Category: Obituaries

Ralph E. Schoepfel

November 3, 1931 – August 7, 2024

Ralph E. Schoepfel died at home with his wife by his side after a battle with colon cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Ann. Predeceased by his sons Craig and Ronald Schoepfel. He is survived by his son, Daniel (Carol) Schoepfel and his daughter, Teri (Ted) Fox, 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Ralph was a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran in charge of building an orphange in Okinawa, Japan. He was a catcher that was drafted by the Boston Braves, a baseball coach for the Babe Ruth league, an umpire and Buffalo Bills Fan. He was a Cub Scout Cubmaster for Pack 70 at St. Andrew’s on Portland Avenue. Ralph and his wife also ran the snow cone booth at the yearly St. Andrew’s Festivals, and he was an usher at the 12:15PM mass prior to their closing. Ralph was a Kodak Retiree and he and his wife collected and was a member of the Department 56 Club.

Calling hours will be Friday August 16th, from 3-7pm at Dierna Funeral Home 2309 Culver Rd. (near Norton St.) His Funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday 10am at the Funeral Home followed by interment at Irondequoit Cemetery.

Jeffrey “Scotty” Scott Evans

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Scotty on July 3, 2024, at age 34.
He is predeceased by his father Jeffrey Evans, loving grandparents Guner and Kemal Ture.
Survived by his mother Candice Ture, sister Amanda Evans (Josh Rosado), and Uncle Bulent Ture (Sara); Foster parents Julie Natale and Kevin Natale and foster siblings Jonathan Moody, Kassandra Moody, and Anthony Natale (Madeline).

There are no calling hours. A private remembrance gathering will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Scott’s honor to DePaul Upper Falls Square, 1931 Buffalo Rd. Rochester, NY 14601.

Estelita Alers
On July 7, 2024, at 58.
Survived by her husband Adalberto “Dave” Alers; children Jessenia “Jesse” Davis, Adalberto “Albert” Alers Jr., and Jasmine “Mumu”Alers; son-in-law Joe Davis, grandchildren Kiana, Kayla, Johsian, Tres, Benjamin, Ryan, Noah, and Jazlin; siblings William Velazquez, Jeffrey Velazquez, and Marcelina DePriest; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and many cousins.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, July 13th, 3-6PM at Dierna Funeral Home.

Emmanuel DelValle, affectionately known as “dundun” or “Manny”, passed away on July 3rd, 2024.
He was born June 4th, 1983, to Mother Rosalina Perez and Father Manases Martinez in Guayama, Puerto Rico, although Rochester, NY would be the city that he called home for the entirety of his life.
Emmanuel loved spending time with family and friends whether it was over a plate of a home cooked meal or a pitcher of beer listening to Classic Rock. His hearty laugh and genuine spirit lives beyond what words can explain. Emmanuel’s siblings and friends remember him most for his love and passion for sports, Go bills & Lets Go Yanks!
He is survived by his son Jonathan Young; his father Manases Martinez; stepfather Felix Rios; siblings Dionicia DelValle, Eduardo Rios (Melissa Rios), and Alisia Rios; as well as many aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and friends. Predeceased by his mother Rosalina Perez and eldest sister Yazmin DelValle.
Emmanuel leaves a legacy of love, laughter, and a genuine friendship to many.
Dundun you will live on in our hearts and our memories shared together forever cherished.
Services to honor Emmanuel’s life will be held on Saturday, July 13th, 10:00am – 12:30pm, at Dierna Funeral Home.

Lawrence Peter Whittaker

July 9, 2024 passed peacefully in his 76th year. He is predeceased by his parents Lawrence A. Whittaker and Ellen Cahill Ried and his loving sister Judith Warney. Survived by his caring brother Patrick, brother-in-law Gordy Warney, niece Colleen Warney, nephew Robert and great-nephew J.T. Warney. He also leaves his special cousins “The Three Divas”, Ann, Joan and Pidge, along with numerous other cousins  and friends.

His Second Family, predeceased by parents Raymond and Florence Oldfield, brothers Billy and Danny, and sister Kathy Riley. Survived by Thomas (Rose), Robert (Dorothy) Oldfield brother in-law Michael Riley and sister-in-law Vickie Oldfield and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday from 10am-12pm followed by a service at Dierna Funeral Home 2309 Culver Rd. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wilmot Cancer.

Damien Joseph Bennett passed suddenly on June 30, 2024, at the age of 4.
Damien was a sweet, energetic and vivacious little boy who was taken far too soon.
Damien is survived by his parents, Gragory Bennett & Amber Pizzingrilli; Sister Silvana Bennett; Grandparents, Julie & Fred Lindboe, Gary Pizzingrilli, Tina Bennett & Charles Decker; Great Grandfather Gary Pizzingrilli Sr; along with many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Family Friends that loved him dearly. May Damien rest in peace.
Calling hours will be held Saturday, July 6th, 2-6PM at Dierna Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the family are graciously accepted to offset the funeral costs.

