Laura Etta Ward Aponte
With heavy hearts and endless love, we announce the passing of our beloved Laura Ward Aponte, who peacefully departed this life on July 3, 2026, at the age of 76.
Laura was born on February 4, 1950, in Pawling, New York, to the late Edward and Loretta Hollister. She lived a life centered around family, kindness, compassion and unconditional love. Laura had a way of making everyone feel welcomed, valued and cared for. She was known for her gentle spirit, beautiful smile and ability to brighten any room she entered. Those who knew her often said she had “cold hands and a warm heart,” a saying that perfectly described the loving and compassionate woman she was.
Laura was the devoted wife of Miguel Aponte, her best friend, partner and soulmate for 54 years. Together they built a family rooted in love, laughter and memories that will be treasured forever.
For many years, Laura dedicated her career to caring for others at Sky View Rehabilitation Center in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and later retired as a Rehabilitation Aide. She touched countless lives through her kindness, patience and compassionate care. The same nurturing spirit she brought to her work was the very same love she poured into her family every single day. Caring for others was not just her profession; it was who she was.
Laura leaves behind her beloved husband, Miguel Aponte, and her loving children: Mary Huff and her husband, Carlton Huff; Michael Aponte and his wife, Tina Aponte; Rena Ward; Lina Aponte; Victor Aponte; and Debra Aponte, lovingly known as her favorite daughter and the baby of the family.
She was a proud and devoted Nana to Jessica Huff, Tyler Huff, Tia Aponte, Shere Henriquez, Nikita Henriquez, Alysia Henriquez, Atyana Aponte, Victor Aponte, Kharisma Brooks, Akilah Hines, Sonia Evans and her husband, Anthony Evans, David Rodriguez, and Vina Coachman, along with many cherished great-grandchildren who brought endless joy to her life. Her grandchildren often joked that Kharisma was Nana’s favorite granddaughter, a title she wore proudly and lovingly.
Laura was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Marcos Lugo, who passed away on March 5, 2025. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Loretta Hollister, and all of her brothers: Ronnie Hollister, Edward Hollister Jr., Billie Hollister, Walter Hollister, and Bobby Hollister. While she deeply missed each of them, there is comfort in knowing they have now been reunited once again.
Laura was the kind of person you rarely, if ever, saw angry. She carried herself with grace, patience, humor, and kindness. She listened without judgment, loved without limits, and gave without expecting anything in return. Her home was a place of comfort, her hugs brought peace and her presence made everyone feel like family.
Outside of caring for others, Laura found joy in music and dancing. She loved the movie Dirty Dancing and could often be found dancing around the house, singing along to her favorite songs, and ending them with her signature “Yee-Haw!” that never failed to make everyone around her smile. Those moments of laughter and happiness are memories her family will cherish forever.
A Special Message from Her Husband, Miguel
“Laura, thank you for the years of love, laughter and memories we shared together. You were my best friend, my heart and my home. Though my heart is broken, I find comfort knowing your love will remain with me forever. Until we meet again, I will carry you with me every day.”
A Special Message from Her Children
“Mom, thank you for every sacrifice you made, every lesson you taught us and every ounce of love you gave so freely. You were our protector, our guide and the heart of our family. We will miss your voice, your smile and your comforting presence, but your love will continue to live through each of us. We love you forever and will carry your memory with us always.”
A Special Message from Her Grandchildren
“Nana, you were our safe place, our biggest supporter and one of the greatest blessings in our lives. Thank you for the hugs, the stories, the laughter and the unconditional love you gave us every day. You taught us what family truly means and what it means to love without limits. We miss you deeply, but we know Heaven gained an incredible angel. Your love, your kindness and your memory will live on in each of us forever. We love you, Nana, and we will carry you in our hearts until we meet again.”
Though our hearts are broken, we celebrate a life that was beautifully lived and deeply cherished. Laura’s kindness, warmth, strength, laughter and love will continue to live on in the many lives she touched.
Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever remembered.
Visitation will be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home, 414 Washington Street, Peekskill, NY 10566, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Chapel service to be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 6:00 pm.
– Sourced from Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home
Clifton N. Heaton
Clifton Newell Heaton, age 86, long-time resident of Cortlandt Manor, New York, died on June 30, 2026.
Cliff was born on April 8, 1940, to the late William Stearns Heaton and Miriam Laura Hasseltine in Montpelier, Vermont. Cliff was the dear husband to the late Diana Sargent Heaton, loving father of Eric (Nancy), David (Lucy), and Seth (Alison), and proud grandfather to Ryan, Thomas, Lillian, Karina, Eliza, Bryce, Aidan, Ronan, Abigael, and Sarah. Cliff was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Brooks Palmer Heaton.
Cliff graduated from Montpelier High School in Montpelier, Vermont in 1958, starring in football, basketball and baseball while playing saxophone in the high school band. He graduated magna cum laude with a BA in history from Hamilton College in 1962 and later acquired his master’s in education and school administration from the University of Vermont and New York University, respectively.
During college, Cliff would take long journeys to visit his girlfriend Diana, who attended Middlebury College. The two met during Diana’s senior year of high school when Cliff was a sophomore at Hamilton College and immediately became inseparable. After Diana graduated college, they married on July 18, 1964, at the Barre Congregational Church and would go on to grow their family to five with the addition of twin boys in 1967 (Eric and David) and another son in 1971 (Seth).
Following college, Cliff pursued a 35-year career as a teacher and educator starting in Long Island, transitioning to Mount Vernon High School and ultimately settling at Horace Greeley High School, where he stayed until his retirement in 1998, teaching Advanced Placement European History and Psychology. At Horace Greeley, Cliff became a legendary boys and girls swim team coach, winning multiple league and Section One championships.
Cliff dedicated countless personal hours to coaching his sons’ recreational soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He was an avid reader, an accomplished bridge player, enduring golfer, an animated storyteller and a passionate jazz music aficionado. In 1968, Cliff and Diana became active members and leaders at the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, building deep friendships which lasted to the present day.
He raised his sons applying his father’s credo of “remember the Heaton name,” a byproduct of growing up in a small Vermont town which had the Heaton name attached to a hospital and multiple streets. Later in life, Cliff’s attentiveness and energy was refocused on his 10 grandchildren who all adored his playfulness and unique wisdom.
Cliff and Diana treasured family traditions and gatherings and especially loved the Maine shore (the location of their honeymoon and family vacations for the last 45 years). After they became empty nesters, they traveled together throughout Europe and always returned with a story to tell. Cliff would go on to become the proud President of the Rotary Club of Peekskill (2011-12) and the President of the Resident Counsel at Atria on the Hudson (2025-26).
Ultimately, Cliff’s most valued and effective talent was his ability to connect with people in a friendly, caring manner. If you got to know Cliff, you would grow to love Cliff.
The family will host a memorial service at the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, 705 South Street, Peekskill, NY, on July 11, 2026, from 10:00 – 11:00 am, with a reception to follow from 11:00 – 11:45 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the Peekskill Presbyterian Church in honor of Cliff and Diana Heaton.
Gifts can be made online using the following link https://peekskillpresby.org/give-online/.
– Sourced from Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home
