James W. Dillman

James W. Dillman of East Meadow died on December 24th. He was 86 years old.

Mr. Dillman is survived by his wife, Joan; children Mary Ann D. Maus, John T. Dillman, Michael J. Dillman, James W. Dillman, Jr., Joan D. Fitzpatrick and Catherine D’Dio; sister Margaret Dillman Darmstadt; 12 grandchildren; and a niece and nephew.

A Funeral Mass was said on December 29th at St. Anne’s Church. Interment followed at Holy Rood Cemetery. Donations may be made to Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 239 Fingerboard Road, Staten Island, NY 10305. Arrangements were handled by the Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home in NHP.

....... Gerald O’Neill

It is with sorrow in their hearts that the O’Neill family communicate the passing of Gerald (Jerry) O’Neill, beloved husband of Marion. After a 10-year struggle with prostrate cancer, Jerry succumbed in the night of December 21,22, 2004. He was at home amongst family. Marion was holding him in her arms and telling him how much he was loved, Jerry never complained and was gentle and considerate to the end. Born in Pittsburgh, PA. On June 8, 1931 to hotel manager Gerald O’Neill and his wife Regina nee Moyles. Jerry lived in the William Penn and Warrick Hotels in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia until he was 15 - thus he never learned to ride a bike. He attended Cornell and East Stroudsburg State College. His parents then owned the Penn Stroud and Indian Queen Hotels in Stroudsburg. During the Korean conflict he served in the US Army Intelligence in Europe. Jerry and Marion moved to NYC in 1957, Garden City, Long Island in 1976 and to Wilmington in 2001 to be close to family. He worked for the US Customs for 35 years at JFK until retiring in 2000. In 1993 he served with the US Customs in Macedonia as part of the MACSAM during the Balkan conflicts. Jerry loved to travel, good food and drink. His curiosity often led him to take the back roads ‘just to see’. He had a keen sense of humor that he shared with those he loved. Indeed his sense of humor never failed him, even on his last day. Most of all Jerry was a gentle, considerate man, quick to love and slow to judge. He will be deeply missed. Jerry is survived by his loving wife Marion, his children Patrick, Christopher and Emily (Wander); their spouses: Jeanne, Teresa and Mitch and 6 grandchildren, Alex, Andrew, Amy, Meggie, Timothy and Benjamin. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to St. Helena’s RC Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, 19809.