Virginia E. "Ginny" Dietrich (nee Hellmig)
Sep 11, 2025Age 86. Wife of Richard Dietrich. Mother of David (Hoa) Dietrich, Gregory Dietrich, Steven (April) Dietrich, Barbara (Darek) Stochmialek and Elizabeth (Dana) Lowe. Devoted Grandmother of 7. Sister of the late Ruth (late Carl) Heim. Maker. Traveler. Worker. Virginia tackled new challenges with zest, whether it was cooking, gardening, canning, sewing costumes, cake decorating, painting, playing piano, crafting personalized Valentine hearts from melted Cadbury chocolate, or pursuing other creative endeavors. Virginia and family explored parks, beaches, cities, and museums in the area bordered by the triangle from Chicago to Maine to the Florida Everglades. We headed down the road with the travel trailer, armed with AAA vacation guides and a purse filled with grapes and brownies. In later years, she enjoyed visiting Alaska, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Mexico, and Australia. Virginia traveled in her mind as well, from playing Canasta to puzzling out “cozy mysteries,” to reading, praying, and studying to join the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, professing her final promises in 2023. Virginia found things that needed doing and did them. Her work included St. Stephen School HSA, GIHS PTSA (Talking GRAND buttons, Mother’s Day Silk Flower Sale), founding the St. Stephen Parish Library, being active in the ALPHA Program, Mission, Charismatic Prayer Group, Bereavement Committee, and Eucharistic Adoration. She was a Catechist, Eucharistic Minister, and Music Minister for services at the Nursing Home and with her Carmelite order. We have all been blessed to experience her talents, determination and love as Wife, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, and Friend. Friends may call Friday, September 19th from 4-7pm at Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, September 20th at 10am at St. Stephens Church, 2100 Baseline Road.
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Lawrence M. "Butch" Backlund Jr.
Sep 02, 2025Backlund, Lawrence M. Jr. (Butch) September 2, 2025, of Grand Island. Husband of 53 years of Barbara Backlund. Father of Robert (Aerika) and David (Beth) Backlund and Elizabeth (Jeff) Wansart. Grandfather of Brielle, Hayden, Gabriel, Jeffrey, Sophia, Matthew and Jack. Great grandfather of Axel. Brother of William (Cathy) and the late George Backlund. Friends may call Thursday 4-8 PM at the Kaiser Funeral Home 1950 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island where funeral services will be held Friday at 12 Noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
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Jean Pynn (nee Amos)
Aug 19, 2025Wife of Thomas Pynn. Mother of Colleen (Peter) Perkovich and Dawn (Eric) Pollaro. Grandmother of Jessica, Zachary, Josh, Brittany, Joshua and Luke. Aunt of Diane (Mike), Paul (Ann), Nancy (John), Roger, Stevie, Raymond (Margaret) and Raymond. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday at 1 PM at Bible Fellowship Center, 1136 Baseline Road, Grand Island. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice Buffalo.
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Stephanie Sham
Aug 14, 2025Stephanie Sham (nee Graziano). Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, educator, and friend, passed away on August 14, 2025.Born on June 8, 1932, Stephanie was known for herhonesty, humor, wisdom, the occasional and surprisingbut always hysterical out-of-nowhere F-bomb, and the undeniable love and passion she brought into the world. Stephanie will be lovingly remembered by her three adoring sons, Peter, Michael, and Norman Sham, Peters wife Kirsten, and their children Olivia and Orlando, Normans wife Debbie, and their children Laura-her husband Sebastien and sons Jules and Theodore, and Simon, and her many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, to whom she was affectionately known as Aust Stevie. She is joining in rest her husband Norman Sham Sr who passed away in 1994, as well as her mother, Antonia Graziano, her father, Ignatius Graziano, her brother and sister, Gus Graziano and Eleanor Giglia, her sister-in-law Christine Noah, and her dearest nephew Paul Noah, along with many other loved ones throughout her life. Her sons are especially comforted to know that she will also be joining Jesus, Mary and Joseph, whose names she has invoked on a regular basis. Amoung Stephanies most significant accomplishments was raising her three boys, whom she held as her pride and joy. A graduate of Nardin Academy in 1950, and Buffalo State Teachers College in1954, she was also a creative, nurturing, and inspirational presence in the classroom, serving for many years as a first and second grade teacher at St. Stephens School in Grand Island, NY and in her later years, at Prince of Peace in Lackawanna. Stephanie loved playing games, making ceramic crafts, and engaging in word play of all kinds, but one of her favorite pastimes was her avid and intense passion for the Buffalo Bills, which she imparted to her entire family. Stephanie certainly faced her share of challenges, but her indomitable spirit and positive attitude always got her through the tough times, and her example was a guiding light to everyone she knew and loved. Her legacy is one of unwavering kindness and generosity. Her life served as a testament to her philosophy that its never as bad as it seems, and that life always finds a way to work out. A visitation for Stephanie will be held on Friday August 22, from 4:00-7:00 PM at Kaiser Funeral Home 1950 Whitehaven Rd. in Grand Island. A graveside service will follow on Saturday August 23 at 11:00 AM St. Stephens Cemetery 2100 Baseline Rd., also on Grand Island. All wishing to pay their respects and celebrate her life will be welcomed. Stephanies loss is deeply felt by her extraordinary family and all those who knew and loved Her. She will continue to live on in the memory of her quiet strength, enduring intellect, infectious laughter and that astonishing and beautiful, one-of-a-kind smile. She was never a fan of goodbyes, it was always Goodbye, for now. We love you mom, and we will see you soon. Goodbye... for now ❤
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Anthony J. Colucci
Aug 12, 2025Colucci, Anthony J., August 12, 2025, of Grand Island. Husband of Judith Colucci. Father of Christine Munoz, Tina (James) Wedge and the late Richard Briganti. Grandfather of Angelina Colucci, PJ and Isabella Munoz, Hannah and Nicholas Wedge. Great grandfather of Nevaeh, Angelo and Santino. Brother of Marianne (Dr. Robert) Glover and Lorraine Mies. Son of the late Lawrence J. and Frances Colucci. Lifelong dear friend of Joseph Sbarbati. Friends may call Friday 4-7 PM at the Kaiser Funeral Home 1950 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:30 AM at St. Stephens Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ProjectPlayWNY.org.
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