Falconer High School Class of 1968

06/05/2025

heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Patricia “Pat/Patty” Sherman. Surrounded by her family, she left us far too soon on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the age of 75. She was born on Dec. 24, 1949, in Jamestown, New York to the late Evelyn McKain and was preceded in death by her brother Lowell (Mickey) McKain and sister Donna Bauer (McKain).

Pat was a beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so many. She was also a talented LPN and worked two full-time jobs for many years. After 33 years of service in the healthcare field, she retired in 2019 from The Resource Center.

Mom never missed any important events or birthdays involving family. She had the unique ability to make you feel special and was always the first call family members received on their birthdays. We will miss being serenaded with her unique rendition of, “Happy Birthday.”

She lived a life marked by deep compassion, quiet strength, and devotion to her family. She touched the lives of so many with her guidance, generosity, and unwavering love. Throughout life, Pat found joy in the simple things–always looking forward to the birth of her foals and calves, bird watching, bailing hay, tending to her garden, hunting, solving word puzzles, camping or just puttering around the farm. Above all, spending time with her husband and family were her most cherished activities.

She is survived by her beloved husband William “Bill” Sherman; son Brian (Kathy) Whalen; daughter Stacie (David) Hornburg; step-daughters Julie (John) Covert and Sheila (Gil) Marzinek; grandchildren; Amanda (Christopher) Johnson, Brittany (Jeffrey) Green, Jordan (Miranda) Chamberlin, Branden (Molly) Decker, Brandon (Kelly) Chamberlin, Taylor Whalen, Justin Whalen, Kamarin Whalen, Corinne Covert, Lydia Covert, Elizabeth Hornburg, and Jessica Hornburg; six great grandchildren; and her two fur-babies Spotter and Maggie.

Her life will be honored in a private family memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in her honor to the Chautauqua County Humane Society or Chautauqua County 4-H Club.

You may leave words of condolence at lindfuneralhome.com.

06/05/2025

It is with a heavy heart that I post this. 😢

Bette Ann Peterson (nee Brandt), 75, of Falconer, New York, passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Born on Aug. 26, 1949, in Jamestown, the daughter of late Arnold P. Brandt and Beatrice Johnson Brandt. Bette remained deeply rooted in the community where she was born and raised. Her life was filled with creativity, warmth, and a deep devotion to her family.

Bette was a 1968 graduate of Falconer Central School. Her first employment was for Johnson’s Florist her family business. After graduation she worked at Hills and the Agnes Home until becoming a stay at home mother.

Bette found joy in many simple pleasures. She had a passion for plastic canvas crafts, which allowed her to express her creativity alongside her children. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching game shows and Hallmark movies–pastimes that brought comfort and entertainment to her days. Traveling was another source of happiness for Bette. She especially cherished the journeys she took with her daughter Lisa and granddaughter Alexis. Together they explored wonderful places to visit and live, creating memories that spanned both miles and years.

In recent years, Bette spent most weekends adventuring with her daughters Lisa and Christine and granddaughters Alexis and Elliana. These outings were treasured moments that reflected the close bond she shared with them.

Bette’s legacy lives on through her loving family: Michelle (Reid) Johnson of Ellington; Jeffrey A. (Danielle) Peterson of Falconer; Gerald “Chuck” (Jennifer) Peterson of Jamestown; Lisa A. Peterson of Falconer; and Christine (Matthew) Emmick of Ellington. She was a proud grandmother to twelve grandchildren: Elizabeth Brown, Mikaela Johnson, Zachary Peterson, Alex Peterson, Emily Johnson, Alexis Peterson, Lucas Peterson, Elliana Emmick, Elisabeth Wilson, Curtis Wilson, Traya Allen-Begel, and Jordan Allen. Her love extended to eleven great-grandchildren: Annaliese, Chloe, Bailey, and Grahm Brown; Ayden, Grayson, and Henslee Peterson; Conner and Spencer Overbeck; Charlie Wilson and Gunner Karr, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jeffrey Allen Peterson, a beloved granddaughter Zoe Rayne Emmick, a great-granddaughter Norah Brown, and a brother in-law John L. Peterson.

Bette’s life was one of quiet joys and meaningful connections. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday in the Falconer Funeral Home. Andrew Peterson, her nephew will officiate. Inurnment will be in Lake View Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be donated to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701

Visit our website at www.falconerfuneralhome.net

08/13/2023

Class of 1968 - 55th reunion. August 11 & 12, 2023

10/09/2021

FHS October 2021

07/10/2021

Lander’s Men’s Store owners Clifford and Ann Powers are retiring this month, and as a result, the longtime men’s clothing reatailer in Jamestown will be closing its doors. The original owner of the store began operations in 1952. Clifford Powers began working at the store in 1973, and he and h...

06/27/2021

John V. LaBardo, 71, of Jamestown passed away unexpectedly Friday (June 25, 2021) in UPMC Chautauqua. A lifelong area resident he was born June 8, 1950 in Jamestown, the son of the late Anthony “Tony” and Grace M. Tilaro LaBardo. He currently owned Southern Tier Financial in Falconer. Surviving ...

06/04/2021

Timothy E. Willett, 71, of Falconer passed away Sunday (February 21, 2021) in his home. A lifelong area resident he was born May 29, 1949 in Jamestown, the son of the late Leslie W. and Nilda Rossetti Willett. Tim was a 1967 graduate of Falconer High School and was employed by Carborundum Monofrax f...

06/04/2021

Wayne F. Powell, 70, of Kennedy, passed away Tuesday (March 23, 2021) in his home after a long illness. He was born June 18, 1950, in Jamestown, NY, the son of the late A. Lloyd and Cora M. Weiler Powell-Sprague. Wayne was a graduate of Falconer High School and was employed by Art Metal Manufacturin...

06/04/2021

Ronda Sue Rublee, 71, of Marietta, Ohio, passed away on May 23, 2021. She was born Jan. 9, 1950, in Jamestown, N.Y., and raised in nearby Kennedy, N.Y. She graduated from Falconer High School in 1968 and continued her education by graduating from Highland Hospital School of Nursing in 1971. She late...

08/29/2020

What do you think of the new entrance?

03/27/2020

Bonna Lee Westerlund, 70, of 44 Woodworth Ave., passed Monday, March 23, 2020 just after 3 p.m., in UPMC Hamot, Erie, Pa., from a stroke she suffered on Thursday, March 19, 2020. After fighting with all her strength, she took her last breath blanketed in love by her husband and daughter.

She was the fourth child born Dec. 10, 1949, in Jamestown, a daughter of the late Walter Heilman, Sr. and Pollyanna Wright Heilman Morrison.

She always spoke fondly of growing up in the country where she would drive the family tractor to the local swimming hole, participated in 4H and rode her horse, Amy through the back fields. While attending school, she took up the violin and through practice and talent, landed herself as first chair in the senior orchestra before even entering high school. Her senior year was filled with great accomplishments. She was awarded Miss Ellington and won champion in Hunt Seat with Amy at the Great New York State Fair. She also met Bobby Kennedy on his visit to Chautauqua County, where he asked to ride Amy and took off galloping away from his secret service agents.

Bonna graduated from Falconer High School in 1968 and furthered her education at Jamestown Community College where she graduated with her associates in business administration. After years of hard work and dedication to her field, she lastly worked at Loranger International Corp in Warren, Pa., as the executive assistant to the president. In December of 1989, she suffered a back injury that sadly removed her from the workforce but she happily spent her days raising her daughter and being a supportive house wife to her husband.

She took great joy in being a Jamestown High School Marching Band mom and seamstress for her daughters theatre productions. She proudly supported her husband as a military spouse throughout his career including his deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2004/2005.

Even with this injury, that never stopped Bonna from pursuing a higher education. She took classes at St. Bonaventure hoping to someday return to work. When that proved to be too difficult on her health, she continued to enjoy her love of animals where she raised Labrador puppies with her family.

A wonderful hobby handed down from her mother was the love of crocheting. Bonna enjoyed bringing a smile to her loved ones faces by gifting handmade afghans and boy was she overjoyed when this love passed down to her daughter as well. She was a collector of cobalt blue glass and dishes. Her husband happily supported her collection by making her cabinets for her beautiful displays. Later in life her daughter helped her to rediscover her love of horses. She happily donated her time volunteering at a few local barns including helping out at Homestead Stables in Gerry where her horse was boarded. These wonderful opportunities filled her last years with so much joy and lifelong friendships.

Being a homebody due to health restraints for most of her adult life was always so challenging for her however, her family wants her friends to know how much she loved them and spoke of them all often. Bonna would brighten a room when she would enter it and knowing she touched so many people brings her husband and daughter great comfort.

Surviving are her husband, Stewart Westerlund, whom she married Oct. 8, 1994, a daughter Samantha (Frank) Alemar of Oneida, N.Y.; and two step granddaughters: Skyler and Melina Alemar of Meriden, Conn.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Eugene Heilman and Walter Heilman, Jr.; and a sister Gloria Radspinner.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be lovingly made to Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.

You may leave words of condolence at www.lind

The Frank E. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster, Ohio and the Johnson-Smith Funeral Home in Baltimore, Ohio have a long and wonderful history of serving our community.