Edward V. Ackerley

Liberty, NY

Edward V. Ackerley of Liberty, a clerk at Woodbourne Correctional Facility and lifelong area resident, died Sunday, January 17, 2010 at O.R.M.C., Arden Hill Campus in Goshen. He was 53.

The son of the late Duke and Catherine Higgins Ackerley, he was born December 5, 1956 in Liberty.

Edward was very active in Sullivan County community organizations and he had also worked at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. He was a communicant of St. Peter's R.C. Church in Liberty, where he served as an usher; he was a member of the Liberty Elk's Lodge #1545, where he served as Exalted Ruler twice, as State Vice President of the East Central District, was a past N.Y.S. trustee, and as a longtime Lodge Secretary. He was also a member of the Livingston Manor Masonic Lodge #791, where he served as the Lodge Master in 1989 and 1993, was appointed Grand Sword Bearer for the Sullivan Masonic District in 1992; a member of the Sullivan Chapter #298 Order of the Eastern Star; a member of the I.O.O.B. #583 in Liberty, where he was past Secretary/Treasurer, and served as an Executive Board member several times, and he was a member of the Father Cronin Council Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his wife, Joy A. Gielarowski Ackerley, at home; five brothers: John Ackerley and his wife, Penny of Loch Sheldrake, Walter "Mike" Ackerley and his wife, Tracy of Liberty, Bob Ackerley of Neversink, Keith McArthur and his wife, Melanie of Grahamsville and David Graham of Loch Sheldrake; one sister, Judy Graham-Baisley and her husband, John of Grahamsville; one brother and sister-in-law, Alan Gielarowski and his wife, Katherine of Rochester, NH; one daughter, Shannon Marie Pascoe of Liberty; one granddaughter, Endya Rochelle Alvarez; many loving nieces & nephews; several aunts & uncles, including a special uncle, Richard Higgins. He was predeceased by his parents and also by a sister, Catherine Ackerley.

First visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., today, Wednesday, January 20, in the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley in Liberty. Liberty Elk's Lodge #1545 will conduct services at 7 p.m.; Father Cronin Council Knights of Columbus will conduct services at 7:30 p.m.; I.O.O.B. #583 will conduct services at 8 p.m.

Second visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday, January 21, in the funeral home, where the Livingston Manor Masonic Lodge #791 will conduct services at 7 p.m.; the Sullivan Chapter #298 Order of the Eastern Star will conduct services at 7:30 p.m., and The Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters will conduct services at 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon, Friday, January 22, in St. Peter's R.C. Church, 264 N. Main St., Liberty, with Msgr. Edward Straub, celebrant. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Cold Spring Rd., Liberty.

Memorial contributions in Edward's name may be made to the Elk's National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614-1889.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harris Funeral Home; 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 or visit www.Harris-FH.com.