Katherine “Kathy” R. McCormick
July 16, 1945—July 29, 2023
Highland Falls, NY
Katherine “Kathy” R. McCormick passed away on July 29, 2023, at her residence in Highland Falls, NY. She was 78 years old. Daughter of the late Herbert and Margaret (Miller) Schwenke, Kathy was born on July 16, 1945, in Highland Park, MI.
Kathy worked at Orange County Department of Social Services as a Case Worker. Due to her passion for her job, Kathy and her late husband Joe, were Foster Parents to many kids and were proud members of Project Children which allowed them to open their home to children from Northern Ireland that gives the exchange students the chance to immerse themselves in US culture. Kathy was also a member of the Orange County Board of Elections and also a member of Sacred Heart Church in Highland Falls.
Left to cherish Kathy’s memory are her children: Amy Belladone and her husband Joseph, of Highland Falls, NY; Beth Feldman and her husband Don, of Highland Falls, NY; Joseph S. McCormick Jr., and his wife Kathy, of Long Beach, CA; and Latasha McCormick also of Highland Falls, NY; brother, Thomas Schwenke and his wife, Annie of Millburn, NJ; brother-in-law David (Turkey)McCormick and wife Joanne, of Highland Falls, NY; her beloved grandchildren: Kendall, Alyssa, Donnie, Kevin, Tahiem, Mollie, Joe-Joe, Lukas, Kate, Collin, and Kenny; and by many nephews and niece. In addition to her parents, Kathy is also predeceased by her devoted husband Joseph S. McCormick Sr.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at William F. Hogan Funeral Home, 135 Main St., Highland Falls, NY 10928. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Sacred Heart Church, 353 Main St., Highland Falls, NY. Interment will follow at Eagle Valley Cemetery in Town of The Highlands, NY.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church 353 Main St., Highland Falls, NY 10928, or the Ticket to Dream Foundation. Donations may be at tickettodream.org or mailed to Ticket to Dream Foundation 8413 Washington Blvd., #100, Roseville, CA 95678.
Arrangements by William F. Hogan Funeral Home, (845) 446-2868 www.wfhoganfuneralhome.com
Florence Mildred Sickler
October 24, 1924—July 4, 2023
Highland Falls, NY
Florence M. Sickler, a resident of Highland Falls for 70 years, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2023. She slipped away to the sound of fireworks at a nearby park with her daughter Barb at her side. Her final words earlier that day were, “I miss Dad.” The devoted Flo Sickler had decided it was time to check in on Phil.
Florence was born on October 24, 1924, to Florence and William Hasbrouck Clark in the West Park home of her grandparents, Carrie and Frank Green. It was her father’s birthday, and she was his gift. She grew up in the Port Ewen home Will Clark built for his young family on the corner of Bayard and Schryver Streets. The Clark family quickly expanded to include Flo’s younger sister Barbara and brother John. It was an idyllic childhood in a growing neighborhood with no shortage of playmates her age. She attended school at “No. 13” just a short walk away. As a teenager, she rode the bus to Kingston High School. It was there that she caught the eye of a handsome new boy in town named Phil Sickler from Stone Ridge.
Flo met Phil for the first time at a church group skating party. They were “high school sweethearts” from then on, getting engaged just prior to WWII. While Phil was fighting in the Philippines, Flo worked at the Hercules Powder Plant in Port Ewen. She sat on a stool all day soldering wires together on detonators which then went for testing. It was a dangerous workplace. There had been at least one explosion at the plant. Flo’s only injury was from a mishap with her soldering iron. Others were not so lucky.
Phil was discharged from the Army on December 13, 1945. Three days later Flo and Phil were married in the Port Ewen Methodist Church. They spent their honeymoon in New York City amidst all the other young men who had returned home. Phil’s GI Bill training led to jobs which took them from Kingston to Newburgh, and, finally, to West Point. They settled in scenic Highland Falls, made it their hometown, and raised three children: Steve, Barbara and Cathy. Their routine family life included many visits to loved ones in Stone Ridge and Port Ewen. Will Clark’s river camp was the usual destination for most weekends, holidays and school breaks. Summers included frequent swims at Round Pond. There were annual camping trips to Montauk on Long Island. Flo once master-minded an ambitious five-week long cross-country trip to visit national parks and family on the West Coast–no small feat!
After Flo and Phil became empty nesters and Phil retired, they bought their dream home on Kleitz Avenue where they lived happily for 47 years. They did everything together, joined at the hip by an enduring love and dedication to family, weathering every bump in the road. Along the way, the Sickler family continued to grow. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren visited often. There were many holiday and birthday celebrations at 36 Kleitz, but there were sorrows too. They lost Steve first and then Cathy, who had supported them with so much tender, loving care. Their health began to deteriorate.
Illness eventually took its toll, necessitating a move into a Senior Assisted Living home in Leesburg, Virginia, near to Barb. Six months later, Phil passed away just weeks short of his 100th birthday. Never a quitter, Flo gave it a good shot; but she had been married to Phil for a total of 77 years. She missed him terribly. Six months later, she followed him home.
Flo was lovely and kind. She listened. She encouraged. She had compassion for those down on their luck. She rarely met a person she didn’t like. She was fond of saying that she did not believe in exercise, but she always cheered Phil on. She claimed she was not a “joiner.” Except for once belonging to a bowling team, that was true. Flo was happy with her lot in life; there was nowhere else she would rather be. These were some of her favorite things:
– First, foremost and always, her husband and best friend, Phil.
– Her children, grands, and greats.
-A good book, especially a love story by Nicholas Sparks.
–A cold, refreshing drink with Phil at 4:00 pm daily.
-A chair in the sun where she could watch the world go by while holding Phil’s hand.
-A good apple pie like her mother used to make, but any sweet would do.
-A satisfying rest in her rocking chair looking out a window through weeping cherry boughs.
-The cooing of mourning doves.
-Her friendships (Eleanor, Mable, and Bernice, all long gone), the best neighbors ever (Jean, Jim and Laurie, Mary-Elizabeth and Mary) and six amazing, caring people (Mary Lou, Margaret, Lydia, Bob, Larry, and Lill). They know who they are.
-An occasional trip to the mall.
-A good conversation, preferably involving the news about everyone and everything.
-Oft-quoted witticisms for every situation.
-Porches, including the front and back ones on her childhood home, the one overlooking Main Street where she sat with cherished neighbors at the Storm King Arms (Chrissy, Margaret and Kitty), the back deck of 36 Kleitz, and the big white porch with Adirondack rockers at Reflections, the final stop on her journey.
Flo is survived by her daughter, Barbara Manzo, and her husband Joseph; daughter-in-law Beverly Sickler; sister-in-law Barbara Clark; grandchildren, Carin (Siemer) Taylor and her husband Matthew, Jennifer Sickler, Rebecca Siebelts, and Matthew Manzo and his wife Melissa; and three great-grandchildren, Abby Whittington, and Sasha and Raphael Manzo; nephew John Clark and his wife Carol; nieces Kim Houston and her husband Ben, and Kristy Woodall and her husband Claiborne. She was preceded in death by her husband Phil; her son, Reverend Steve Sickler; her daughter Cathy Siemer; her sister, Barbara Spinnenweber and her husband Warren; and her brother John Clark.
Services honoring Flo and Phil together will be held in Highland Falls and again in Port Ewen in the fall at times to be announced. In recognition of support provided following the recent flood in Highland Falls, donations may be made in Phil and Flo’s name to samaritanspurse.org or to any other charitable organization.