Obituaries
Edward J. Szczepanski
Feb 11, 2026
Edward J Szczepanski Jr. passed away peacefully on February 11, 2026, at the age of 94.
Born on April 11, 1931, in Buffalo, New York, Ed was a lifelong Western New Yorker. He lived in Buffalo and its surrounding communities - West Seneca, New York, Orchard Park, New York, and East Aurora, New York - building a life rooted in...
Loretta A. Schultz
Feb 8, 2026
Loretta A. (Wozniak) Schultz, of Hamburg, NY, February 8, 2026; beloved wife of the late Bernard L. Schultz; dearest mother of late Kathleen A. (survived by Robert) Hayes, Leslie P. (Theresa) and Christian B. Schultz; devoted grandmother of Jason R. Hayes, Mary Kathleen Hayes, late Adam Schultz, Cory Schultz, Ali Schultz, and Taylor (Stephen Strickland) Schultz; adoring great grandmother of...
Geraldine M. Ratajczak
Feb 4, 2026
Geraldine M. (nee Nowowiejski) Ratajczak, passed away February 4, 2026, at the age of 95. Beloved wife of the late Anthony "Jim" Ratajczak; dearest mother of Timothy (Sharon) Ratajczak, Janet (David) Breindel, Peggy Glace and Karen Ratajczak; dearest grandmother of Jason Pagels, Gabrielle Peden, Jacob (Dominique) Breindel, Christine (Benjamin) Hunt, and Samantha Glace. Adoring great grandmother of Gabriel and Naomie...
Gregory D. "Greg" Brown
Feb 2, 2026
Gregory D. “Greg” Brown Sr., age 79, of De Pere, formerly of Shawano, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday afternoon, February 2, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and son.
Greg was born on January 1, 1947, in Buffalo, NY, a son of the late Floyd E. and Margaret (Strassheim) Brown. He grew up in the family funeral home...
Joyce E. Palczynski
Feb 1, 2026
Joyce E. (Szczykutowicz) Palczynski; October 21, 1941-February 1, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Joseph Palczynski. Dearest mother of Michael J. (Linda) Palczynski, Nancy E. Heichberger and James B. (Shannon) Palczynski. Grandmother of Christine (Nick) Hudson, Eric, Nathan (fiance James Koszuta), Jacob and Lauren (fiancee Jonathan Anstett). Adoring great grandmother of Madalyn, Lucas, Milo, and Kade. Daughter of the late...
Lawrence J. Held
Jan 31, 2026
Lawrence J. Held, of Cheektowaga, NY passed away on January 31, 2026 at the age of 82. Beloved husband of Timothy A. Gordon. Son of the late Lawrence, Sr. and Eleanor (nee Martin) Held. Dearest brother of William T. and Duane M. (Shawn) Held. He is also survived by many loving nephews, cousins, and friends. Lawrence served in the US...
Helen M. Zwirecki
Jan 29, 2026
Helen M. (Jablonicky) Zwirecki, of Orchard Park, NY, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026, at the age of 90. Beloved wife of the late Robert J. Zwirecki, M.D.; dearest mother of Angela Z. (late Gregory) Miller, Robert J., Jr (Amy) Zwirecki, Dominica M. (Paul) Sortisio, Joseph J. (Christina) Zwirecki, and Maria T. (Stewart) Polsky; devoted grandmother of David Miller,...
Alexander Athans
Jan 25, 2026
Athans, Alexander F., of West Seneca, NY. Beloved husband of Jana (Fairchild) Athans, loving father of Peter (Stacey) Athans, Justin (Jessica) Athans, and Brenda (Pauly Cordero) Athans. Stepfather of Charlie (Candace Lee) Crumlish, Julianna (Caleb Clark) Crumlish, and Alex Crumlish. Adored Grandpa of Brooke, Adley, Everly, Weston, Declan, Justin Jr., Skylar, Audriana, Damien, Olivia, Helen and Paul. Al was loved...
George Holdridge
Jan 24, 2026
George L. Holdridge; passed away peacefully on January 24, 2026. Beloved husband of the late Janet A. (Obrochta) Holdridge. Beloved father of Karen Holdridge and Beth (Josh) Nowak-Enright. Grandfather of Lucas and Katie Nowak. Great grandfather of Willow. Son of the late George and Greta (Sick) Holdridge. Brother of the late Sheila Dalton and Sharon Greene. Brother-in-law to Catherine Obrochta,...
Helen Parafinczuk
Jan 18, 2026
Helen Camuza Parafinczuk, 97, of Orchard Park, NY, died peacefully on January 18th, 2026.
Born in Buffalo, NY, Helen was predeceased by her always loving, and always loved, husband of 67 years, Raymond F. Parafinczuk; her parents, Anthony and Mary; two sisters, Francis and Alice and brother, George.
