Standfordville – Cecil A. Rhea, 76, of Stanfordville, NY, entered into rest on Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. Mr. Rhea was born on October 12th, 1939, in Derry, New Mexico and spent his early youth on a family ranch in Texas. He was raised by his mother, the late Rosa Lee LeFlett Rhea. He was a graduate of Poughkeepsie High School, Class of 1958 and of Hudson River State Hospital School of Nursing in 1962. Cecil was employed as a psychiatric nurse at Hudson River Psychiatric Center in Poughkeepsie, until his retirement in 1994. Cecil proudly served our country in the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Captain in the US Army. He was a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and a member of Montgomery Post 429 American Legion in Rhinebeck. Cecil also was a member of the Hudson River Alumni Association, the Retired Public Employees Federation, and the Retired Public Employees Association. Cecil married Christine Peterson on August 30, 1994 in Red Hook. Christine predeceased him on April 25, 2005.
He is survived by a daughter, Cecilia Rhea of Poughkeepsie, NY; his son, Jonathan Rhea and his wife Dawn and their children Jonathan, Jr. and Sharie of Tivoli, NY; his son, Kenneth Rhea and his partner Christine of Red Hook, NY; his grandchildren, Christopher (wife: Jessica) and Kevin (fiancé: Heather); his great grandchildren, Davin and Sophia; his step sons & their families, Michael Setaro and his wife Deborah of Millbrook, NY, and Christopher Setaro and his wife Lorrie of Dover Plains, NY, along with several extended family and friends. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by the mother of his children, Barbara Armstrong Rhea; the mother of his step children, Ruth Swartz Rhea, a step son, Steven Setaro, and his beloved Springer Spaniel named Lady. Friends may call at the Burnett & White Funeral Homes on Sunday, January 31st, 2016 from 4 to 7 pm.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 1, 2016 at 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY. Burial with military honors will follow at Crum Elbow Cemetery, Salt Point. Memorial donations may be made in Cecil’s memory to the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Ave., Hyde Park, NY 12538.
