Eleanor De Grange
MOUNT VERNON — Eleanor “Patsy” (Oakes) De Grange, 78, of Hilltop Drive, Mount Vernon, passed away Saturday, March 20, 2004, at Knox Community Hospital.

She was born Feb. 24, 1926, in Mount Vernon to Travie and Edna Mae (Graham) Oakes. Mrs. De Grange loved studying family genealogy. She was a 1944 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and had been employed by Ideal Frocks and Betty Gay dress shops, and for the soil conservation districts in Knox and Marion counties.

She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Lawrence De Grange; two sisters, Doris McCrory and Margaret Heighton, both of Mount Vernon; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Kathryn Yarman; and three brothers, Harry Oakes, Edgar Oakes and Kenneth Oakes.

Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, where funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Joe Blevins officiating. Burial will follow in Mound View Cemetery.

This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ervin ‘Dick’ Hill
GALION — Ervin R. “Dick” Hill, 71, of 245 Gill Ave., Galion, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, in the emergency room at MedCentral Health Systems in Mansfield after a brief illness.

Mr. Hill was born June 21, 1932, in Richland County to Emmett and Gladys (Johnson) Hill. He married Shirley A. Mitchell on July 25, 1970, she survives him. He was employed by Cooper Industries as a tool and die maker until his retirement in 1991. Mr. Hill served as an aircraft navigator in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He enjoyed cooking, gardening and working with both wood and cars.

He is survived by two brothers, Louis (Violet) Hill of Hudson, Fla., and Wilbur (Charlene) Hill of Mount Vernon; a sister, Marilyn (Homer) Johnson of Galion; two sons, Michael (Rene) Hill and Mark (Roxanne) Hill, both of Galion; five daughters, Pamela Hill and Kimberly (Brian) Daugherty, both of Hixson, Texas, Rebecca (Robert) Gardner and Lori (Chad) Davis, both of Galion, and Kristie (Larry) Cheesemen of Soddy Daisy, Tenn.; three stepchildren, Sherry Atkins of Crestline, Julia (Kevin) Lambert of Johnsville and Terry (Sean) Longstreth of Galion; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and nine stepgrandchildren.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepgrandson, Joey Coots; and a sister, Marjorie Hill.

Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Mark A. Schneider Funeral Home in Galion, where funeral will be Thursday at 1 p.m. Pastors Loyd and Dreama Caudill will officiate. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Galion, with full military honors by the Galion Area Veterans Funeral Detail.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

Patricia Ann Pagani
CENTERBURG — Patricia Ann “Patty” Pagani, 44, of Centerburg died unexpectedly at her home Saturday morning, March 20, 2004.

Mrs. Pagani was born Oct. 13, 1959, in Mansfield to Lester Vernon and Betty Lou (Shields) Thompson. She was an office administrator for Montoya’s Quality Roofing and was active with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Patty enjoyed gardening, boating and fishing at Lake Erie and had a great love of life.

She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Bob Pagani “Pigatelli” of Centerburg; two sons, Bobby Jo Pagani of Columbus and Ricky Vernon Pagani of the home; her parents, Lester Vernon and Betty Lou Thompson; two brothers, Junior (Val) Thompson “Butchie” of West Milton and Mikie (Sarah) Thompson “Broth” of Mansfield; two sisters, Debra Lynn (Rob) Robinson of Anchorage, Alaska, and Brenda Kay (James Alan) Stoots “Middie Sis” of Mansfield; seven nieces and nephews, Johnny Ray Thompson, Kenny Thompson, Ronnie Robinson Jr., Anna Marie Robinson, Cheryl Robinson, Karrie Ann Whitmore “Sis” and Kelly Stoots “BooBoo”; a great-niece and great-nephew, Brittany Michelle and Garret Whitmore “Chubs”; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and very close friends including her best friend, Sue Hendrix “Nanny Goat.”

She was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Helen Pagani; maternal grandparents, Harry and Bessie Shields; paternal grandparents, Anna Mary and Estill Thompson; and several aunts and uncles.

Family and friends may call today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, where funeral service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. The Revs. Virgil Masters and Earl Tackett will officiate. Burial will follow in Springmill Cemetery.

Amy L. Shiring
TARENTUM, Pa. — Amy Lynn (Fredenburg) Shiring, 37, of Tarentum, Pa., died March 19, 2004, at Allegheny General Hospital at Pittsburgh, Pa., following an 18-month illness.

She was born June 23, 1966, in Newark and lived in Mount Vernon from 1968 to 1976. She lived in Tarentum, Pa., for the past four years. A 1984 graduate of Deer Lakes High School, she graduated from Edinboro University in 1988, and received a paralegal degree from Duquesne University at Pittsburgh in 1990. She was a paralegal for eight years at a Pittsburgh law firm. She was also a manager for Club Fitness, New Kensington. Mrs. Shiring was a member of the World Wildlife Fund. She enjoyed camping, reading, traveling, going to the beach, and being a wife and mother.

Surviving are her husband of 11 years, Dennis J. Shiring; a son, Damon John Shiring of the home; and her father and stepmother, Kenneth A. (Sheldine Doerr) Fredenburg of Saxonburg, Pa.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Joyce (Fulk) Fredenburg.

The funeral was Monday officiated by the Rev. Jeffrey M. Conn. The Duster Funeral Home in Tarentum, Pa., was in charge of arrangements.