Notes:

Roland Nafus, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed from this life on Sunday, February 7, 2021. He was born to Ralph Nafus and Luella Cosby Nafus on January 6, 1934, and attended LaSalle High School.
Always hard working, "Rolly," as he was known, spent summers working at the Port Maitland, Ontario, shipyards. At school, he was an outstanding athlete in swimming and track, and a football all-star. He earned a football scholarship to Michigan State University. He was in the ROTC and after graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in Police Administration, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served as a Military Police Officer.
Rolly married his high school sweetheart, the late Bonnie Lou (nee Blaine), and built a home for his young family on Cayuga Island. He joined the Niagara Falls Police Department and worked up the ranks to become a Detective Lieutenant in the Criminal Bureau. As a second career, he took up construction as owner and operator of "Groundhog Services."
As a young boy, Rolly was always spending time on the upper Niagara River - boating, fishing, diving, water skiing and exploring Navy Island. With his extensive knowledge of the river, he assisted other boaters and on a few occasions even rescued boaters caught in the deadly current near the Falls. With his love of the river, Rolly developed a great interest in local history and archaeology. He put his knowledge to paper and wrote a book, 'Navy Island - Historic Treasure of the Niagara.' It was published in 1998 by the Old Fort Niagara Association.
Bonnie and Rolly enjoyed camping, making trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for many years and also enjoying their beautiful property in Rushford, NY. While keeping many family pets, Rolly's dogs were usually included in the family's travels. Friends joked that they would like to be reincarnated as one of Rolly's well-cared for dogs. In recent years, Rolly took up bee keeping at the southern tier land, his hives provide wonderful wildflower honey.
Rolly is survived by his children, a son, Ronald "Mike" Nafus of Niagara Falls, NY; daughters, Deborah Mauriello (Michael R. Mauriello) of Houston, TX, and Jamie Nafus of Rush, NY; as well as several in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Rolly was laid to rest next to his beloved wife at Mount View Cemetery in Pekin, NY.
Professional Arrangements by Michael R. Goodlander, owner of OTTO REDANZ FUNERAL HOME, 2215 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY (716-297-9007). Share condolences and memories at facebook.com/goodlandercares and GOODLANDERCARES.com.

Roland married BLAINE, Bonnie L on 11 Sep 1954 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. Bonnie (daughter of BLAINE, Earle C and HUGHES, Doris Ruth) was born on 9 Nov 1935 in New York; died on 19 Aug 2013. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 9/11/1954

