Craig Entwistle, 49, of Boiceville
BOICEVILLE » Craig Entwistle, 49, of Boiceville, N.Y., formerly of Pearl River, N.Y., died on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
Craig was born in Spring Valley, N.Y., on Aug. 6, 1968, and grew up in Pearl River, N.Y. His love of the Catskill Mountains was born when he became a junior member of the New City Fish and Game Club. The beauty and peacefulness of the mountains drew Craig to move there, where he married and started a family. He was the Guardian of Traver Hollow, which he protected with a passion. Craig is survived by his children, Craig and Dainna Entwistle and his stepsons, Steven, Shane, Jason and Jerimiah Kenyon. He is also survived by his devoted mother, Madeleine, who never left his side, and his brothers, James and Tory and his sisters, Kim Woodford and Keri Purtell. He was predeceased by his father, James (2009) and his brother, Chris (1979). He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and his cousins, with whom he shared many wonderful adventures growing up in Pearl River. Craig was an avid and expert fisherman, which was a passion that he shared with his father. He also loved animals, especially his dog, Lily, and his cats, Baby Girl and Icicle. The animals in the neighborhood knew the sound of Craig’s truck because they knew he would be bringing them a treat. He was like the Good Humor man, ringing his bell. He was a jack of all trades. There was nothing that he couldn’t fix and in the rare instance that he couldn’t fix something, he would make a new one. Like his father, he loved to work. For many years, Craig worked alongside his father and his brother at Ufheil Construction. Craig had a heart of gold and would help anyone, never asking for or expecting anything in return. From the time he was born, he had a special gift that drew everyone to him. Craig was a fighter. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, he was told he had four months to live, but he never gave up. Through his years of suffering, there was not one time that Craig complained or felt sorry for himself. For the last 11 months, Craig has been fighting to return home to the mountains that he loved so much. Each day of his long journey, his love and faith in God deepened to the point where one day he asked for his letter board and wrote, “HIS WILL BE DONE.” We wish this wasn’t the way that he would return home, but we know he is in heaven reaping the rewards of a life well-lived. His loss leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.
His funeral procession will form on Saturday, April 21, at 9:30 a.m. at E.B. Gormley Funeral Home, 87 Main St., Phoenicia, thence to St. Francis de Sales Church, where at 10 a.m., a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Burial will be in Hudler Cemetery. Friends will be received on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at E.B. Gormley Funeral Home. You may share a special memory with the family on Craig’s Memorial Page at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com.