As the quarterback of her family, Helen was a wonderful, supportive mother to her...
Theodore Backus
Jan 13, 2026
Theodore (Ted) E. Backus, 70, of Orchard Park passed away suddenly on January 13, 2026. Ted was born June 2, 1955, in Buffalo, NY.
Ted attended polygraph school and practiced his profession until starting Buffalo Polygraph Services and then Backus Brothers Properties, where he began purchasing real estate. He accumulated a portfolio of properties centered in the Elmwood corridor.
Ted loved playing...
Andrea Hoffower
Jan 12, 2026
Andrea G. Hoffower "Ande",
September 6th 1955 - January 11th 2026
Andrea Gail Hoffower, 70, of East Aurora, New York, passed peacefully on January 11th, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, William H. Hoffower and Doris C. Hoffower (Eckl), and her sister, Deborah Moore (Hoffower).
Andrea was known for her unwavering dedication to friends and family, both...
Delina C. Macfarland
Dec 29, 2025
Delina "Lindy" (Clapp) Macfarland, of Orchard Park, NY, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2025.
Precious wife of 58 years to the late Willard C. Macfarland. Dearest mother of Marnee M. Lerums; Willard C. Macfarland, Jr. (Shirley); Lina M. Foster; and Margot M. Henel (Jeffrey).Cherished grandmother of Helen Lerums (Silvia Crespo), Anne Schaffa (Danny), Willard Lerums (Natalie), Kyle Henel (Taner...
Ronald Schopf
Dec 25, 2025
Schopf, Ronald W. of Orchard Park, NY. December 25, 2025. Beloved husband of the late Diane (Aures) Schopf. Loving father of Eric D. (Pamela) Schopf, Rene S. (Scot) Shoffstall and Darci K. (Terry) Cobado. Cherished grandfather of Sydney, Jessica and Marissa (Josh) McGraw. Treasured brother-in-law of Margaret (Anthony) Cavalieri. Also survived by nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends Monday,...
Lynda Somerville
Dec 21, 2025
Somerville, Lynda Jean (Heckmiller), of Orchard Park, NY, passed away December 21, 2025. Beloved wife of 43 years to Jeffrey R. Somerville. Dearest mother of Jason (Katherine) Somerville, Andrea (late Jaron) Bruzgul, and Bryan (Jess) Somerville. Devoted grandmother to George, Reagan, Sadie, and Gordon Bruzgul, and Madelyn Somerville. Dear sister of Christie Heckmiller, David (Jeanne) Heckmiller, and Judy (Doug) Hubbard....
William Weir
Dec 20, 2025
William Michael Weir passed away gently on December 20th, 2025. Our family has been very close knit. We love Bill deeply and cherish the times when we sat at dinner and laughed tears at something that he said. Bill was compassionate, loving, kind and fun.
As a professional, Bill was a national recognized innovator in executive benefits. This unique work coupled...
Francis Ford
Dec 13, 2025
Ford, Francis C. Jr. "Frank"May 2, 1942-Dec 13, 2025, of Orchard Park, NY entered into eternal life on December 13th, 2025. Beloved husband of 61 years to Judith (Fiegel) Ford; dear father of Annette (John) Bahun and Matthew (Aleida) Ford; loving Papa of Caitlin (Jackson) Baldwin, Kristen (Harry) Johnson, Benjamin Bahun, Camille Ford and Olivia Bahun.Frank was a master electrician...
Marguerite Laks
Dec 12, 2025
Laks, Marguerite M (Schultz) "Peggy" of Orchard Park, NY, entered into eternal life on December 12th, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Born on January 12th, 1938, in Buffalo, NY, Peggy lived a life rooted in faith, service, and love.
Peggy is survived by her children, Michael (Christine) Laks, Jane (Rooney) Gleason, and Molly (Carl) Emerling, and their father Raymond E. Laks. Preceded...
Judith Schueler
Dec 9, 2025
Schueler, Judith D. Age 91, of Orchard Park, New York, passed away peacefully on December 9th, 2025. Born in Waltham, Mass. in 1934, Judith moved to the area after her father was transferred. She graduated from Orchard Park High School in 1953. She was the beloved wife of the late Bruce "Ziggy" Schueler for 62 years. Judy was a devoted mother...
Gerald Tidd
Nov 26, 2025
Tidd, Gerald D., of North Tonawanda, NY passed away November 26th, 2025. Survived by his children: Jerry Tidd, Katherine (Michael) Phinney, and Michael C. (Dawn) Tidd and their mother Sharon Ward. Cherished grandfather of Walter, Michael, Benjamin, Tyler, Emilie, Nicholas, Madison and Timothy-John. Great grandfather of Isaac, Savannah, and Kendall. Son of the late Thomas Tidd and the late Delores (Charles)...
Subscribe
Subscribe to get alerts on new obituaries
