Obituary of Paul Talaba

LITTLE FALLS Paul Talaba, 87 of 19 Southern Ave., Little Falls and since April of 2005 a resident of the Van Allen Nursing Home, Little Falls passed on Monday, September 8, 2008 at Bassett Healthcare Center, Cooperstown. He was born on March 20, 1921 in Little Falls the son of the late Paul and Katherine (Trgala) Talaba. He was educated at Little Falls High School. He was united in marriage to his wife of 61 years the former Mary A. Dudik on March 15, 1947 in Syracuse. Mr. Talaba was a veteran of World War II serving with the US Navy. Entering the service on August 19, 1942. He served aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Princeton which on October 24, 1944 was struck by a Japanese torpedo and sunk during the battle on Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. For his actions during that battle he was award the Purple Heart. He later served aboard the Destroyer Escort USS Sliverstein, until he was honorably discharged as a Gunners Mate Third Class on December 18, 1945. He was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Little Falls as well as a member of the S/Sgt. Steve Stefula Post # 4612, VFW, Little Falls. An avid fisherman and hunter who also enjoyed mushroom picking, spending time enjoying his family and home and following Buffalo Bills. Mr. Talaba was employed for 42 years by the Salada Foods Corp., Little Falls as a production machine mechanic. He is survived by his wife Mary, his son David Talaba and his wife Patricia, Mohawk, 2 daughters Paulette Ferraro and her husband Salvi, Penfield, NY and Ellen Fuller and her husband Bernard, Kahuku, Hawaii, 4 grandchildren Nicholas Ferraro and Douglas Ferraro, both of Penfield, NY Amanda Talaba, Ithaca, NY and Michael Talaba, Little Falls and several nieces, nephews and a cousin. He was predeceased by 3 sisters Ann Harrington, Katherine Adasek and Suzanne Wilson. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:00 am from the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 512 E. Gansevoort Street, Little Falls with the Rev. Dr. Michael Jones, Interim Pastor officiating. Interment will take place in Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Little Falls where Military Honors will be accorded by the US Navy. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 from 5-8 pm and to attend the funeral services Thursday morning. It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Talaba be considered to the Bassett Healthcare Nursing Staff Fund, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose.