Bernice S. Horton, 96, affectionately known as "Bunny ", a longtime area resident, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2025, at home with her family by her side.

Born July 10, 1929, in Morristown, NJ, Bunny was the daughter of the late Ralph A. and Louisa Woodruff Sutton.

After graduating high school, Bunny went on to graduate from the University of Maine in 1951 and later earned her master's degree from SUNY New Paltz in 1975.

Bunny worked for many years as a Special Education Teacher at Dutchess County B.O.C.E.S. She was also a founder of the Poughkeepsie Reformed Church Nursery School.

On, September 12, 1953, Bernice married Lynn A. Horton at the former Washington Street Methodist Church. Lynn predeceased her on October 16, 2000.

Bunny was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Hyde Park, Roosevelt Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary, and a dedicated volunteer and past president of Meals on Wheels of Hyde Park. An avid bridge player, she cherished time spent with her close Bridge Club friends, Gwen Sperry, Doris Stratton, and Mary Ellen Kondysar.

Bunny is survived by her two children, Arthur Horton and his wife, Kathy, of South Carolina, and Carol Woodsong of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; four grandchildren, E. Jason and Aaron Tofani, both of Oklahoma, and Jonathan and Joelle Burt, both of New Mexico. She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren.

A service will take place at the United Methodist Church of Hyde Park at a later date, to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, Bunny's family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to support causes she cared about: Meals on Wheels of Greater Hyde Park, c/o 1 Church Street, Hyde Park, NY 12538 (www.mealsonwheelsofhp.org); or Blood Cancer United, Donor Services, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087 (www.bloodcancerunited.org).

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet's Funeral Home, Route 9, Hyde Park.

To send an online condolence or for directions, please visit Bunny's obituary page at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.