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Nafus who
were wed this afternoon at the Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church at
Cayuga Drive, will reside in East
Lansing Mich, where Mr. Nafus is
a junior in the School of Police
Administration at Michigan State
College.
The Rev. Lawrence Herfurth officiated
at the double ring ceremony
uniting in marriage Miss Bonnie
Blaine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Earle C. Blaine, Rivershore Dr.,
and Mr. Roland Nafus, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Ralph Nafus, Buffalo
Ave.
White gladioli and shasta mums
with palms and ferns decorated the
altar.
Given in marriage by her father,
the bride wore a floor-length gown
of nylon tulle, trimmed with
iridescent flowered sequins, with a
bodice of rose point lace cut in a
scoop neckline. Her veil of hand
rolled French illusion was held by
a rhincstone and pearl head piece
and she carried a fan adorned with
white pompons, roses, stephanotis,
and ivy.
Miss Beverly Blessing, maid-of honor,
wore a ballerina-length gown
of nile green nylon tulle with a
fitted scoop bodice tulle with a
rose point lace over taffeta. She
carried a nile green fan adorned
with bronze pompons, white roses,
and ivy, with a cap of matching
flowers
The bridesmaids were Miss Sylv
Mazurek, Buffalo, Misses
Crooks, Carol Weslar, and Jeredith
Blaine, sister of the bride; Miss
Linda Blaine also a^sister of the
bride was flower girl. The attendants
wore ballerina-lenth gowns of
lime green nylon tulle with a scoop
necked bodice of rose point lace
over taffeta. They carried fans
covered with orchid pompons, white
roses, and ivy, with caps decorated
with matching flowers.
Mr. Rodney Knight acted as best
man and ushering duties were carried
out by Mr. Robert Bridgeman,
and Mr. Robert Hughes, and Mr.
William Hughes, both uncles of the
bride, Mr. John Costanzo accompanied
by Mrs. Virginia MacKenzie
sang "Because" and "The Lord's
Prayer."
The reception which followed the
wedding was held at Hardings
Restaurant, Youngstown. The
brides' table was laid with an imported
Irish linen cloth and centered
with a modernistic tiered wedding
cake between silver candelabra.
The Misses Deborah Blaine, sister
of the bride, Joanne Bond, Rosemary
Falter, and Dorothy Lee
Reisig assisted at the reception.
The cake piece which adorned the
top of the cake was used by the
bridegroom's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Nafus at their own wedding.
A dinner for the family and wedding
party followed the reception
at Harding's Restaurant.
The mother of the bride received
in a French blue antique dress with
raspberry accessories, and a corsage
of pink roses, while the mother of
the bridegroom was attired in a rose
beige organza dress complemented
with a eyeline cap of shimmering
star light sequins and pearls, and
she wore a corsage of blue bachelor
buttons and pink roses.
For a motor trip through the
New England States and Canada
the former Miss Blaine chose a
navy blue antique silk dress outlined
with a gold silhouette duster
and navy blue accessories.

Ralph + COSBY, Luella. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Earle married HUGHES, Doris Ruth about Mar 1935 in New York. Doris (daughter of HUGHES, Ernest) was born on 11 Mar 1915 in New York; died in Nov 1978 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 3/27/1935

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hughes, of
505 Eighty-eighth street, announce
the marriage of their daughter Doris
Ruth, to Earl C. Blaine, son of Mr
and Mrs. Arthur Blaine, of 8431 West
Rlvershore drive,

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/16/1948

Arthur T. Blaine. 66. died yesterday
at his home, 8431 West Rivershore
drive, after being In poor
health for the last six years.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary
L. Rasp Blaine; a daughter, Mrs.
Rexford Harding, Youngstown; two
sons, Earl C. and Ralph T. Blaine,
both of this city; two brothers,
Augustus Blaine, Buffalo, and Fred
Blaine, Syracuse, and six grand-
children.
The Revs. Melvin J. Hill and
Eugene j. Fleury will conduct
funeral services on Wednesday at
2 p.m. at the home. Interment will
be in Memorial Park cemetery.

Arthur married RASP, Mary L about 1904. Mary was born about 1884 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY; died on 28 Jan 1966 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 1/29/1966

Mrs. Mary L, Blaine, 82, of
8433 Buffalo Ave., died Friday
(Jan. 28, 1986) after an apparent
heart attack at her home.
°She was pronounced dead
on arrival at Mount St. Mary's
Hospital, where she was taken
by ambulance after being administered
oxygen for 38 minutes
by a fire department inhalator
crew.
Mrs. Blaine was born,. In
Buffalo and oame to Niagara
Falls in 1920. She was a member
of the First Methodist
Church.
Survivors include a daughter,
Mrs. Rexford Harding,
Youngstown; two «ons,~Ralph
. F. Blaine, Torrance, Calif.,
and Earl C. Blaine, this cityr
three sisters, Mrs. Lillian Williams
and Mrs. . Cla.ribell
Sherk, both of this, city, and
Mrs. Ruth Young, Brodsville,
Pa.; eight grandchildren and
13. great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted
at the Lane Funeral
Home at 2 p.m. Monday by
Rev. Fred House, pastor of
First Methodist Church. Burial
will be in Memorial Park
Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral
home from 2 to 5 and
7 to 9 p.m.