of Washington, DC. Dear grandmother of Evan Stewart John and loving sister of Lucille Stone of Bowie, MD. Mrs. John was an accomplished musician, receiving her masters degree from The Peabody Conservatory of Music. She taught for over 30 years in Baltimore County and City schools, public and private. Friends may call at the Oak Crest Village Chapel on Saturday, April 4, from 1 to 1:30 PM, at which time a Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel.

Elaine D. Coniff, a former hospital financial counselor and active volunteer, died of stroke complications March 2 at Oak Crest Village. The former longtime Cockeysville resident was 89. The daughter of a pharmacist, Elaine Dolores McGinn was born in Baltimore and raised on Arizona Avenue in Hamilton. She was a graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame. During the 1960s and 1970s, Mrs. Coniff worked as an outpatient financial counselor at Johns Hopkins Hospital and what is now the University of Maryland Medical Center.

On March 2, 2009 CHARLOTTE L. HURBAN at Oak Crest Village. She was preceded in death by her husband Paul. Born in Boston, MA in 1915, she spent most of her life as a court reporter, having worked in Washington, DC recording Senate Committee Hearings and later moved to Annapolis, MD and worked for Soloman Reporting Co. in Baltimore, MD. A Memorial Service will be held in the chapel at Oak Crest Village on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of...

Francis W. Loeffler, a retired plant engineering and maintenance supervisor, died of heart failure Sept. 16 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air. He was 86. Mr. Loeffler was born in Baltimore and raised on Montford Avenue. He was a 1940 graduate of Calvert Hall College High School and attended McCoy College, the Johns Hopkins University's old evening school. During World War II, he served with the Navy Seabees in the Pacific and participated in the invasion of Okinawa. He was discharged in 1946.

Irene R. Eaton, a retired elementary school teacher who set up a financially successful store at her retirement community, died of old age June 7 at Oak Crest Village. She was 93. Sometimes called the "Queen of Oak Crest," she raised nearly $900,000 for projects and charity work at the Parkville retirement village. Born Irene Rollins in Rutherford County, N.C., she earned a bachelor's degree at Appalachian University in Boone, N.C. She moved to Carroll County, and while living and teaching in Sykesville met her future husband, Warren Eaton, an auto mechanic.

John T. Houck, a former Sunpapers route owner who later owned and operated a business that repaired alternators and starters, died Monday of heart failure at Franklin Square Hospital. He was 90. Mr. Houck was born and raised in Connellsville, Pa., where he graduated from high school in 1937. In 1942, he moved to Baltimore and went to work for the old Glenn L. Martin Co. plant in Middle River. After the end of the war, Mr. Houck became a newspaper route owner in Hamilton and the surrounding neighborhoods.