Obituary, James Eugene Callahan, Sr.

James Eugene Callahan, Sr., 86, died peacefully on Saturday, October 15, 2022 in Sharon, CT. with his wife at his side. Born on December 28, 1935 to Nellie Selfridge Callahan and James Gillespie Callahan, Jim lived his entire life in the village of Wassaic, NY, where he fished, trapped, played baseball, worked, married and raised his family. Jim attended the one-room school in Wassaic and graduated from the Amenia High School in 1954, at which time he served in the United States Air Force. He was employed by the Tri-Wall Container Company and then the Wassaic Developmental Center until his retirement in 1996. Jim enjoyed summer family vacations traveling around the country, coaching the Amenia Farm Team Expos and Little League, working around the house, bowling and playing golf with his brothers-in-law, solving crosswords, and assembling jigsaw puzzles. He celebrated a Hole-In-One at Undermountain Golf Course at the age of 74. He was an avid New York sports team fan; he greatly enjoyed the Yankees, the Giants, the Rangers and all things sports related. He was a member of the former First Presbyterian Church of Wassaic.

Above all, time spent with family was his dearest pastime. Jim is survived by his wife Dolores Lucille Haskin, whom he married on January 28, 1961, daughter Raynie Elizabeth Callahan (Anthony Farina), Tupper Lake, NY, and son James Eugene Callahan, Jr (Beth Greenberg), North Adams, MA. He was a devoted Poppy to five grandchildren: James Eugene Callahan, III (Amanda Lodoza), Sarrina Lorraine Callahan (Ian Jackson), Samantha Elizabeth Wilson (Charlie), Jordan Michael Callahan, and Jackson Eli Callahan. He is also survived by three sisters: Kathleen Lucille Daniels, Maureen Augusta Paar, Patricia Ann Goodacre (Richard, Sr), and a brother-in-law Frederick Jay Haskin, III (Joan). He was Uncle Jim to eleven nieces and ten nephews, and many more great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his niece Beth Ann Paar, his older sister Frances “Bunny” Elizabeth Callahan Blaisdell, his brothers-in-law Robert Blaisdell, Laszlo “Louie” Paar, Floyd Daniels, Herbert Haskin, Kenneth Haskin and his sister-in-law Faye Joan Haskin Killmer.

A graveside service and burial will be held for family members and friends at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at Amenia Island Cemetery, 3363 Route 343, Amenia, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim’s memory to the Amenia Island Cemetery, C/O Charlene Mayville, 26 May Lane, Dover Plains, NY 12522. For directions or to send the family a condolence, please visit http://www.hufcutfuneralhome.com