Town Topics

Walter J. Petrykanyn

Walter John Petrykanyn, 72, of Osprey, Fla., a former 15-year resident of Princeton, died October 15 in Sarasota, Fla.

Born in Toronto, he moved to Osprey from Princeton in 1997.

He was a graduate of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, where he became a faculty member.

He retired alter 30 years as an executive in the international divisions of Merck & Company, Inc. and Bristol Myers Squibb Company, in the United States, Middle East, and Far East.

He is survived by his wife, Gail; his children, Richard, Lawrence, John and Patricia, all of Toronto, and Colin and Ruth, both of Halifax, Nova Scotia; a sister, Annette Murphy of Toronto; and a brother; Nicholas of Toronto.

Memorial services were held on October 18 at the Presbyterian Church of the Pines in Sarasota, and on November 8 at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Church In Toronto.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33742; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Ila Takats

Ila Takats, 100, of Princeton, died November 8 at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born in Hungary, she had been a resident of Princeton for the past 15 years. She was educated in Hungary.

Predeceased by her husband, Zoltan Takats, she is survived by a daughter, Judy McPherson of Princeton; a son, Stephen T. of Philadelphia, Pa.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Kimble Funeral Home.

Margaret Hilland

Margaret Hilland, 86, of Princeton, died November 6 in the Princeton Care Center.

Born in Pittston, Pa., she was raised in Croyden, Pa. She lived in Wildwood Crest and Raleigh, N.C., before moving to Princeton in 1999.

Predeceased by her husband, Viggo Hilland, she is survived by two daughters, Ingrid Emerline of Raleigh, N.C. and Margo Froehlich of Princeton; a sister, Dorothy Piuma of Croyden, Pa.; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

The funeral service was private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Eden Family Services, 1 Eden Way, Princeton. Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.

Dorothy W. Bissell

Dorothy Wells Bissell, 84, a lifelong Princeton resident and award-winning area artist, died October 31 in San Rafael, Calif.

Born in Birmingham, Ala., she began private art lessons at age six. She graduated from Finch College in New York City, where she studied art under Leon Kroll, then earned a scholarship at Parson¹s School of Design, where she later became a faculty member.

She worked as an art therapist at the Jamesburg Reformatory for Boys, Trenton Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and Fort Dix Hospital. She taught for Rex Gorleigh and the Princeton Art Association, the Princeton Y.W.C.A., and Art Works in Trenton. She also taught on cruise ships for 40 years.

She was a member of the Princeton Art Alliance, the Garden State Watercolor Society, the National League of American Penwomen, the 1860 House, Who¹s Who of American Women, and the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

She studied oil painting with Wolf Kahn and Nelson Shanks. Her paintings have been shown by the American Water Color Society, the Garden State Water Color Society, and New Jersey Water Color Society. Her works hang in the permanent collections of the Superior Court in Washington, D.C. and the Arnot Museum in Albany, N.Y., and in numerous private collections. She traveled widely, painting in Europe, Russia, and the Caribbean. Her favorite landscapes were in Sonoma County, Calif., New Mexico, and Portugal.

She is survived by two daughters, Galey Sergio of San Rafael, Calif., and Katharine Maloney of Hancock, N.Y.; a son, John of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Delaware & Raritan Greenway, 1327 Canal Road, Princeton 08540.

Charles F. Baunach, Sr.

Charles F. Baunach, Sr., 97, of Princeton, died November 5 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton.

Born in Goshen, N.Y., he was a resident of Kingston before moving to Princeton in 1939.

He was the president of Charles F. Baunach & Sons, lnc., residential building contractors, since 1959, and prior to that, Baunach and Van Note Builders from 1949 to 1959. Some of his early work for Matthews Construction Company included contributing to the interior construction of the Princeton University Library foyer. His expertise was in colonial craftsmanship. He designed and hand-crafted many projects found in the Princeton area. One of his favorite projects was the extensive restoration in the late 1950s of Brickhouse Farm in Hopewell.

He was a 75-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners Local No. 781 and the Woosamonsa Road Dance Group, and the oldest living member of Kingston Presbyterian Church.

Predeceased by his daughter, Virginia, he is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bertha; two sons, Charles F. Jr. of Princeton and Gerald E. of Pennington; a daughter, Carolyn of Ewing, and four grandchildren.

The funeral service was November 10 at Kingston Presbyterian Church, with Pastor John Heinsohn officiating. Interment was in Kingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.

Cecilia Arnold

Cecilia ("Sheila") Arnold, 93, of Princeton, died November 7 at the Princeton Care Center.

Born in Newark, she was a graduate of Blessed Sacrament High School in Newark.

Before retiring as an administrative assistant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, she worked for Prudential Insurance and Wallace and Tiernen. She was also a bookkeeper for The Windsor Hotel in Belmar.

A 46-year resident of Manasquan before moving to Princeton, she was a communicant of St. Denis Roman Catholic Church, a member of the Altar Rosary Society, and a member of the Manasquan Seniors. She was also a member of the New York Metropolitan Opera Guild. An avid opera lover and Yankees fan, she also enjoyed the beach, knitting, ballet, and Broadway musicals.

Daughter of the late Edward P. and Anna Arnold, she was predeceased by her brothers Edward P. Arnold, Jr., formerly of Lansdale, Pa., and William J. Arnold, formerly of Brielle. She is survived by a sister, Marie Arnold Rasna, of Manasquan; and a niece with whom she lived, Joan Zisler of Princeton.

A Funeral Mass was held November 10 at St. Paul¹s Church. Burial was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Memorial donations may be made to Westminster Choir College, Hamilton Avenue, Princeton 08540.