IN MEMORIAM

December 7, 2023 - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Union Fire Company Life member Mike Laberta. Mike was a 29 year active member of the fire company and served as EMS Captain, Fire Lieutenant and EMS Lieutenant. He was an avid participant in fire prevention and community outreach details. Mike obtained and maintained his NYS EMT for almost his entire time in the fire service. Something he was very proud of. Mike’s dedication to our fire company, the fire service, and his community never wavered. Mike loved helping others in need. He was a fixture at our firehouse coffee pot and was always up for a lively discussion no matter what time of day or night. We will miss our long chats with Mike, his chauffeuring us to calls, and his dedication to the fire service. Rest in peace brother. We will take it from here.

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Union Fire Company Life member Jeffrey “Jeff” Diegelman. Jeff was a 22 year active member of the fire company. He served as Fire Company Vice President in 2006 & 2007. Jeffs dedication to our fire company, the fire service, and his community never wavered. He could be counted on whenever you needed him. Jeff was well known in our community as he was an avid walker and worked locally within West Seneca over the years. We will miss his smile, sports talk, positive attitude, and dedication to the fire service.

07/30/2023 - It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Union Fire Company member David (Dave) Paige. Dave was a active member of the fire company and a past member of other fire companies in the WNY area. Dave was dedicated to the fire service and helping others. He could be counted on whenever you needed him. We will miss Daves morning coffee chats, help around the firehouse, and his witty humor.

​September 22, 2024- It is with profound and great sadness that we announce the passing of Union Fire Company Life member Stanley 'Butch" Pajak. Butch was a 48 year active life member of Union Fire Company. Butch served as our Fire Company Sergeant-at-Arms for 31 years and as Fire Company Trustee for 5 years prior to that. As Sergeant-at-Arms he ran and oversaw 31 years of truck room and company officer nominations and elections. Butch was an avid participant in company details, drills, and community functions. He loved sports and played and coached softball for the fire company for many years. Butch was well known throughout the fire service in West Seneca and surrounding communities. Butch's 48 years of dedication to our fire company, the fire service, and his community never wavered. He will be dearly missed. Rest in peace brother. We will take it from here.

It comes with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Donald B. Littler (“Don,” “Donny”).

Don was a fire house staple at Union Fire Company, West Seneca Fire District No.2. In (YEAR) he joined the fire service and worked his way through the ranks to become Chief of the Union Fire Company in (YEAR). He held the position of Chief for six years and attended every call possible, in fact in (YEAR) he made 100% of the calls that year. Don later moved on from the Chief’s office and held the position of West Seneca Fire District No.2 Secretary and Truck Room Firemanic Secretary up to present day. Some could describe Don as the glue that held things together and the oil that made things run for Fire District No.2.

In addition to his service with the Union Fire Company, Don was a Public Dispatcher with the Town of West Seneca Police Department for (INSERT) years. He became one of the many voices that many firefighters and police officers came to know on the air, but also off the air. Even after retiring in (YEAR), Don held onto many friendships throughout the First Responder community.

Don will be truly missed at the station and in the community. Today we sigh with heavy heart for the loss of a venerable firefighter, but find comfort knowing today he rests at peace with his late wife Pat.