Daniel James Maloy, 82, passed away peacefully on June 20th, 2024, at St. Ann’s Community in Rochester, NY with his family by his side. Dan is survived by his loving wife, Sheral, his daughter, Teresa Maloy Waldron and her husband, Michael and Teresa’s mother, Karen Maloy; his stepsons, Larry Peterson and his wife, Aree and Michael Peterson; his sisters, Alice Clasgens and Katherine (Kitty) Maloy-Mandile and her husband, Jim; his grandchildren, Quinn, Maeve and Tess Waldron; Victoria, James, Camden and Taylor Peterson and Collin Anderson; his nephews, Tim, David and Mark Clasgens, and niece, Mary Ellen Clasgens; and a wonderful group of extended family and friends. Dan was preceded in death by his his parents, Eleanor and Kingsley Maloy and his siblings Sister Anne Maloy and Robert Maloy.
Dan was born on March 22, 1942, in Lyons, NY. He grew up in Clyde, NY and graduated from Clyde High School in 1959 where he played football and basketball. Dan graduated from SUNY Oswego in 1964 with a degree in psychology. He was a member of Psi Phi Gamma fraternity.
Dan began a successful career in Connecticut with his ironwork company, Union City Steel. He was a member of Ironworkers Local 15 in Hartford, CT.
Dan loved his family and friends as well as boats, Corvettes, collecting antique guns, football (the Dallas Cowboys) and enjoying a beer at one of his favorite hangouts with friends. He lived in CT, TX, CO and back in NY. He loved a road trip and explored almost every state, always making friends along the way.
There will be a celebration of life at St Ann’s Community Chapel at 1500 Portland Ave. in Rochester, NY on July 13th at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, Dan would love prayers for the Dallas Cowboys to win the 2025 Super Bowl. He certainly said enough of them during his life.

Michael Yare Jr. 71 of Rochester, NY, passed away on June 20th, 2024, at his home after a brief illness.  Mike is predeceased by his parents Alice and Michael Yare, Chris Yare and Boris Christ (uncles) and Helen Christ La Gaipa (aunt) and Aspasia Tahou (cousin).  He is survived by his aunt Strebrena Yare and cousins Barbara (Robert) Ballard, Sandra (Ljupco) Bucukovski, Robert (Linda) Christ, Patricia (Charles) Dawley, Laurie (Charles) Fyles, Patty (Paul) Kaptein, Diane (David) Peirce, and Alex (Jeanette) Tahou, goddaughter Quinn Meadows as well as close friends Kevin Dailey, Carol Meadows Miller, Fay Stoinis Calman and Norman Thompson. 

Mike is a lifetime Rochester resident.  He graduated from East High where he was a member of the Theta fraternity and a Son of Pericles at the Greek Orthodox Church.  He went on to study at RIT.  He has remained close to friends from childhood. He loved the guitar and his high school Garage Band. Mike talked with pride about his father and uncle’s restaurant, the White Swan, right across from the Eastman School of Music.  He learned the restaurant business working at the White Swan, even having his own restaurant for a time in Sea Breeze. He also helped his cousin Alex Tahou at Nick Tahou Hots.  

Mike was a well-known wedding photographer in Rochester with weddings throughout Western New York as far afield as Buffalo, Lewiston, Chautauqua and the Finger Lake wineries. He loved taking engagement photos at Letchworth State Park, a favorite spot of his mother’s and even photographed Father Daughter dances.  He added a second business with his deep knowledge of the food industry – Make Yare Food Photography. Mike had many friends in the photo business, especially at Scott’s Photo and Park Avenue Photo. He mentored many camera assistants over almost 40 years in the business. He took pride in his work and ensured that his clients were happy, satisfied and taken care of.

Until the last few years, he could often be found riding his mountain bike or driving his Jeep Wrangler at Allegheny State Park.  He was very fond of the town of Ellicottville and visited often. Mike lived a rich life and frequented The Golden Fox and The Winfield Grill where he made many friends who enjoyed his fun-loving company and great sense of humor. 

Mike will be greatly missed. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 26th from 6-8PM at Dierna Funeral Home (2309 Culver Rd.) and Thursday, June 27th from 9-10AM at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (962 East Ave) with his funeral mass immediately following at 10 AM. Friends and family are invited to join the Interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery.  A luncheon Mercy Meal will follow at the church.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, St Dimitria Macedonian Orthodox Church or the American Lung Association.  Special thanks to cousins Laurie and Chuck Fyles as well as  Fay Stoinis Calman, his former camera assistant and dear friend.  The family would also like to thank the Winfield Grill and A&G Meats for donating food for the Mercy Meal and to Agathi of Arbor Venues for the organization of the meal service.