Horace DeFinis, Jr., age 90, of Cochecton, passed away Friday April 8, 2022 at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskill. He was born in Orange, NJ, on August 13, 1931 to Horace and Rose (Monica) DeFinis.
Horace joined the Marine Reserves while still in school. He left Grover Cleveland High School early and was deployed to Korea in 1950, with George Company, 1st Marine Regiment and was medi-evac’d from Chosin Reservoir when he was 19. When he returned, he attended Newark Preparatory School and met the love of his life and lifelong partner Emmy Gyger. They moved from Edison, NJ to Sullivan County in 1984 to be closer to their family. His greatest joy was having his extended family around him including his many nieces and nephews.
Horace worked maintenance for the CGH in Harris until his retirement then took up locksmithing as The Spare Key.
He was a member of the Marine Corp, Disabled American Veterans #198, Veterans of Foreign Wars #5808 and the American Legion Posts 276 & 73 where he held many positions up to 3rd District Commander.
He is survived by his wife, Emmy Gyger DeFinis and his three daughters, Ann (Glenn) Halloran, Arleen DeFinis and Linda DeFinis; three grandchildren Matthew (Lacie) Halloran, Sara (John) Diehl, and Danielle (Steven) Krantz; and seven great-grandchildren Jakob, Gracyn and Lukas Halloran, Emma and Nathan Diehl, Addilynn and Oliver Krantz, all of Sullivan County. And his sister Helen Muriel Hyde of Washington.
He was preceded in death by his dear brother Edward DeFinis, and sisters Dorris Elphinstone and Rosemarie Rash.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 12:00PM to 2:00 PM at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, NY. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM at the funeral home with burial following at the Jeffersonville Lutheran Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville, NY, 845-482-4280. To send condolences or for directions please visit stewartmurphyfh.com.
Memorial gifts may be sent to American Legion Emmett Turner Post 276, c/o Mike Knack, 35 Old County Road 95, Roscoe, NY 12776.