Obituaries

Joyce E. Palczynski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)...

Margaret Jablonski

Margaret Jablonski

Nov 22, 2025

Margaret Anne "Peg" (nee Tarsa) JablonskiNovember 17, 1931 - November 22, 2025 Peg Jablonski, 94, of Orchard Park, NY, formerly Naples, FL passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Predeceased by her husband John A. Jablonski, Peg was an amazing mother to her children John (Amy Holt), Marianne, Suzanne Thomas, Patti (Brian) Dopkin, Adam (Andrea) and...

Jeanne DeFranco

Jeanne DeFranco

Nov 6, 2025

DeFranco, Jeanne (nee Moriarty) of Orchard Park, NY. November 6th, 2025.

Beloved wife of Robert L. DeFranco, DDS. Loving mother of John (Stephanie) DeFranco of Boise, Idaho and Amy Defranco of Lakeland, Florida. Grandmother of Ava and Sally DeFranco and Lauren and Emma Szczepanski. Sister of Thomas (Anna) Moriarty, Rita Vogel and the late Carole, James, Ann and Kathleen Moriarty.

No prior...

Mary McCall

Mary McCall

Nov 5, 2025

McCall, Mary (Hollis) of Orchard Park, NY. November 5th, 2025.

Beloved wife of the late Lennard E. Johnson and the late Jack L. McCall, Sr., Mother of Craig H. Johnson and Mark (Patricia) Johnson. Grandmother of Matthew (Emmilly) Johnson, and Kimberly and Brittany Johnson. Great Grandmother of Wyatt and Kassidy Johnson. Stepmother to Jack McCall, Jr. and Family and Lisa McCall...

Jody Krzeminski

Jody Krzeminski

Nov 4, 2025

Jody A. (nee Schiltz) Krzeminski, age 65, of West Seneca, NY. Tuesday, November 4th, 2025.

Jody was born June 19, 1960, to the late Carl Schiltz and the late Shirley Wood. Beloved wife of the late Leo "Sonny" Krzeminski. Loving mother to Matthew (Jessica) Krzeminski and Amanda (Rob) Cannon; grandmother of Grayson, Sophie and Charlotte. Sister of Debbie (Dale) Colkitt, Terry...